Chestnut Tree House joins national campaign to highlight the rising need of hospice care

Children’s hospice Chestnut Tree House near Arundel is proud to be one of more than 143 hospices taking part in the “This is Hospice Care” campaign, a national initiative led by Hospice UK.

The goal is to encourage people to consider leaving a gift in their Will to support their local hospice, ensuring that these essential services can continue to provide compassionate and specialist care for future generations.

A powerful TV advert based on real-life hospice stories highlights how vital end-of-life-care is. 

Chestnut Tree House supports children and families who know they don’t have long together. The care they receive allows them to live life to the full and make memories. To maintain this crucial support, sustainable funding is essential – gifts in Wills already amount to over a fifth of the hospice’s income and without it, they simply couldn’t provide the care that is so desperately needed in the community.

Becki Jupp, Deputy CEO of Chestnut Tree House, highlights the importance of protecting hospice care: “We’re thrilled to be part of this important campaign. It not only highlights the critical work we do but also the lasting impact that gifts in Wills can have on our ability to continue providing care for the families in our community.”

Nellie Sunshine and her family are currently being supported by Chestnut Tree House. She was diagnosed with a rare genetic disease at the age of two. This condition causes damage to her nervous system and now, aged 5, she needs extensive care.

Chestnut Tree House not only cares for Nellie, the team also provides counselling and respite for her parents. Her mum Megan is grateful for the support and highlights the difference it makes: “Our Chestnut nurse, Emma, has become our lighthouse in this storm. With her, Nellie has been able to enjoy experiences I never could have imagined. Together, they have been dry-slope skiing, ridden a speedboat and even had a go at accessible sailing and ice skating.”

Megan has also set herself fundraising challenges to raise much-needed funds for the hospice and adds: “Families like ours are going through the worst thing imaginable, but the support of Chestnut Tree House really has helped. That’s why we want to say thank you while Nellie is still with us, as a way of honouring her.”

Nellie’s story highlights the compassionate care Chestnut Tree House can offer and it’s vital that these services can continue for years to come.

Find out more about how you can support St Barnabas House through a gift in your Will