Category Archives: Derian News

A huge ‘congratulations’ to Jenny McCabe are in order, who has been successful in securing our new Patient Safety and Governance role.

This is an important new role that will strengthen how we maintain oversight of the quality and safety of the care we provide. Jenny will support the review of incidents, audits and emerging themes; help us turn learning into meaningful improvements; and provide greater coordination across our policies, action plans and assurance processes.

A key part of the role will be working alongside teams to promote an open and supportive safety culture—one where we learn together, share good practice and continually improve the care and experience of our babies, children, young people and families.

Jenny brings a wealth of knowledge, experience and commitment to the role, and I know she will make a real difference.

Congratulations, Jenny, on your well-deserved appointment – we’re looking forward to supporting you as you begin this exciting new chapter at the end of the month.

Jackie Rooney has been appointed as Interim Chief Executive of Derian House.

Jackie is a Registered Nurse and Queen’s Nurse, with 46 years’ NHS experience and a strong track record of senior clinical, operational and strategic leadership.

A key priority for Jackie will be leading our work to strengthen clinical quality, safety and governance and to ensure that the care we provide for children and families is consistently excellent.

Working closely with Karen Smith and the wider team, Jackie will lead the implementation of the clinical changes and improvements recommended within the Niche report. As Interim Chief Executive, she will have overall accountability for the organisation.

Most recently, Jackie served as Associate Director of Nursing for Risk, Governance and Patient Safety at Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust. She has also held senior leadership roles at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre, including Director of Nursing for the Acute Division and Head of Nursing and Safeguarding, as well as senior nursing leadership roles within NHS England.

Jackie will be at the hospice tomorrow (Wednesday, 2 September), to meet the team ahead of formally starting with us on Wednesday, 9 September.

Jackie will work two-and-a-half days per week, although her time is likely to be front-loaded initially, with more time spent on site as she gets to know Derian and begins this work.

To enable Jackie to give significant focus to our clinical services and the improvement programme, the Trustees have asked me to continue leading our non-clinical services.

This includes Finance, Facilities, IT, HR, Income Generation, Communications and Marketing, and Retail. I will also continue to lead our relationships with key external partners and stakeholders.

I am sure you will all join me in giving Jackie a warm Derian welcome. I know there will be lots of opportunities to meet her over the coming weeks, and I look forward to working with her as we continue to move Derian forward.

The Southport family behind charity Elsie’s Story helped 64 families supported by Derian House Children’s Hospice enjoy a special day out at Chester Zoo on Saturday (22 August).

Jenni Stancombe, who founded Elsie’s Story in memory of her daughter, Elsie Dot, said it was an “honour” and a “privilege” to help families spend the day together and make special memories in her daughter’s name.

The day was made possible by a grant from Elsie’s Story and was the first-ever group wish delivered through Derian Wishes, Derian House’s new service helping make special wishes come true for children and young people.

From cheeky monkeys and big cats to elephants and penguins, there was plenty to see as families explored the zoo, enjoyed treats and activities and spent precious time together.

18-month-old James and his sister Amelia, age five, had fun making lots of memories together, and especially enjoyed seeing the monkeys.

“Thank you so, so much for allowing us to come to this amazing day,” said James’s mum, Samantha Morgan.

“As a family, we struggle to go to some places because of James’s conditions. To go for a day out, just like any other family, and to see James enjoy it and be so happy, is the best feeling.

James also has a big sister, Amelia, so it’s hard for us to do things that suit both children. But the zoo is the perfect day out for us all to enjoy.

“Derian House is so amazing and we are so grateful for everything you do. We are so glad that we have a community of people who understand us and make our children feel special.”

Jenni Stancombe, Founder of Elsie’s Story, based in Southport, said: “Elsie’s Story was established following the loss of my little girl Elsie Dot. Ultimately, we create smiles to fill every page of Elsie’s story. Being able to send Derian House families to the zoo was absolutely brilliant. Walking around the park, we’ve seen families smiling, and that’s everything that our charity is about. I feel absolutely privileged that Elsie’s Story has been able to help. I think it’s an honour to be able to give these families the chance to enjoy a day out at the zoo and create some special memories together.”

The idea for the day out came from Bill Molloy, whose granddaughter Isabelle was cared for by Derian House before she sadly died in 2021, aged two.

Gill Rabbett, Wishmaker at Derian House Children’s Hospice, said: “It was wonderful to see so many of our families enjoying a day together at the zoo in our first-ever group Derian Wish. We are incredibly grateful to Elsie’s Story for helping make it happen.

“Through Derian Wishes, we want every child and young person in our care to have the chance to experience something truly meaningful to them, and we love that this has given so many families the opportunity to share a wish together. Days like this give families the chance to relax, have fun and make memories together, and that is something really special.”

Find out more about Derian Wishes.

Our Life for a Life memorial book is now back at Derian House and can be found in the Reflection Room.

The book records the names and details of loved ones remembered through the Life for a Life scheme. Families can plant a tree in memory of someone special with a donation.

Over the years, the scheme has raised more than £18,000 for Derian House.

HOSPICE OPENING & CLOSING DAYS

• The hospice will be closed for in-house respite on Monday morning and Tuesday.

MONDAY 15th

• Happy Children’s Hospice Week everyone! We can’t wait to celebrate throughout the week in true Derian style, kicking off with our annual sports day up in the Sunshine Park (weather depending) with some very special sporting stars as guests…

• There will be a Senior Leadership Team Meeting this afternoon.

• The ball pool will be closed for cleaning from 1pm today.

TUESDAY 16th

• Playgroup will be held today in the Seaside Room from 10:00am – 11:30am.

• There will be an IPC committee meeting this morning.

• The fire alarm will be tested at 2pm today.

• There will be World Cup activities available this afternoon in the Messy PlayZone.

WEDNESDAY 17th

• Cornerstones Group for our bereaved Derian grandparents will be meeting today from 10am and 12pm in the Seaside Room.

• There will be a Sensory Room TACPAC session this morning, before Rachel’s sing-along music hour in the Snug.

• There will be an Operational Clinical Governance Meeting this afternoon.

• There will be fun sessions in the pool and pet therapy with Jo and Ted throughout the day.

THURSDAY 18th

• The Derian Grandparents Group will be meeting today in the Seaside Room from 10am – 12pm.

• The Referral Panel will be meeting this morning.

• Our CYP will be making Father’s Day gifts this morning, before music therapy in the afternoon with Debbie, our new music therapist.

FRIDAY 19th

• This morning, our CYP will be exploring musical instruments and having a sing-along.

• Claire will be hosting a music and movement session this afternoon in the Lounge.

SATURDAY 20th

• Today is King Charles’ birthday, so our CYP will be making King Charles crafts this morning.

• The Great Derian Treasure Hunt will be taking place this afternoon in the hospice.

SUNDAY 21st

• Our CYP will be having fun splashing around in the hydrotherapy pool this morning, and will be exploring with musical instruments and having as sing-along later in the afternoon.

ANY OTHER BUSINESS

• There will be an email sent out by Kerry from Fundraising about parking for next week’s Colour Run. Please look out for this and read it carefully.

• New work phones will be handed out this week to those who requested them.

• The Lone Worker app will be going live.

• Urmson will be continuing their remedial work on the bedroom corridors next week, and they will begin their compartmentalisation work on Wednesday 17^th.

• Tickets for the Wigan Warriors/Derian House family fun day can be bought for the special Derian discounted price of just £2 per ticket (children under 2 go free) via this link – https://wwrl.net/wkebev

• Thanks so much for sending your news this week. If you would like to share with the rest of Derian what your department is up to between 22nd – 28th June, please send an email to cameron.murray@derianhouse.co.uk or DLcommsandmarketing@derianhouse.co.uk  before Thursday 18th June.

Have a great week everyone!

MONDAY 8^th

• Crochet & Crafts will be taking place today in the Seaside Room between 10am and 12pm.

• Swimming lessons will take place between 3:00pm – 7:00pm in the hydrotherapy pool.

TUESDAY 9^th

• Playgroup will be held in the Seaside Room from 10:00am – 11:30pm for our toddlers and their families.

• Happy National Donald Duck Day! We’ll be celebrating with themed crafts in the Messy PlayZone this morning.

• Our in-house children and young people will be splashing around in the hydrotherapy pool this afternoon.

• There will be a fire test at 2pm.

WEDNESDAY 10th 

• Join Rachel the singing teacher in the Snug from 11am for an hour of singing fun.

• Tailored sessions of music with Martha the music therapist will take place in the Snug this afternoon.

• From 6pm – 8pm, The Lodgers will be at St Joseph’s Primary School practising their Kurling and Boccia skills!

• Derian Dads will be meeting tonight in the Seaside Room from 7pm – 9:30pm.

THURSDAY 11^th

• To celebrate National Games Day, we will be playing garden games in Sunshine Park.

• It’s music therapist Debbie’s first day today, and she’ll be running sessions in the Snug this afternoon.

• NEET daycare will be taking place at The Lodge today from 10am – 3:30pm. The Lodgers will be cooking chicken baltis and making cheesecake strawberries.

• There is a Sibling Social this afternoon! The older siblings will be going out for a meal before heading to Chorley Theatre to see Sister Act.

FRIDAY 12^th

• We’ll be helping Gareth the gardener do some gardening up in Sunshine Park.

• Let’s go for a walk down to Astley Park to feed the ducks.

• Chill Out & Chat will be held tonight in the Seaside Room from 6:30pm – 9pm.

SATURDAY 13^th

• Danni’s Club will be held today between 1:30pm and 4pm in the Seaside Room.

• There will be girls daycare at The Lodge from 10am – 4pm, where lots of arts, crafts and baking activities will be taking place throughout the day.

• Let’s make some Father’s Day cards to take home for our dads.

SUNDAY 14^th

• Children’s nurse Francesca Lennon will be coming to visit Derian today at 2:30pm. Francesca will be completing her ‘Steps of Love’ CHATUK Peaks Challenge for this year’s Children’s Hospice Week, where she will be climbing the highest peaks across the UK in one week.

ANY OTHER BUSINESS

• Urmsons will be in for the next two weeks doing fire door remedial work in The Lodge area.

• Volunteer Georgina finishes with us this week, so please send your updates for week commencing 19^th June to murray@derianhouse.co.uk or dlcommsandmarketing@derianhouse.co.uk going forward. Thank you Georgina for all of your hard work over the last eight months!

Have a great week everyone!

During #DyingMattersAwarenessWeek, we’re opening up conversations about death and dying.

At Derian House, we have always believed that giving a child a good end-of-life experience is just as important as the care they receive in life, and that families deserve compassionate support throughout their journey.  

That’s why we are encouraging you to talk openly about grief with families and to say their child’s name this Dying Matters Awareness Week. 

“You won’t remind us that they’re gone – we’re always thinking of them anyway.” 

Many parents wish people would continue to say their child’s name. We spoke to 70 bereaved families back in 2023 as part of our Say My Child’s Name campaign – watch the video to hear what they want you to know.

We created an easy guide on how to talk to someone who has lost a child, and here you can also find out more about our research: http://www.derianhouse.co.uk/bereavement 

As you know, at the hospice we provide personalised spaces for our families to say goodbye, remember, and reflect – including our Sunflower Rooms, the Reflection Room, and Reflection Garden.

We also work with MuchLoved, which offers online Tribute Funds giving families a space to celebrate a loved one’s life by sharing memories, photos, videos, music, and fundraising: https://www.derianhouse.co.uk/in-memory-giving/ 

Join us this September for our Footsteps & Forget-Me-Nots Memory Walk – a family-friendly 6km walk filled with love, live music and reflection, starting from the hospice: https://www.derianhouse.co.uk/events/footsteps-and-forget-me-nots/

Here are some further resources that can help you start the conversation in a way that works for you.

Thank you for helping us open up these important conversations and for supporting families when they need it most. 

Following the recent introduction of legislation from the Fundraising Regulator, we have updated our Complaints Policy to include how we will investigate and manage any complaint involving how we have handled and processed the data of our staff, patients, families, funders, etc.

Individuals have a statutory right to complain under the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 about the processing of their data. As a result, we have updated our Complaints Policy in the following areas:

• Section 1 – Policy Statement
• Section 2 – Scope

You can access the updated Policy on our intranet page.

If you do receive a complaint in relation to how we have managed an individual’s information, you should treat this as you would any other complaint.

This will ensure their complaint is treated seriously and that senior leaders are informed as soon as possible. The complaint can then be formally acknowledged, recorded and investigated fully so the complainant is responded to within timescale.

It was shades on, sun cream out and spirits high as supporters joined the Derian House annual Morecambe Bay walk from Arnside to Grange-over-Sands. This marked 30 years of the much-loved fundraiser… and the participants did not disappoint, having raised an incredible £10,651.83 for the hospice!
Dressed in Derian green T-shirts, 91 walkers and 10 dogs set off across the seven-mile stretch on Saturday 25th April. At points, they even waded through knee-height water!
Amongst those taking part was Andy Privett, with his family dog, Ralph the Cockapoo. Andy’s 12-year-old son, Jacob, and his family are supported by Derian House. The Privetts were one of 13 families who were able to visit Walt Disney World Florida last year through the charity, courtesy of a mystery donor.
“I took part in Morecambe Bay Walk for Derian House to help me prepare for a much bigger challenge for Derian House later this year – the 30-mile Sahara Desert Trek. I got to meet some of my fellow desert trekkers, and get to know them before we take on the adventure of a lifetime.
“My son Jacob is an amazing little boy with such strength, resilience and he amazes me every single day. Which is why I’ll be walking across the Sahara Desert to raise as much money as I can for Derian House. But the challenge is also a chance for me to find myself, and take a break from a busy life as a parent of a child who needs complex care every single day.
“I really enjoyed the walk across the Bay for Derian House, it was really easy-paced and sunny too.”
Entry to the Morecambe Bay Walk is always free, and participants are asked to raise a minimum of £50 each in support of Derian House.

Staff FAQ

In addition to the recent email about our exciting new service, here are some frequently asked questions. An SOP is also available in the policy files on the intranet.

What is Derian Wishes?

• Our new wish service helping create special moments and meaningful memories for the children and young people we care for.

Who can have a wish?

• Wishes are for children and young people receiving care at Derian House.
• Siblings are not eligible for their own wish, but wishes can include family experiences where siblings are part of the moment.

Is there an age limit?

• No, but we ask families to consider their child’s age and choose a wish that feels meaningful and appropriate, and to access the service at a time that feels right for them.

What kind of wishes can they ask for?

• Anything that is meaningful to them, big or small!
• This could be a day out, a family experience or something they’ve always wanted

How many wishes can a child make?

• Derian Wishes will grant one wish per child.
• There may also be instances where families that are part of one of our support groups will receive an additional shared wish experience together as a group.

What about bereaved families?

• In some circumstances, bereaved families may be offered a wish or memory-making experience
• This will be considered sensitively on a case-by-case basis

Are there any restrictions?

• There are a few. Wishes need to be safe, appropriate and within what we can realistically provide.
• Please refer to the document attached to your recent email for more information.

How does it work?

• Families are invited to apply for a wish using the online form derianhouse.co.uk/wishes
• We will then chat to the family to explore their ideas and carefully plan everything
• The wish is granted! With the families consent we may share photos of their experience.

How can I help?

• Make families aware of Derian Wishes
• Encourage families to apply for a wish using the online form, you could help them to fill this in if they are struggling
• Let us know if you feel a wish may need to be prioritised or fast-tracked due to a child’s changing condition or prognosis
• There may be the opportunity for staff and volunteers to get involved with delivering wishes.

Who should I contact if I have any questions?

Gillian Rabbett

wishes@derianhouse.co.uk

Ext 219

A huge thanks to all of the staff and volunteers who took part in our Derian Values survey – it was extremely useful and enabled us to continue with the next stage of our Values workshopping.

As promised, we randomly selected someone from those who completed the survey… leaving our lovely volunteer Cathy Carr the lucky winner of an Easter egg!

Derian House Children’s Hospice has been rated Good by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) following its latest inspection, recognising the charity’s high-quality, compassionate care for children and young people with life-limiting conditions.

Inspectors praised the hospice’s outstanding person-centred approach, describing the service as “exceptional” at putting children and families at the heart of care choices.

The report also praised facilities at the Chorley-based hospice, which includes 11 bedrooms for children and young people, family apartments, and specialist Sunflower Suites where families can spend time with their child after death.

Inspectors said the hospice environment felt “more like a home than a hospital.”

A team of inspectors visited the hospice, which supports more than 400 seriously ill babies, children and young people from across the North West, on 23 September, 2025, for an unannounced inspection.

During the assessment they spoke to staff, leaders, trustees and families who use Derian House. They also looked at care records, policies and procedures, complaints, incidents, and watched staff at work.

The CQC assesses services across five key areas: safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led. Derian was rated Good in all areas, with particularly strong scores in caring and responsive.

The report states:

“The provider was exceptional at treating people with kindness, empathy and compassion and in how they respected people’s privacy and dignity.”

Inspectors also highlighted the extraordinary care given to children and young people after death in the hospice’s Sunflower Suites. Families are supported to spend time with their child in a personalised and comforting environment, with staff adding meaningful touches such as favourite toys and children’s television programmes.

Families told inspectors that Derian’s care goes “above and beyond to support the whole family and not just the child,” including helping families make memories together through holidays, days out and special activities.

The inspection was carried out using the CQC’s new Single Assessment Framework, which assesses services against a wider range of quality statements and evidence sources than previous inspection models.

Karen Edwards OBE, Chief Executive of Derian House, said: “We are incredibly proud that the CQC has recognised the quality and compassion of the care delivered at Derian House every single day.

“This rating is a reflection of the dedication of our amazing staff and volunteers, and the trust that families place in us to care for their children at some of the most challenging times in their lives

“We’re particularly pleased as we were inspected under the CQC’s new framework, which assesses against a wider range of evidence sources, and therefore makes it more difficult than ever to achieve a Good rating.

“We feel very proud of the community of families, supporters and colleagues who together make Derian House such a special place. While we’re pleased to be rated Good, our ambition remains to achieve Outstanding, and we are already working on the areas identified for improvement.”

Read the full report here.

“This partnership shows exactly what it means to be one of the Warriors. It’s not just about playing rugby, it’s about building real connections with our community and supporting each other.” ✨

Wigan Warriors has dropped another surprise in their 2026 partnership with Derian House – and it’s a kit fans will definitely want in their collection 🍒🤍

After months of keeping it under wraps, the club has unveiled a special-edition warm-up kit designed by a group of Derian House’s own young people 💚

The team will wear their Third Kit warm-up jersey throughout the season, and you can purchase it by visiting the link below 💫

Watch on to see what happened when Adam Keighran and Harry Smith surprised our young people last week 🤩

➡️ wwrl.net/store

Derian dad and ‘The Little Things’ documentary maker Paul appeared on the BBC Breakfast sofa on Saturday morning (February 21) to talk about the release of his new documentary which explores the relationships between bereaved dads at Derian House’s support group.

Paul travelled over to the BBC studio in Salford, alongside fellow Derian dad Jamie Berrisford, who features in the documentary, to chat to hosts Naga Munchetty and Charlie Stayt.

In the 18-minute documentary, ‘Voice Again’, released 20 February, the camera turns to dads who have lost a child, revealing the bonds they create at the hospice. The focus is the dad’s bereavement support group – a safe space where they can talk openly about grief over a cup of tea or a takeaway.

Read more on BBC online.

The mini documentary is free to watch on Old Swan Films and Derian House’s social media pages.

Ramadan Kareem to all of our Muslim staff, volunteers, friends, families and supporters.

During this holy month, we’re looking forward to once again bringing together members of the community by reaching out and inviting them on a tour of their local children’s hospice to see the incredible work we do.

May Ramadan bring you happiness, prosperity and togetherness – love from us all here at Derian House.

A huge congratulations are in order for our Catering Team, who were visited by the Food Standards Agency last week for an inspection of Danni’s Diner…

…where we once again received a five star food hygiene rating!

Thank you so much to our tremendous trio of chefs – alongside their hardworking team of kitchen volunteers – for not only feeding us excellent food every day, but for keeping Derian House safe, clean and tidy in the process.

HOSPICE OPENING & CLOSING DAYS

• The hospice will be very busy this week, with lots of families booked in for stay and plays over half term.

MONDAY 16th 

• The Sensory Room will be closed so that the ball pit can be cleaned.

• The Crochet and Crafts group will be meeting today in the Seaside Room from 10am – 12pm.

• The care team will be going on a play in the community visit.

• We have a new member of staff, Christopher Pasquill, starting this week! He is the new manager of the West Houghton shop.

• The Senior Leadership Meeting will be held in Vinten Meeting Room today from 12pm – 1:30pm.

TUESDAY 17th

• Today is the start of Ramadan, Chinese New Year, and Pancake Day! To everyone celebrating – enjoy!

• Five families will be joining us for Family Day Care today, and will be eating lunch in the dining room at 12:30pm. If you’re planning on eating in Danni’s Diner, please grab your lunch before this time.

• The fire alarm will take place at 2pm.

• Lodge Day Care will take place from 10am – 4pm.

WEDNESDAY 18th 

• There will be a play in the community visit today.

• The Derian Dads will be meeting in the Seaside Room from 7pm – 9:30pm today.

• Lodge Day Care will take place once again from 10am – 4:00pm.

THURSDAY 19th

• Four of our young people will be coming in for a day of friendship-making and fun!

• Some of the team from Wigan Warriors will be visiting Lodge Day Care today to unveil the training shirt that our children and young people helped to design.

• There will be a guided meditation session in the Cinema Room today from 4pm.

FRIDAY 20th

• Paul Woodward’s latest film, ‘Voice Again’ – about the Derian Dads Bereavement Group – will be launching on YouTube this evening.

• We will be visiting Wigan Warriors for a meeting about the Derian House Charity Match…. date dropping soon!

ANY OTHER BUSINESS

• Thanks so much for sending your news this week. If you would like to share with the rest of Derian what your department is up to between 23rd February – 1st March, please send an email to murray@derianhouse.co.uk, georgina.morton@derianhouse.co.ukor DLcommsandmarketing@derianhouse.co.uk  before Thursday 17th February.

• For any out-of-hours Estates issues, please contact Richard this week.

Have a great week everyone!

Wigan Warriors have kicked off 2026 with an unusual challenge to supporters: buy the club’s new charity kit without seeing it.

In a bold move that is deeply symbolic, the Warriors have partnered with Derian House Children’s Hospice and asked fans to show their solidarity by purchasing the limited-edition kit sight unseen, as a show of commitment to supporting children with life-limiting conditions in their community.

The kit, designed in Derian House’s signature green, was revealed only to players, sponsors and guests at the club’s pre-season dinner on Friday (30 January). Rather than unveiling it publicly, the club is asking supporters to buy in on trust – backing the cause, not the design.

With limited availability, supporters are being urged to act quickly, with the kit available in-store at Robin Park Arena and online via the Wigan Warriors shop.

The year-long partnership will see Wigan Warriors and Derian House working together to raise awareness and funds through match day bucket collections, player and staff involvement in hospice events, and a dedicated fixture on 19 April 2026, when the Warriors will finally wear the Derian House kit in public.

Fundraising was kick started at the pre-season dinner on Friday night, with a rugby ball signed by the Wigan Warriors squad auctioned off for £3,279.00.

Derian House currently supports 58 children and families from the Wigan area, and more than 400 families across the North West, providing specialist care, respite and emotional support at no cost to families.

At the heart of the partnership is a Wigan family who continue to be supported by the hospice.

Holly Prince, from Hindley, died aged five in April 2022 after being diagnosed with Bloom syndrome – a rare and incurable genetic condition affecting around 300 people worldwide. Derian House supported Holly and her family in the final weeks of her life.

Holly’s dad, Mark Prince, a lifelong Wigan Warriors supporter, said the club’s approach made the partnership even more meaningful.

“What Derian did for us in the final weeks of Holly’s life, and what they continue to do for our family, means more than I can put into words.

“To see Wigan Warriors not just backing the hospice, but asking fans to support Derian without even seeing the kit, says everything about what this partnership stands for. It’s about compassion, not colours.

“Derian means the world to us. It’s an extraordinary place with incredible staff, and it’s about so much more than end-of-life care – it’s about being there for families when they need it most.”

Derian House Chief Executive Karen Edwards OBE said the decision to keep the kit under wraps sent a powerful message.

“Every family we support has their own story, but what they all share is courage – courage from children, parents and siblings facing situations no one ever expects,” she said.

“While Derian House delivers the care, it’s the strength of the community that makes that care possible. By asking fans to buy this kit unseen, Wigan Warriors are inviting people to stand with our families, not because of how something looks, but because of what it represents.

“This partnership is a shared commitment – to raising awareness for families who are often unseen, to supporting children who deserve the very best care, and to making sure no family feels alone at the hardest moments of their lives.”

Wigan Warriors winger Liam Marshall, whose pre-season friendly yesterday (Sunday 1 February) saw the Warriors defeat Hull RUFC, also spoke at the club’s event on Friday.

He said: “I was lucky enough to visit Derian House before Christmas with some of the lads to deliver presents to the children. It really opened my eyes – it’s not what people expect when they hear the word ‘hospice’.

“Yes, there are sad times, but there’s also so much joy and incredible support. They’re there not just for the children, but for parents, siblings and grandparents too, with groups continuing to support families even after they’ve lost a loved one. They’ve made what could be such a sad place into a wonderfully magical one, where families can make special memories.

“For us to be able to support Derian House this year is fantastic, and we hope everyone gets behind the cause and grabs a kit while they can.”

Kris Radlinski, Chief Executive at Wigan Warriors, added:

“This club has always been about more than rugby. Asking our supporters to buy the kit without seeing it is about trust, values and community – and backing a charity that does extraordinary work for families across our town and region.”

League of Gentlemen creator and Derian House ambassador, Steve Pemberton, was crowned the strongest link on the BBC’s The Weakest Link on Saturday night, and will donate the £12,800 prize to Derian House.

“It’s an incredible cause and I’m delighted to give them that money,” said Steve, who grew up in Chorley, not far from the hospice building.

Steve made it all the way to the final round on the latest The Weakest Link, hosted by comedian Romesh Ranganathan, alongside fellow celebrity contestant, BBC Still Game’s Sanjeev Kohli, and was crowned the strongest link on Saturday 17 January.

“That last round was like all the other rounds combined. It was really tense, but I’m really pleased – and really pleased for the charity,” Steve continued.

“Derian House Children’s Hospice, is in Chorley, Lancashire, which is where I’m from. They support children with life-limiting illnesses and their families. I grew up very close to the site where Derian House now stands. In fact, I used to play football on the field beside where the hospice is now. Derian House is well known in the area and nationally for providing the very best care for children and their families – and I am very proud to support everything they do.”

Multi award-winning actor and producer Steve is a long-standing supporter of Derian House, the hospice that cares for 400 families each year, and has made several generous donations to the charity over the years. He is also an executive producer of Derian House documentary, ‘The Little Things’, which is available to watch on Amazon Prime in the UK and the US.

Steve joined fellow celebrities Cherry Healey, Sian Welby, Jason Mohammad, Ashley Storrie, Dean McCullough, Sanjeev Kohli and Charley Marlowe on Saturday night’s show.

Calling all Derian dog owners! Dig out your walking boots this February and complete 100km throughout the month, whilst raising a minimum of £100.

Not only will your dedicated dog receive a free fundraising pack including a progress tracker, poster and bandana, but there’s also prizes to be won in three key categories!

• Picture Pawfect – voted for by Facebook friends
• FURthest Walked – for those who go the extra mile
• ‘Mutts’ Amount Raised – go and smash your target!

Register your interest or sign up today: https://www.derianhouse.co.uk/events/top-dog/

Fresh from his appearance on I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!, Manchester rapper Aitch swapped bushtucker trials for plenty of smiles, and surprised his local children’s hospice with lots of gifts in time for Christmas.

Aitch stopped by at the hospice on Wednesday (17 December) to hand out gifts on behalf of Porsche Bolton, and took the time to chat with every child, young person, family, and staff member at the hospice – earning himself the nickname “Father Aitch-mas” for the day.

The chart-topping rapper, known for hits like “Rain” and “Baby” and for his collaboration with Ed Sheeran on the deeply personal track “My G” dedicated to his sister, who has Down’s Syndrome, made sure no one was left out.

The I’m a Celebrity star signed autographs and posed for photos as he encountered plenty of starstruck fans.

And not one person was left forgotten, as the rapper left a special gift for the family of Luke McCaughery, a valued member of the Derian Dynamos sports team, who passed away aged 16 earlier this year.

Aitch signed a custom Derian Dynamos T-shirt for Luke’s parents, Lauren and Lee, which read: ‘RIP Luke, legend. Love Aitch.’

Our incredible army of volunteers were treated to a Christmas cracker of an afternoon, as we celebrated them at a festive bash to remember at Derian House.

The bunch of selfless superstars never ask for anything in return of giving up their valuable time, expertise and skills in a multitude of roles here at the hospice, so we wanted to treat them at the most special time of the year.

We enjoyed Turkey and all the trimmings while we heard some terrible cracker jokes, followed by a hilarious festive whistling game that got our vollys singing along, and a very competitive quiz.

Join us next Thursday, 18th December for our Lights of Love festive open evening – get your tickets here.

Wander through our enchanting forest of 100 Christmas trees – each beautifully decorated and sponsored by our amazing supporters.

Meet Santa, enjoy festive stalls, sip on delicious refreshments, and soak up the music of a live brass band.

Bring the whole family – even the furry ones!

Tickets are selling fast! Children under 12 and dogs go FREE, and adult tickets are just £3.50.

Tickets must be booked in advance – don’t miss out on this magical night!

Grab your tickets now: https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/booking/select/kngzwbgdylox

Across the weekend, our annual Christmas parties brought together dozens of Derian families to celebrate this very special time of year.

Our annual party for our younger children and their families was an absolute blast this year at Academy at Worden! There was so much festive fun and lots of smiles all round.

And our Lodgers celebrated in style at Chorley Football Club – they had the BEST time!

A huge thanks to everyone who helped make the events a success.

Influencer family @itsthehillarys stopped by on Friday (5 December) with piles of presents for our children and young people just in time for Christmas.

TikTok’s favourite family – Mark, Ellie, Marcus, and baby Marco – took a tour of the hospice, learned more of what we do here, and met some of our children and young people – including Amelia and Macy.

Head over to their TikTok where you can watch their visit to Derian House: https://www.tiktok.com/@itsthehillarys

Tickets are still available to book for Lights of Love this Friday.

Featuring your favourite Christmas carols performed by The Rawstorne Singers as well as music from the Singitbig choir, and more! Refreshments and mince pies will be available to enjoy following the service and our popular selection of Derian House charity Christmas cards will also be on sale at the event.

Come along and support Matthew Valentine, 16, and his family, who will be switching on the Cathedral’s Christmas lights.

We have introduced a small ticket price* this year to help keep this Christmas tradition alive, and we are deeply grateful for your generosity.

Book your tickets here: Lights of Love Carol Service at Blackburn Cathedral event tickets from TicketSource

*If you would prefer to donate on the night, or support us in another way, the ticket price can be removed and tickets can still be booked for free. 

HOSPICE OPENING & CLOSING DAYS

• The hospice is open throughout with stay and plays all week.

MONDAY 24th

• O Christmas tree, o Christmas tree! United Utilities are delivering two Christmas trees – one for outside of reception and one to go into the Sensory Garden (this may happen today or tomorrow!)
• Urmson are also here today carrying out fire damper testing.
• This morning, our children and young people are painting in the messy room and later today they will be watching a film in the cinema.
• The Play and Wellbeing Team will also be delivering play in the community.
• Swimming lessons are taking place this afternoon.

TUESDAY 25th

• Playgroup takes place this morning in the Seaside Room.
• Our in-house CYP will be relaxing with sensory stories and massage this morning before an afternoon of festive crafts including advent calendar and Christmas card making.
• Derian babies will be enjoying baby massage on community visits today.
• Jo and Ted will be visiting for Pet Therapy at 1:30pm.
• The electric meter is being replaced in the Blackburn shop today.
• GOOD LUCK to the Derian Dynamos who are competing in the pentathlon multi-sports competition today!

WEDNESDAY 26th

• Our in-house children and young people will be taking part in some messy, sensory fun this morning before making a splash in the hydrotherapy pool this afternoon.
• Rachel Toner will be visiting for our weekly sing-a-long.
• The bereaved dads group are visiting The Flower Bowl this evening to play a game of crazy golf.

THURSDAY 27th

• Jump Children’s Charity are visiting us today to treat our in-house CYP and five lucky families to a memory making photography experience.
• We’ll be wrapping up warm and playing on Sunshine Park this morning before cosying up with Tac Pac and stories.
• NEET day care is taking place today in The Lodge.
• The project manager from Innova is visiting to scope the work on replacing the hoist system in The Lodge.
• Take the opportunity to relax your mind and leave your emotional challenges to one side for half an hour. Join John in the cinema from 4pm for guided meditation.
• Paul Woodward is meeting with Lucy and some of the bereaved dads this evening to carry out some filming for a small spin off documentary to ‘The Little Things.’

FRIDAY 28th

• Our in-house children and young people will be making winter bird feeders this morning before heading out on a trip in the bus this afternoon.

• Derian babies will be enjoying baby massage at home today.

SATURDAY 29th

• The youth family drop-in session takes place today.
• We’ll be baking in the dining room this morning and taking a winter walk to Astley Park later in the day before cosying up with a story.

SUNDAY 30th

• Happy St. Andrews Day!
• Our in-house children and young people will be having fun in the hydrotherapy pool this morning and taking part in some St. Andrew’s Day inspired crafts this afternoon including design their own tartan.

ANY OTHER BUSINESS

• Thanks so much for sending your news this week. If you would like to share with the rest of Derian what your department is up to between 1 – 7 December, please send an email to rabbett@derianhouse.co.uk before Thursday 27 November.

Have a great week everyone!

Last week, our new Derian Values sessions for staff kicked off in the Seaside Room, as we look to reflect where we are on our values journey.

We want to take time to review our values, so that they match where Derian House is now – and how they can be fit for the future.

As the values are for staff, by staff – and are essential to everything we do – we want as many colleagues involved as possible, along with our Board of Trustees and volunteers.

If you didn’t get chance to visit the first session, please look out for more coming soon. In the meantime, you can fill out the short survey below so that we can grasp a better understanding of what YOU think of the current Derian Values.

Derian Values – Fill out form

“Derian House made it possible for me to spend my special day as a mum as opposed to being a carer. It can be hard to find childcare for a complex child like Oliver, and we are so grateful that we have Derian to help – they went above and beyond.” ✨

There were smiles and happy tears all round as eight-year-old Oliver, who requires round-the-clock care, was able to attend his mum’s wedding with the help of staff from Derian House 💒

Mum Samantha Dolan had just one wedding wish – for all three of her sons to be there as she walked down the aisle at Holland Hall, in Skelmersdale, on Friday 24th October 👰🏼‍♀️

Her son Oliver fell ill at just four weeks old, suffering from meningitis and a hypoxic brain injury. As a result, he struggles with movement and sight, and needs oxygen to breathe due to a chest condition, requiring 24/7 care 🫶

But despite everything, Oliver, now eight, was able to celebrate at the wedding alongside his brothers Jacob and Benjamin, and the rest of the family – with help from two members of our team from the hospice 💫

We’re so glad that we could help make Samantha and Christopher’s very special day even more special, and that they could relax and enjoy it without having to worry 💚

HOSPICE OPENING & CLOSING DAYS

• The hospice is open all week.

MONDAY 17th

• Today is World Prematurity Day and our in-house children and young people will be creating collages using all things purple, the colour associated with World Prematurity Day.
• Popcorn and snacks at the ready, its movie time this afternoon for our in-house CYP!
• Swimming lessons are taking place between 3 – 7pm.

TUESDAY 18th

• Playgroup will be held in the Seaside Room this morning, where our babies and toddlers will be enjoying a morning of music, messy play and fun from 10 – 11:30am.
• Our in-house children and young people will be getting messy with (clean!) mud before making a splash in the hydrotherapy pool this afternoon.
• The Play and Wellbeing Team will be delivering therapeutic play in the community today.

WEDNESDAY 19th

• Rainbow Hub are using the hydrotherapy pool this morning.
• The winter weather has definitely arrived and our in-house children and young people will be making snowflake pictures before warming up this afternoon in their rebound therapy session.
• Music teacher Rachel will be here to entertain us with an hour of music fun.
• Derian babies will be enjoying baby massage at home today.

THURSDAY 20th

• Strike! Today we’re holding a sensory bowling competition for our in-house children and young people.
• We have 10 corporate volunteers from The Acorn Group joining us to help with Christmas preparations.
• The facilities team (minus Sam) are on a Ladder Inspection course here at the hospice.
• This afternoon, our CYP will be taking a walk to Chorley Library to enjoy story time.
• Derian volunteers are representing us at the Anwyl Homes open evening tonight in Warrington. There will be tombola fun and Derian Christmas cards on sale, and a special appearance from Ted the therapy dog.

FRIDAY 21st

• Today is National Gingerbread Day!
• Our children and young people will be exploring using their senses during the morning and making delicious gingerbread biscuits this afternoon.

SATURDAY 22nd

• In-house hydrotherapy is taking place today.
• Denise is hosting the Derian Mum’s retreat today between 10am – 4pm. The mums will be treated to relaxing aromatherapy and exploring crystals, journaling and the moon circle.
• Our in-house CYP will be enjoying sensory stories this afternoon.
• Derian volunteers are representing us at the Preston Marriott Christmas Light Switch On this evening. Our volunteers will be spreading awareness and selling festive chocolate oranges.

SUNDAY 23rd

• We’ll be having fun on Sunshine Park this morning and creating name collage art this afternoon.

ANY OTHER BUSINESS

• Thanks so much for sending your news this week. If you would like to share with the rest of Derian what your department is up to between 24 – 30 November, please send an email to rabbett@derianhouse.co.uk before Thursday 20 November.

Have a great week everyone!

Hello everyone, please find below an update on all things Derian House:

1. Thank you to everyone for making me so welcome in my new office in the hospice, I am absolutely loving spending time there, speaking to staff  and volunteers, and seeing our children/young adults and their families, I absolutely love the noise of the corridor!
2. CQC Inspection.  We are still awaiting our draft report, which we are expecting any time in the next couple of weeks.  We will have an opportunity to feedback about any points of the report that we believe to be factually incorrect, before the final report is shared.  I will keep everyone updated as soon as we know more.
3. One of the key things that staff fed back as part of the CQC staff survey was around the use of the Freedom to Speak Up Guardian process, and so we are currently reviewing that and will advise any changes to help support its use going forward.
4. Karen (HR) and Caroline are leading a piece of work on our values, you’ll have received an email inviting you to give some feedback on our current values, and the We Are Derian Forum attendees took part I an exercise today looking at how the values are lived through our work.  There will be lots of opportunity to get involved and determine whether the values are fit for purpose for Derian now and I the future, and your input is essential in that, so please do get involved.
5. We are reviewing the current strategic plan.  This is a 3month project which is being externally facilitated and many of the leaders across the charity will be involved.  In addition we want all colleagues and volunteers to have their thoughts and opinions heard so keep an eye out over the coming weeks about how you can do so.
6. As many of you will know Bridget has decided to retire and will leave her current role at the end of January.  We are keen to keep Bridget connected to the hospice and so we are considering what role Bridget could play going forward.  In terms of filling the Clinical Director role we are taking a few weeks to consider what we will require.
7. We interviewed for a number of roles recently.  We have a new PA for Directors starting soon, and a new HR administrator.  The named nurse role wasn’t filled so we will look at this again in the New Year and we are hoping to appoint to the Director of Children and families role in the next week.
8. It’s that time of year where we are setting next year’s budget.  Please speak to your team managers and Directors about how you can get involved in the budget setting for your area of work.
9. Anthony will be rolling out Vantage training over the next month so please keep an eye open for the invites, this is open to all colleagues and its important everyone knows how to log an incident appropriately.

• And finally… yes… the C word has very much arrived !! We’re all looking forward to a wonderful festive season both in terms of fundraising and creating the most wonderful of memories for our children and families.

Any questions or if you want to have a chat with me at any time, please let me know.

Thanks everyone for all your hard work.

With just 44 days until Christmas, we’re expecting an increase in supporters asking what our families would like as gifts.

This means now is the perfect time to add any last-minute requests to our Derian House Amazon Wish List.

If you would like to request items for the Wish List, please email kerry.salmon@derianhouse.co.uk with the following information:

• Item link
• Quantity needed
• A brief explanation of why the item is beneficial to the Hospice

Our very own Wish Tree is now in Reception. Please spread the word to friends and family!

Supporters are welcome to visit the hospice, take a tag from the tree, purchase the corresponding gift, and return it with the tag attached.

Join us for a night of festive carols and mince pies at our annual Christmas concert at Blackburn Cathedral on the evening of Friday 5 December at 7.30pm.

The service includes festive readings, Christmas carols and performances by The Rawstorne Singers and The Singitbig Choir.

All families, staff, volunteers, and supporters are welcome to attend our Lights of Love Carol Service, however this year we are asking for a minimum suggested donation of £5 per ticket.

We appreciate that Christmas can be an expensive time of year, please give what you can.

Hi everyone,

On Friday 31^st October, we can wear Halloween t-shirts to celebrate spooky season – please adhere to IPC when choosing your outfits.

HOSPICE OPENING & CLOSING DAYS

• This week, we have children and young people booked in from Tuesday 7th to Sunday 12th October.

MONDAY 6th

• Closed for in-house respite.
• Eventura are on site to continue switching the main hospice over to the new network (Sam will be with them).
• The drop-in flu vaccine clinic is available between 9am – 4:30pm in the Music Room and is free for all staff and volunteers.
• Today we welcome three new nurses to Team Derian, say hello to Kirsty Loyns, Laura Pollitt and Bethany Parkinson!

TUESDAY 7th

• Playgroup will be taking place in the Seaside Room today.
• Spooky season has officially arrived and we will be putting up Halloween decorations in The Lodge.
• Our in-house children and young people will be having fun and playing games on Sunshine Park this morning before a music and movement session this afternoon.

WEDNESDAY 8th

• We’ll be making autumn wreaths in Messy Play today.
• Rachel Toner will be joining us for a sing-a-long hour this morning.
• Our Pets as Therapy dog, Ted, will be visiting us this afternoon for lots of cuddles.
• In-house CYP will be enjoying fun and splashes in the hydrotherapy pool this afternoon.
• Our support group for bereaved mums meets this evening, they will be experiencing a Reiki drumming circle followed by Halloween crafts.

THURSDAY 9th   

• A therapeutic TacPac session will be held in the Sensory Room this morning.
• NEET day care for our young people not in education, employment or training.
• Popcorn and snacks at the ready, its movie time!

FRIDAY 10th

• Our children and young people will be taking part in sensory tactile play in the Messy PlayZone this morning and baking yummy treats to take home this afternoon.
• Our siblings group, Chill Out and Chat, will be meeting in the Seaside Room tonight from 6:30pm – 9pm.

SATURDAY 11th

• There will be in-house swimming this morning before we snuggle up to listen to our favourite fairy tales.
• The Lodgers will be doing some autumn themed crafts followed by a trip to the park.
• Danni’s Club for siblings will be getting together this afternoon in the Seaside Room from 1:30pm – 4pm.

SUNDAY 12th

• Eye’s down… We’re playing prize bingo!
• Our in-house children and young people are off on a woodland walk and taking part in a nature scavenger hunt.

ANY OTHER BUSINESS

• Check out our current vacancies Careers | Derian House Children’s Hospice
• Thanks so much for sending your news this week. If you would like to share with the rest of Derian what your department is up to between 13 – 19 October, please send an email to rabbett@derianhouse.co.uk before Thursday 9 October.

Today we say goodbye to John Boe, who led our Facilities and Infrastructure for almost two years.

We wish him a very happy retirement from everyone at Derian House, and hope he enjoys lots of walks in the Lakes, baking pies, carving his beloved shepherd’s crooks, and spending more time with his family.

Our annual newsletter, Stories and Smiles, and our Christmas shop and events calendar are available now!

Read about all the amazing things we have been up to this year, and find out more about upcoming events – as well as ticking off your Christmas list in our festive shop.

You can pick your copies up in reception from today.