Haven House Children’s Hospice is a charity that provides FREE on-going holistic care for children and young people (0-19 years) with life-limiting conditions. We also embrace the needs of the child’s family from the point of diagnosis through to post death care. Our commitment is to enable children to live life as fully as possible, within a warm, fun and caring environment

The White House

Short Breaks
The majority of work that Haven House undertakes is providing parents and carers with much needed rest. We provide specialist care within a homely environment to ensure that parents and carers have time to catch up on some undisturbed sleep and to plan some time for themselves.

Day Care
It is hard to leave your child in the care of others and day care provides the opportunity for a child to be left for a shorter period at Haven House so that they and the family can familiarise themselves with the staff and surroundings. In addition it allows the parents to come to the hospice and receive support from the staff and other parents who are attending.

End of Life
When a child or young person is reaching the end of their life it is important that they are provided with as many choices as possible which will include expert medical care and an appropriate and dignified environment. Our staff team is able to accommodate the family and to facilitate friends visiting as requested.

Post Death Care
Haven House has a bereavement suite and separate chapel to care for a child or young person once they have died. We believe that it is crucial to provide a private space for family and friends to come and grieve and we are able to provide support from our staff team and also assist in making any plans for the funeral. We also hold a Memory Day service once a year to which all families are invited.

Community Services

- Specialist Play
Play is an essential part of any child’s development and we aim to create laughter and fun within our care of children and young people who access our services. It is though important to offer this care in their homes as well, so this is what we do.

- Home Loan
We recognise that it is important that a child or young person doesn’t simply access specialist equipment when they are with us at the White House but that it should be available to them at home. We then provide specialist toys free of charge to families to use in their own homes.

- GOSH
Great Ormond Street is the leading Hospital in childcare and we are delighted to be working with them as they provide on-going visits to the White House and to people’s homes to ensure that the children and young people are receiving the best care possible.

Our Comunity Services Leaflet is currently being re-issued. Contact nicoleking@havenhouse.org.uk for further details.

Family Support

The impact of caring for a child with a life limiting illness is considerable for the whole family. We therefore aim to provide a number of services to assist the whole family throughout this process.

- Coffee Mornings
It is good to talk over a cuppa and we have found that our monthly coffee mornings have provided an informal opportunity for parents to talk about their experiences of the White House and to just generally get to know each other and enjoy the excellent cake provided by our cook!

- Counselling
Haven House employs counsellors, a family therapist and a psychotherapist to ensure that we can provide the best level of care and choice to family members. Referral is through the named nurse.

- Family Social Events
It can be difficult to sometimes go out as a family so we aim to provide different events throughout the year for everyone. Activities include a Christmas Party, Easter Egg Hunt, Family Picnics, wheelchair friendly walks and a Summer Fayre.

- Fathers Group
This is a new group that we aim to start in September. More details to follow.

- Sibling Support
Being the brother or sister of a life-limited child can be hard. Through our sibling support services we encourage brothers and sisters to have fun but we can also provide the listening support that they may need.

Booking Form

For further details please contact Jackie Wright on the link below.

Contact jackiewright@havenhouse.org.uk