Claire House Children's Hospice: A decade of helping families

Jun 1 2009 by Liza Williams, Liverpool Daily Post

Mr Mahony agrees that the charity’s fundraising efforts have suffered at the mercy of the financial downturn, but says things are picking up again this year: “We had a particularly difficult year last year, with the credit crunch.

“Donations were down 20%, but there has been a recovery this year.

“People have got behind us, we are trying to encourage people to give a small amount each month, and this is proving popular.

“Events are a bit slower though. We used to get 300 people attending, whereas it is more like 200 at the moment.

“We get 70% of the funds at events we would have got before but we are remaining positive.”

And the charity wants to make sure it continues to provide the services that youngsters with life-threatening or life-limiting illness need.

In 2006 an extension was built solely for teenagers, who Mr Mahony says have specific needs, not catered for by child or adult hospices: “The annex designed for our older guests was such an important development.

“We have found children with certain conditions are living longer thanks to advances in medicine and we therefore need to cater for these youngsters.”

The hospice has also branched out to provide home care, and this is something Mr Mahony believes will develop in the future. “Our main aim for the next few years is to carry on what we are doing now well.

“There is an increasing demand for respite and I also see us providing more care for children in their own homes, especially young adults.”

THE charity is holding a cocktail party tomorrow night as part of the 10th birthday celebrations.

It is being held at a secret location on the outskirts of Chester.

Tickets cost £35 and are available by contacting Abi Smith at Claire House on 0151 343 0883 or emailing abi@claire-house.org.uk.

For more info log onto www.claire-house.co.uk.