Hospice
Fundraising
We have been providing specialist care to babies, children and young adults with progressive life-limiting conditions for 21 years!
A week of celebrations took place at the hospice in July to mark the milestone birthday, which included a birthday party attended by children, young adults, families, staff and supporters.
The 21st birthday provides the perfect opportunity to celebrate how the Children and Young Adults Service has developed over the years.
A year later, Prince Charles (now King) officially opened the Service.
In 2012, in recognition that many children are living longer with complex medical conditions and with little or no other suitable respite care options in the region, we extended our care from 0 to 18 years, up to age of 25.
The Children and Young Adults Service has since provided specialist short breaks and palliative care to families across Northumberland, Newcastle, Gateshead, North Tyneside, South Tyneside, Sunderland, Durham, Chester-le-Street and Derwentside.
The Service’s medical-supported care, which is provided 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, is combined with a range of life-enhancing activities such as accessible surfing, sensory and music therapy and trips to local farms and theatres.
This amounted to 682 admissions and 1,988 bed days.
One child who benefits from the Service is 10-year-old Hayden.
Hayden, who has myoclonic epilepsy and global development delay, has been coming to St Oswald’s Hospice for short breaks for the last 7 years.
Mum, Bethany, who attended the 21st birthday party with Hayden, his twin brother, Kole, and younger brother Jack (9), said:
“St Oswald’s Hospice is invaluable to us. Hayden loves coming for his short breaks to see his friends and his brothers enjoy events at the hospice, too. The staff are amazing to all of us. You feel the love as soon as you walk in.”
Diane Nicholson joined our children and young adults unit as a Sister in 2003, and knows first-hand the changes the Service has seen.
She said:
“The team have developed new skills to ensure these interventions are delivered safely and effectively on the unit.
“We’re always pushing the limits so that our children and young adults can experience as much in life as is safely possible.”
Diane continued:
“It is a privileged position to deliver personal care, manage health needs, have fun and connect with our children, young adults and their families. It’s also a privilege to be present when a young person comes to the end of their life. We want to make those final times as comforting as possible for all, and capture some nicer memories in the darkest of times.”
Last year, we launched our Children and Young Adults’ Outreach Service, which extended our nurse-led support to families in their homes.
Senior Sisters Rebecca Liddle and Jessica Carlington head up the Outreach Service.
Rebecca said:
“We provide consistent and individualised care at home to children and young adults with complex health needs through the Outreach Service. This can help reduce waiting lists and will allow more families across the North East to access our specialist care. The service is already having such a positive impact on the families we support.”
In June this year, construction work has also started on our new £1.3 million development for young adults.
The self-contained Young Adults Accommodation, set to open in spring 2025, has been designed to promote more independence and a smoother transition for young people with progressive, life-limiting conditions as they move into adulthood.
Our Director of Care, Angela Egdell, said:
“We’re incredibly proud of how far we have come in the last 21 years and know from our children, young adults, families and carers the difference we make to young people’s lives. A difference that was only made possible through the generosity of people who contributed to our Jigsaw Appeal, which first launched back in 1999.
“But we know we can’t rest on our laurels and we are always looking at how we can improve the excellent care we offer to young people and their families and carers.
“The launch of our Outreach Service and the new Young Adults Accommodation are just 2 recent examples of how we are adapting to the ever-changing needs of young people who we’re privileged to care for.
“Of course, we couldn’t do this without the ongoing generosity and support from the community, our donors and funders. We’re so thankful to all of them for everything they do.”
Holly Smith, Acting Matron of the Children and Young Adults Service, added:
“Our week of celebrations was a great way to mark the start of our 21st anniversary year. Our children, young adults, families, staff and volunteers had a great time at the party thanks to the bubble show, face painting, photo booth and cake!
“Here’s to the next 21 years!”
You can watch a very special rendition of Happy Birthday, sung by children, music therapist, Scarlett, and staff, here.
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