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Andy's Children's Hospice
Andy’s Children’s services ensure that every child they care for lives their life to the fullest, and help to create everlasting memories.
Supported by our Community Champions scheme this quarter, the hospice, based in Grimsby, provides palliative care to children living in North East Lincolnshire, North Lincolnshire, Lincolnshire, Hull and East Riding. The hospice has cared for 334 children in the last three years, with a further 1,075 patients accessing their support and wellbeing services.
The children's services are part of the wider family of St Andrew's Hospice, where patients go to when they turn 25 years old. Costing £5.5 million annually to run, equating to just over £15K per day, and with only 18% of this being funded, they rely on donations and volunteers.
Although they have specially trained nurses to provide the care, they also have a whole host of volunteers providing services such as weekly wellbeing sessions, art groups, music sessions and their on-site coffee shop, which recycles its profits back into the running of the hospice.
Fundraising efforts are key to the running of Andy’s Children’s Services, and the current top priority is replacing a number of safety beds for new and improved ones which are only available in a few suites currently. These beds ensure that children are safe and secure, and have clear sides to make the children feel comfortable.
Another area which requires a large amount of funding is the hydrotherapy spa pool, an invaluable service provided not just to inpatients, but is available to external families to provide that bit of enjoyment in their child’s care. This requires constant upkeep and needs to be replaced every 10 years, and being a vital part of the care given, they cannot afford to lose it. The hospice is also home to a mesmerising sensory space, and a fantastic cinema room, all with specially designed lights and speakers to ensure children with sight and hearing disabilities have some respite from treatment.
Tina* is a volunteer for the hospice, who is involved with a range of the fundraising activities, from organising raffle prizes for events to talking at events.
She said: “People understand more hearing your story and what you have been through, wanting to give back to what you were given really resonates with people, as opposed to just hearing facts and figures.”
You’re supporting a local hospice every time you shop with your dividend card, donate through our collection boxes or contribute to our colleagues’ fundraising. Find out more.
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