Our 21st Anniversary

This year is a very special year in the history of Chestnut Tree House. Throughout 2024, we will be marking 21 years since we opened our doors. This means 21 years of caring for children and young people with life-limiting conditions in Sussex and South East Hampshire.

The history of Chestnut Tree House

Once, there was no hospice care for Sussex children with life-limiting conditions.

The local community and businesses backed a £5 million appeal to change that.

We were first established as the Chestnut Tree Trust in October 1997. In 2001, work began to build Chestnut Tree House on land donated by the late Lady Sarah Clutton, and a community team was launched to start caring for families in their own homes before the hospice opened.

The House was officially opened on Tuesday 11 November 2003 by Her Royal Highness, Princess Alexandra.

In 2003, we helped 30 children. Now we provide care for around 300 children and young people each year.

What a modern children’s hospice looks like

On a visit to Chestnut Tree House today, kids can be astronauts for the day in the multi-sensory room, discover new smells and sights in the sensory garden, bounce high on the wheelchair trampoline, or form their very own pop group in the music room.

From circus performances to animal visits and social evenings for parents, there are fun and inclusive events for all the family, both at the hospice and across the area – giving parents the chance to just be parents, and not carers, and space for siblings to talk to people who understand.

As well as care provided at the House, there is a Community Nursing Team who visit families at home, taking children out to explore their local community and giving tired parents and carers the chance to take a well-earned break.

Then, when the time comes, Chestnut Tree House is there for children and families to provide specialist end-of-life care and ongoing support.

There is a bereavement suite, ‘Stars’, which has a special bedroom for the child to lay at rest, as well as accommodation for the family. Ongoing bereavement support is available through counselling, bereavement groups and remembrance events.

Since opening in 2003, more than 1,100 children and young people have been referred to and accepted by Chestnut Tree House. 

How you can help us celebrate our 21st Anniversary

We are incredibly proud to have come such a long way in these 21 years and that we have been able to help so many children and young people as well as countless family members.

It is only with the support of thousands of individuals, families, organisations, groups, and companies that we have been able to achieve this. We extend a huge thank you to everyone who has donated, fundraised, volunteered and worked in the hospice over the past 21 years and have made this all possible!

If you’d like to fundraise for our 21st Anniversary, there’s lots of options to get involved:

• The Big Hoot: Get ready for Chichester and Arundel’s first large scale outdoor art trail in summer 2024!
• Tackle a new challenge: Maybe you’d like to challenge yourself to a marathon? A charity trek? Or take to the sky with a wing walk or skydive.
• Fundraise your way: Choose what fundraising you’re excited about doing, for instance, you could put on your own special event, climb a mountain, hold a raffle… the choices are endless. Set up a JustGiving page and help us reach our goal for the year.