Haven House hosts reception at Speaker’s House to champion children's palliative care

Supporters, parliamentarians, and advocates came together on Monday (19 May) evening at the iconic Speaker’s House in Westminster for Together We Care, a special reception hosted by Haven House Children’s Hospice. The evening celebrated the organisation’s work and highlighted the urgent need for sustainable funding for children’s hospice services.

The evening was attended by a host of distinguished guests, including the Speaker of the House of Commons, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, The Rt. Hon. Wes Streeting MP, and Sir Iain Duncan Smith, a long-standing patron of Haven House, who joined the event virtually to show his continued support. Also in attendance were Lord Julian and Lady Emma Fellowes, ambassadors of Haven House, whose presence further underlined the strength and breadth of support for the charity’s vital work.

One of the most moving moments came from Ananda Gill, mother of Dylan and Charlie Walker, who shared her powerful story. Her sons feature in Haven House’s recent Through Their Eyes campaign, and her words offered a deeply personal insight into the life-changing impact of hospice care.

The resounding message from the evening was clear: while children’s hospices like Haven House deliver essential, compassionate care to some of the most vulnerable children and families in our communities, the current funding model is not fit for purpose. In collaboration with sector partners such as Together for Short Lives and Hospice UK, Haven House used the opportunity to call on policymakers to prioritise sustainable, long-term investment in children’s palliative care.

In December, Mr Streeting, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, visited Haven House, where he announced a £100 million boost for adult and children's hospices and the extension and increase of the Children’s Hospice Grant to £26m for the 25/26 financial year.

Despite this, the hospice sector is facing a collective deficit of £77 million, with children's hospices increasingly relying on charitable income and reserves to provide vital care and support.

Delivering a passionate speech Mr Streeting, underlined the scale of the challenge: “…We shouldn’t think for a moment that the support provided by the government is enough. It is necessary but it is not sufficient and that places pressure on all of us, including myself, to make sure we are providing the essential support that families and particularly children deserve.

“…We all have to make sure children’s hospices don’t just survive - they thrive...The safety net is insufficient and has too many holes in it. There is a lot for us to do, for us to do together. I am so proud of the work Haven House does. Haven House really is the secret weapon of the children’s hospice sector. I am so moved by the amazing care, love and support they provide – I will continue to work with them and the wider hospice sector to make sure we provide great quality care for everyone who needs it.”

The Right Honourable Wes Streeting MP

The event also served as a heartfelt tribute to the unwavering support of the wider Haven House community and the dedicated team who work tirelessly to ensure that no family faces the challenges of a child’s life-limiting condition alone.

“We are incredibly grateful to all who attended and to our speakers who brought such insight and passion to the evening,” said Ralph Coulbeck, Chief Executive of Haven House. “It was a chance to say thank you to our supporters and to advocate for the children and families who rely on us. We’re proud of what we’ve achieved - but we know there’s much more to do.”