"At Martin House, we saw pure joy and happiness - it was like a different world. We couldn't help but feel comforted by the joy we were seeing." Martin House Hospice provides holistic, family-led care for children and young people with life-limiting conditions in North, West and East Yorkshire. Specialist care is available from diagnosis to death, and beyond, and covers medical, emotional and pastoral care, promising to always be family-focused, responsive and honest.
With the onset of Covid19, families caring for a child with a life-limiting illness have faced a significant reduction in support, increased isolation and anxiety. The hospice remained closed for vital respite for many months last year and almost all fundraising stopped suddenly as the country went into lockdown. With running costs of 9m per year, and only 10% of funding coming from statutory sources, the hospice faces a projected deficit of over a third of its planned income this year.
Martin House's team of specialist doctors, nurses, therapists and counsellors have adapted the way they've offered care to continue providing it 24 hours a day, every day of the year to families who need it, free of charge. As the hospice opens up again to provide vital respite for tired and isolated families, your support is needed now more than ever. To quote one parent: "This last year, we've found Martin House to be quite the lifeline. It's a place where people understand you totally".
Since opening in 1987, Martin House has supported over 2000 families and trained countless professionals. Research is actively integrated into the care through a close partnership with The Martin House Research Centre, ensuring it always leads the sector. Parents' words demonstrate the long term impact most: "I really believe Martin House saved us. It was a beacon of hope in the darkest of times. I dread to think how things might have panned out if we hadn't had that initial, incredible support"
This project has provided additional documentation in a DOCX file (projdoc.docx).
