£20 million More Than A Hospice appeal launched

We are excited to launch More Than a Hospice, a £20 million appeal to transform how Scotland cares for babies, children and young people with life shortening conditions, and the families who love them. The appeal comes at a critical time for children's palliative care. Stays at CHAS hospices have increased by 45% over the past three years, reflecting growing demand as medical advances mean more children are living longer with complex, life shortening conditions. While this progress is a gift, it also means families often need specialist care over months or even years, at home, in hospital and in hospices.

More Than a Hospice is an urgent call to Scotland to recognise what children's hospice care really means today and to come together behind a long term plan that ensures no family faces the death of their child alone.

Meeting rising need, wherever families are

We provide specialist palliative care for babies, children and young people with life shortening conditions, supporting families through what can be an exhausting, emotionally demanding journey. For many families, care involves round the clock routines, navigating complex medical needs, and trying to protect family life and precious moments together.

But right now, too many families don't have real choice about where their child is cared for - not because of what they want, but because the right care isn't always available when and where it's needed. Through More Than a Hospice, we are setting out a bold vision to change this reality and to ensure families across Scotland have comfort, dignity, and genuine choice throughout their child's life and at the end of it.

A family's story: Caroline and Ayla

Caroline Johnstone, from Sauchie in Clackmannanshire, was introduced to CHAS when her daughter Ayla was born in 2011. Ayla lives with Edwards' Syndrome and has been supported by CHAS for the past 14 years, primarily at Rachel House in Kinross.

Caroline said:

"Since Ayla was diagnosed, CHAS has supported us as a family at Rachel House. Initially with respite stays of two nights every month, and now three to four nights every three months. CHAS and the Rachel House team have helped Ayla continue to thrive and are always just a phone call away.

"I've phoned at midnight and during the day, and they're always there. If I'm lying awake worrying about something to do with Ayla and need to talk, I know I can phone CHAS - that truly is a lifeline. "Ayla absolutely loves the sensory room and going for walks around the beautiful grounds. She's quite sassy and loves a bit of nonsense, but she's also tactile and affectionate. The staff know her personality so well, and that means everything to us."

Rebuilding, renewing and reimagining care

The £20 million More Than a Hospice appeal will enable us to respond to rising demand and reshape children's palliative care for generations to come by:

• Rebuilding Rachel House in Kinross - Scotland's first children's hospice - as a modern, flexible space designed around the complex needs of today's families
• Renewing Robin House in Balloch, ensuring it remains a welcoming home from home where families can access specialist care, respite and support
• Reimagining care across Scotland, strengthening children's palliative care in homes and communities, improving support at the end of life, and working more closely with NHS partners

Together, these changes will ensure we can continue to deliver highly specialist, family centred care, not only at the most difficult moments, but throughout the long journeys families often face.

A national movement for change

Rami Okasha, Chief Executive of CHAS, said:

"More Than a Hospice is a movement to rebuild, renew and reimagine what children's palliative care can be. We want to unite communities, medical professionals and policymakers behind a simple belief: that every family has genuine choice and unwavering support during the hardest moments of their lives.

"Every week, in Scotland, three children die from an incurable condition. CHAS is there for families at every step of this hardest of journeys - in our hospices, in hospitals and at home.

"This is our biggest ever fundraising appeal since Rachel House was built more than 30 years ago, thanks to the generosity of the Scottish public. Today, More Than a Hospice is an invitation for Scotland to stand together once again, so no one faces the death of their child alone."

Make your mark

To mark the launch of the appeal, we are inviting people to Make Their Mark by adding a fingerprint to a giant fingerprint tree - a growing artwork created in partnership with illustrator Marion Deuchars.

Each fingerprint represents a pledge of support for the More Than a Hospice appeal and a shared commitment to transforming hospice and palliative care for Scotland's children and families, now and in the future. Beginning with a single print, the artwork will grow into a lasting reminder that no family should face the death of a child alone. Make your mark today and help transform children's hospice care in Scotland.

Donate here or find out more about the Appeal.