News

Exeter Chiefs players delighted Children's Hospice South West (CHSW) children and families by holding a virtual story time session.

Players Jack Maunder, Joe Simmonds and Tom O'Flaherty joined 13 families at home via video call, as well as care teams at the charity’s three children’s hospices, for a special reading of Jack’s motivational new children's book, Bounce Back Jack!

The sports stars also spent time chatting to families about their own personal experiences of times when they have overcome setbacks and shown resilience.

A highlight of the session was Joe Simmonds giving a rousing pep

Insurance broker, and title partner of Premiership Rugby, Gallagher, has launched a UK-wide initiative - ‘Tackling Tomorrow. Together’ – bringing to life stories of six UK businesses and a charity that have shown resilience, tenacity and pioneering spirit during the COVID-19 pandemic.

To highlight the diversity of challenges and opportunities presented by the pandemic, Children’s Hospice South West has been selected to participate in the programme in recognition of their efforts and resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Children's Hospice South West is a leading charity caring for

On Friday 13 November The Willingham family, supported by Little Harbour children's hospice, featured on the BBC Children in Need appeal show.

The story followed the journey of sibling Betsy as she dealt with a range of emotions when her parents contracted Coronavirus meaning that her brother Lucas, who has complex medical needs, had to be cared for at Little Harbour while their parents recovered.

Betsy explained her worries and talked about how her contact with Sibling Worker Suzanne helped her through those difficult times.

Funding from Children in Need means that more siblings of children

Lesley Milner, mum of Keira aged 5 months, is hoping to raise £35k for a host of charities that have supported them since Keira was diagnosed with a brain tumour.

Lesley, who lives with her wife Claire and Keira’s brother, Austin in Longwell Green, Bristol, said: “On the 3rd of July 2020 when my daughter was only 8 weeks old we took her for her first vaccination. Three hours later our world was turned upside down. Our GP was worried about Keira and phoned the Bristol Children’s Hospital. We were called and told to take her directly and quickly to A&E, they did a CT scan and found a brain

Charlton Farm children’s hospice based in North Somerset has benefitted from a new Princess 5000 bed thanks to the support of local charity The Axentis Michael Charitable Trust.

Charlton Farm are part of ‘The Children’s Hospice South West’ group who provide end of life care and support to families when they need it most. They aim to provide families with a safe haven they can relax and spend time together in, far removed from the stresses that come with terminal illness. They have eight child friendly rooms on site plus accommodation for parents and the rest of the family. Everyone is

Hannah Chapman is publishing her book: Yellow Day to support others and raise funds for the Lily Foundation

Hannah Chapman from Truro lost her daughter, Maisie, to Mitochondrial disease in 2018 when she was just six months old. Eager to turn her loss into a positive, she is now self-publishing an illustrated book about her grief called Yellow Day, hoping that it will help others going through similar bereavements. Book sales will also raise vital funds for the Lily Foundation, a charity committed to supporting families affected by Mitochondrial disease.

Mitochondrial disease is an incurable

Social isolation is not new to families caring for children with life-limiting conditions. Many are used to long hospital stays far from home, long periods of illness preventing normal daily activities, being unable to attend school due to health needs, and sacrificing social interactions due to care needs.

But the Covid lockdown has brought many new and often terrifying challenges to these families, many of whom have seen care packages fall away and their wider support networks disappear in the wake of the global pandemic.

Children’s Hospice South West (CHSW), which looks after 550 families a

Children’s Hospice South West (CHSW) was invited to join a video call made by The Duchess of Cornwall and The Duchess of Cambridge to mark this year’s Children’s Hospice Week.

As Patron of Children’s Hospice South West and Helen and Douglas House, The Duchess of Cornwall invited Eddie Farwell, Co-Founder and Chief Executive of CHSW and Clare Periton, Chief Executive of Helen and Douglas House to join the call along with the Delf family who have received support from East Anglia Children’s Hospice (EACH) of which the Duchess of Cambridge is Patron.

During the call Their Royal Highnesses

Children’s Hospice South West (CHSW) is using its expertise in the community to help relieve pressure on the NHS during the coronavirus outbreak.

Care teams at the charity’s three children’s hospices – Charlton Farm near Bristol, Little Bridge House in Barnstaple, and Little Harbour in St Austell – have adapted their day-to-day care provision to help keep vulnerable children out of hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring care is provided wherever it is needed most.

The hospices, which support more than 500 children with life-limiting conditions and their families across the South West

A charity single released at the end of last year has now been streamed worldwide, raising more than £1,000 and building awareness of Children’s Hospice South West (CHSW).

Harbour Walls was written by Richard Trethewey, music therapist at CHSW’s Little Harbour hospice, with lyrics contributed by staff. It was recorded by members of the Little Harbour choir made up of nurses, doctors, carers, sibling team members as well as kitchen, admin and housekeeping staff.

The lyrics link closely to the support that Little Harbour provides for more than 130 children with life-limiting conditions who rely