The grant will go towards funding our family support worker who provides practical and emotional support to our families either at our hospice, in the community or at home. 

Our Family Support Worker, Becki, holds a depth of expertise and carries out her role with warmth and empathy in the most difficult of circumstances. She can help advise families on issues such as education, housing, finances, charity applications, transition and equipment.

She has also supported families in making funeral arrangements and getting access to statutory services. She advocates on behalf of families to other professionals and can be there as a listening ear on difficult days.

In describing the support they received from Becki, one family said:

"Becki recently helped us secure part funding for a specialist pram. Nothing is ever too much for Becki and I always feel she goes the extra mile to make things easier for us and that doesn’t go unnoticed. She also brings an air of energy and hope whenever we see her. We are truly grateful for the help of Becki in securing the funding and for all her help since we joined Haven House."

The new funding from the National Lottery Awards for All, which distributes money raised by National Lottery players for good causes, and is the largest community funder in the UK, will ensure our Family Support Worker is a constant and comforting presence for our families. 

Ralph Coulbeck, Haven House’s CEO, said: “We are incredibly grateful to The National Lottery for their generous support. Our care has never been more important: the number of children living with serious illness continues to grow and we remain ambitious to expand the range of services we offer.

“The grant will have an enormous impact to our family support services at Haven House and will enable us to further our mission in providing the highest quality palliative and holistic care services to babies, children and young people and their families in our local communities.”

 With thanks to: