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Haven House Children’s
Hospice - 15 Years of Care
service, began in 2001 while
the committee continued to
fundraise to enable the building
to be transformed into
premises suitable for children
with complex health needs. Families can also take
advantage of support groups for
mums and dads and siblings
(Buddies) as well as
complementary therapies
designed to reduce stress and
anxiety. In our grounds there is
a fully accessible specialist play
area and tranquil sensory
garden surrounded by many
acres of beautiful woodland.
The Present
Today, Haven House has
supported over 900 families,
looking after children and
young people aged from birth
to 19 years old who have life-
limiting or life-threatening
conditions. Vision, Mission, Values
Vision
The best possible life for every
baby, child and young person
with a life-limiting or life-
threatening condition and their
families, who live in our local
communities.
Hospice grounds.
H
aven House Children’s
Hospice was first
conceived in the early
1990’s, as the brainchild of
Sue Irwin, a registered
nurse and health visitor, who
with friends and colleagues,
Sue founded the charity to
provide care to life-limited
children and their families
at no cost to them.
Like many community hospices
at that time, the initial plan
had been to raise enough
funds locally to create a
purpose-built children’s
Sue Irwin, founder of Haven House.
hospice. However, after several
years of fundraising, Sue was
alerted to the Mallinson Estate,
on the borders of Essex and
North East London. Through the
support and dedication of Sue’s
friends and early Haven House
supporters in 2000 we
acquired a 99-year lease on
The White House, a locally
listed former family home set in
four acres of protected
woodland, was acquired.
Hospice building.
Nurse and child.
In our grounds
there is a fully
accessible
specialist play
area and tranquil
sensory garden
surrounded by
many acres of
beautiful
woodland.
Haven House is incredibly
grateful to our Life Presidents
for their support during this
time. The first service for
children, the Toy Home Loan
Residential and community
services extend across North
and North East London, West
Essex and East Hertfordshire,
including respite and end-of-life
care.
In the hospice, children benefit
from play activities as well as
day and overnight stays.
Through the Holistic Care
Centre, opened in September
2014, children can access a
range of therapies, including
music therapy, physiotherapy
and therapeutic yoga.
Family day at Haven House.
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Mission
To provide the highest quality
palliative and holistic care
services to babies, children and
young people and their families
in our local communities.
Working in partnership we will
deliver these services whenever
and wherever our families need
them.
Values
In partnership with our staff,
trustees and service users we
have refreshed our core values
and behaviors over the past
year. This forms the framework
for how we deliver our services.
If you would like to find out more about Haven House
Children’s Hospice please visit havenhouse.org.uk .
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