East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH)

EACH is registered with the Care Quality Commission and is the largest provider of children’s palliative and end of life care services in East Anglia. The organisation’s primary focus is meeting the needs of babies, children, young people and their families, working alongside them as they face incredibly complex health, social and emotional issues. The registered charity delivers an exceptional and comprehensive range of multi-professional, community and hospice-based services.

Recognised as leaders in their field, EACH has a reputation for excellence and commitment to pioneering development, innovation and research, working in partnership with others. It hosts the East of England Managed Clinical Network of NHS and hospice providers that enables access to specialist medical expertise out of hours, giving families a real choice of place of care during and at the end of life of their children’s lives. This approach is recognised as an example of best practice nationally.

EACH supports families throughout their experience of caring for their baby, child or young person during their lives, at end of life and into bereavement across Cambridgeshire, north Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk.

Care and support is tailored for the needs of all family members and delivered where the families wish; in their own home, in schools, at hospital, in the community or at one of three hospices in Ipswich, Milton and at The Nook our new purpose-built hospice near Norwich.

All three hospices aren’t only about end of life care, they’re often very happy and fun places where young people can live life to their full potential. They are places families feel safe, at home and where they can spend quality time together. This enables parents to be parents not caregivers, allowing them to make memories together and experience ‘normal lives’.

Continued improvements in the care of children and young people with complex medical conditions mean they are living longer and the demography of ‘our’ counties is changing. There are currently more than 2,000 children and young people in our area living with a life-threatening condition who may require an aspect of EACH's services.

EACH currently cares for around 480 lead children and young people each year. Better survival rates, demography, public awareness and understanding of EACH’s services are contributing to an ever-increasing demand for care. EACH will be looking after well over 600 babies, children and young people by the middle of the next decade, in addition to the increasing number of bereaved families EACH supports.

This year, EACH estimates just 16% of total costs will come from Government, County Councils and Clinical Care Commissioning Groups (CCGs). They therefore have to rely on voluntary donations for the majority of their income and this year need to raise £6.4 million from fundraising and £4.9 million in income from their shops. They are now in the very final stages of completing the £10 million public fundraising appeal for The Nook.

EACH has an enviable local and national reputation and profile, helped by a dedicated staff team and army of volunteers. High profile patrons, including HRH The Duchess of Cambridge, serve to keep the spotlight on this amazing charity.