Demelza Hospice Care for Children

Hospice care for children

Demelza Hospice Care for Children is the inspiration of Derek and Jennifer Phillips, who set it up following the death of their daughter Demelza in 1990, aged 24, from a brain tumour. Demelza worked at a children's hospice in Birmingham.

That children's hospice made a huge and lasting impression on Derek and Jennifer when they visited it for her memorial service. On their return to their home in Kent, they realised that the South East was in desperate need of such a hospice - a place not of sadness, but of cheerfulness, affection and understanding.

Derek and Jennifer had resolved to start a charity to raise money for a children's hospice and the Demelza Hospice Care for Children was launched in Chritsmas 1994.
Supporters appeared from the local community and further afield. Countess Mountbatten of Burma became the Patron of the charity.

After four years of fundraising, Demelza Hospice Care for Children opened its doors to the first children in 1998. The buildings, set within a 6 acre site in rural Bobbing, near Sittingbourne, are designed to look like a traditional Kentish farmhouse with the addition of a beautiful oast house in keeping with the Kent countryside.

Since 1998, Demelza Hospice Care for Children has gone from strength to strength and is now providing leadership and focus for its many children, families and staff and also for supporters.

Many people still think a children's hospice is only for very sick children. This is far from the case. We welcome any child with a life-limiting condition, fulfilling our criteria, at any stage of their illness or health. We envisage good friendships developing as happens in other children's hospices, when the child and family visit us regularly over the years.

Visit Demelza Hospice Care for Children:
http://www.demelza.org.uk