An exciting new chapter has begun for Haven House, with the opening of its new Holistic Care Centre – allowing the hospice to provide a broader range of specialist services to an increasing number of local life-limited children.

The centre was formally opened on September by HRH Duchess of Gloucester, with a reception on the lawns of the hospice’s idyllic Woodland setting.  The building – a contemporary glass and cedar addition, to the locally listed White House in Mallinson Park, Woodford Green, will blend purpose-built modern design with the traditional Arts and Crafts style of the original building.

The new centre will provide:

• New consultation facilities for clinicians including Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital, to meet with local life-limited children, bringing care much closer to home
• Multi-training space for staff, volunteers, local groups  and Haven House Buddies (siblings of unwell children)
• Confidential assessment areas for parents and children
• A dedicated room for music and other therapy sessions (at present the hospice uses a sensory room for music therapy and only one activity can happen at any one time)
• New physiotherapy and complementary therapy services

Mike Palfreman, Chief Executive of the hospice, said of the new building; ‘This is such an exciting development for Haven House and the largest single investment that we have made for local life-limited children and families since we opened our doors in 2003.’

‘The Holistic Care Centre will enable us to provide vital additional activities and a more comprehensive care package for all who use our services.’

Mike added; ‘We have had wonderful support from a number of funders, charitable trusts and local businesses in getting the build completed and on budget. However we will be looking to our local community more than ever to get these new services up and running and to ensure that they are sustainable for future generations.’

Karen Parsons, mum to Yasmin (4) who presented HRH The Duchess of Gloucester with a gift from children who use the hospice, said; ‘Yasmin and I were thrilled to be part of the Holistic Care Centre opening today. I know how much Yasmin enjoys coming to Haven House and this new facility will help many more local families have access to specialist play, music and therapy services.’ 

Karen, from Woodford Green, added; 'Today has been a lovely end to the summer as Yasmin starts school tomorrow which marks a new phase in our lives.'

Costs for the build so far total £665,000, which have been met by a mix of by Government funding, charitable trusts and ‘gifts in kind’.

Haven House would like to thank the following benefactors, who have contributed to the costs of build:

NHS England: In 2013 Haven House was awarded a £464,000 grant from NHS England, as part of a £60million boost to hospices across England, to build a Holistic Care Centre as an annex to the hospice.

Clear Architects: Loughton based company which designed and oversaw the build at a significantly reduced rate www.cleargb.com

Mason Construction (London) Ltd: Epping building contractors, which built the structure at a reduced rate www.masonconstructionltd.co.uk

Amy Winehouse Foundation donated over £41,000 to fund the centre’s new Amy Winehouse Music Room. www.amywinehousefoundation.org

The audio-visual industry, along with Together for Cinema installed a state-of-the-art home cinema worth £25,000 www.togetherforcinema.com

The Story of Christmas donated £30,000 to provide a consulting room and disabled W.C. www.socappeal.com

Bathworks based in Woodford Green donated bathroom equipment www.bath-works.co.uk

Premier Sustain donated office furniture www.premiermoves.net

ING covered a number of infrastructure costs www.ing.com