bolesworth - charity

Claire House Children's Hospice

​Imagine hearing the worst possible news as a parent - that your child is seriously ill and not expected to live to be an adult. Imagine how powerless you would feel if you couldn’t make your child better or take away the pain. You want to make every moment you have with your child special, but you often feel isolated and alone, rarely get a good night’s sleep and struggle to deal with the practicalities of day to day life.

Claire House helps parents create wonderful experiences for their children and bring back a sense of normality to family life. This means helping a child go for their first swim or going on a trip to the local cinema. It means a seriously ill young person using a wheelchair can meet friends going through the same things as them, or that a mum and dad can get a good night’s sleep and recharge their batteries after the constant pressure of being a carer. It means that if there is an emergency we are the first people to call – day or night, as we are on-hand with specialist care and advice.

If the worst happens and a child comes to the end of their life, they can spend their last days with all their home comforts at Claire House or be cared for at home with the support of our nurses. After they die, we become a place where family and friends can be together whilst receiving emotional support and help with the practical arrangements. We cannot stop tragedies happening but we can help families deal with them in their own way and cope with their loss. 

However, for every child and their family who are getting our help, another struggles on alone, not having the chance to have the fun, support and care that we offer. This is why we urgently need your support – whether you can give your time or raise money – you can help us reach out to more children who desperately need help.

www.clairehouse.org.uk