The Donna Louise: Hospice Care For Children & Young People
About The Donna Louise: Hospice Care For Children & Young People
Help us to make memories for so many children, young adults and their families throughout Staffordshire & Cheshire!
Visit www. thedonnalouise.org
The Donna Louise: Hospice Care For Children & Young People Description
We give physical, practical and emotional support to both the child, young adult and their family. Respite and end of life care is provided at our hospice, as well as in the family’s own home. We also offer ongoing bereavement counselling and support for the whole family. Our service covers the whole of Staffordshire and Cheshire.
It costs £3. 5 million each year to provide this service and the Trust does not receive any statutory funding
Reviews
Now that the roof is on, this week’s building update takes us inside. Watch this short clip as we take a walk through the downstairs! 🏠 It’s amazing – first we walk through the therapy room, glancing into the counselling, well-being and group rooms before ending in the HUGE lounge and dining space, which will also include an entertainment area, kitchen and quiet zone. 💫💖💫
Yesterday we welcomed some furry, scaly, creepy and crawly friends to the hospice for the last of our Summer Family Fun Days! It was an animal extravaganza as loads of our families made friends with sheep, snakes, tarantulas and Meer cats (to name a few)! 🐍🕷️🐑🐕
We’ve loved every minute of this year’s Summer Family Fun Days – thanks to your #ONEINAMILLION support, we can keep making sure the children, young people and their families have fun every single day of the year. 💖
Grab your family and friends (over 18's only) and make sure this date is a firm fixture in your 2018 diary- it's not to be missed, with all proceeds benefiting The Donna Louise. What's not to love?!
Our past events in Stoke, Nantwich, Lichfield and Burton have all been really popular, so don’t miss your chance to taste some great Gins AND support the families of The Donna Louise!
Tickets are just £20 (+ booking fee) and include entrance, welcome drink, food and balloon glass to keep and take home. Click the ticket link to book your place.
Earlier this month, we had a visit from Matt and Mark from Altecnic when they came to present us with a cheque for an amazing £2,209! 😯
Matt raised this incredible amount when he ran Stafford Half Marathon earlier this year with Lyla’s dad, Kip. 🏃♂️
We’d like to say a massive #ONEINAMILLION thank you to Matt and all of the team at Altecnic – your kind support will make such a huge difference to so many local families! 💖
In just a few weeks’ time, we will be opening a brand new shop in Newcastle-under-Lyme and we would love to see lots of you there at the official opening on Friday 14th September! 😀🎈
Over the next few years we’re planning to grow our network of shops, which will in turn help to increase awareness of The Donna Louise. So come along and be one of the first to grab a bargain and support local families all at the same time! 💖 Click below for more info 👇
We are so pleased to announce that registrations for the 2019 10k & 5k Family Fun Run are now OPEN! 🏃♂️💫🏃♀️
Not only that, if you register online before midday on Wednesday 31st October, you’ll receive the early-bird discounted rate! 😀🐦
This year’s event was a fabulous day for all of the family with almost 1000 runners taking part! We can't wait for next year's run! Register here 👉 https://bit.ly/2p8aGCK
Our supporters really are #ONEINAMILLION; we’re always amazed by how much local communities to do to support the children, young people and families of The Donna Louise. 💖
Groups and individuals across Staffordshire and Cheshire are holding some great events over the next couple of months. From an ‘All Stars’ Charity Football match, to Family Fun Days out, there’s something for everyone! 😀
Take a look at our Supporter Events calendar to see what’s on👇
The force has definitely been with us today for our Star Wars summer family fun day! Children, young people and their families were transported to a galaxy far, far away with a visit from Storm Troopers, Padmé and Darth Vader himself! Big thanks to 99th Garrison for coming along to make it such a fun day for families, staff and volunteers alike! 💫💖💫
It’s not often that two Michelin stars cook together right here in Stoke on Trent, but that’s exactly what’s happening on Monday 8th October! 💫
We are inviting you to join us at the beautiful World of Wedgwood for a #ONEINAMILLION evening of exceptional food and wine.💖 Stoke born chefs, Michelin European Young Chef of the Year, Niall Keating, and global award-winning Michelin starred chef, Simon Hulstone will create a stunning 5-course tasting menu, with Old School Wines providing a spectacular selection of wines for you to enjoy.
Every penny raised will be donated to help make every moment count for the children, young adults and families of The Donna Louise. Click below for more info and to book your tickets 👇
We need your vote! You can vote for The Donna Louise to win charity of the year in the JustGiving Charity Awards. It’s quick and easy to do and would mean so much to us in our #ONEINAMILLION year! 💖 Click below to vote!
We’d like to say a great big thank you and well done to the team at Marks & Spencer in Burton who’ve so far raised over £2,500 just from packing people’s shopping bags!
This is just the start of their #ONEINAMILLION challenge to raise a whopping £18,000 over the next year and we can’t say a big enough thank you for all that they’re doing to support the children, young people and families of The Donna Louise! 💖
Did you know that next time you buy something on Amazon Smile you can also support The Donna Louise? For every purchase you make, Amazon Smile will donate 0.5% to us!
It’s quick and easy to do - just visit https://smile.amazon.co.uk/ and log in as you would your amazon account and then select The Donna Louise – simple! 💫
Earlier this month, Rory Ashcroft and a group of friends ventured to the top of Scotland’s highest mountain, Ben Nevis, in memory of his little brother, Ed, raising over £1,600 for The Donna Louise. Not only did they trek 1,344m to reach the summit, Rory carried a backpack of rocks and stones weighing 40.7kg – the equivalent weight of carrying Ed with him every step of the way. When they reached the top, they used the stones to build a cairn in his memory.
Before taking on t...he challenge, Rory shared his heart-warming story; “The Donna Louise has helped and supported my family along each step of the way; they took Eddie and our family in from his early days as a little 'un to the last, precious days of his life. They ensured Eddie and our family were as peaceful and as comfortable as we all could be at such a time.”
He continues, “My family aren’t the only family The Donna Louise have been there for; every day they put hard work, love and determination into giving children and families life and happiness at every opportunity.”
Everyone at The Donna Louise would like to say a huge thank you to Rory and his friends. What an incredible #ONEINAMILLION thing to have done. 💖
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It might still be August but we’re already really excited about taking our LOVE Gin event to #Congleton Town Hall this autumn on 12th October! Our past events in Stoke, Nantwich, Lichfield and Burton have all been really popular, so don’t miss your chance to taste some great Gins AND support the families of The Donna Louise! Click below to get your tickets 👇
A massive thank you to our lovely Burton Friends Group who recently held a curry night to raise money for The Donna Louise! 💫
60 people had a great night out with a yummy 3 course at The Apne Restaurant in Burton on Trent, and raised over £1000 all at the same time – how great is that?!
Thanks to everyone who went along and to Burton Friends Group for their amazing #ONEINAMILLION support! 💖
The ground floor of the new young adult unit is really coming on now – it’s huge!!😯 Not only will there be a massive space for an entertainment area, kitchen and quiet zone, there will also be therapy, counselling and well-being rooms. It’s so exciting to see how just how far it’s come since we first broke ground last December – what a #ONEINAMILLION year this is 💖
Let’s hear it for the lovely team from Prosurv Consult who recently completed the 3 peaks challenge, raising a whopping £4,052 for The Donna Louise – how amazing is that?! 😯
They were joined by staff from C2C Consulting and Staffordshire Access Scaffolding who are all working together on building the new young adult’s unit.
A massive #ONEINAMILLION thank you to you all – this will make such a huge difference to so many of the families who come to The Donna Louise! 💖
Are you an aspiring Lord Sugar or budding Bill Gates? From 1st September, we’ll give you £50 to turn into as much cash as you possibly can. 💫💷💫
Whether you bake cakes, wash cars or host a dinner party (to name just few ideas!), you’ll be making a massive difference to children like Kayla. For more info about how you and your colleagues, club mates or school can become #MillionaireMakers, call our Fundraising team on 01782 654444 or click below 👇
Today has been SO much fun – there’s been singing, dancing, drums beating, toes tapping and notes twinkling as we welcomed lots of musicians to The Donna Louise for our Musical Summer Family Fun Day! 💖🎶🎸🎹🎻🎵🎷🎶💫
well where to start these people looked after my baby cousin when he was poorly and when he died i would like to thank them for everything they did for him and my family letting us stay feeding us we were made to feel like it was our home but 1 day i shall return but for now thank you but sadly my cousin passed away when he was 13months old thank you for the support u gave him and his family thank you x
well I dont know what to say, i come yesterday to visit a special little girl and I can say this place is truly amazing! it's a sad place that shouldn't have to exist but the things they do to make it comfortable for children and their parents at such a horrible hard heartbreaking time is amazing! should be proud of themselves whoever is involved with the donna Louise! & i sure will be fundraising soon to help them help more children ���
the donna louise is like having another family and they take care of you like a mum does and if it wasn't for the donna louise i wouldn't be the person i am today so thank you amazing charity and I am glad to support the donna louise though the adult exstend thank you for me and charlotte are great full and so are my family xxx
Would like to say thank you to all the staff that has looked after my son this week, you are all amazing people.
Where do i even start, this place is amazing and all the Staff are simply out of this world. The care you have all given Mckayla during her final days was out of this world, we could not have wished for anything better for her. You are all such amazing people and make such a horrible and sad time that little bit better. You treated her with love and so much care � you will always be a special part in our hearts. The extra love and support that you showed us as a Family to was also amazing and playing with Finley everyday was more than we could have ever asked for � We will come back and visit you all and will continue to raise funds for you. Such a special special place that will stay with us forever. Again thank you all so so very much xxx
This time last year we were in the garden suit following the sudden death of our little man Tommy. We arrived on Wednesday 14th & left on Friday 16th January, we could have stayed longer but we wanted to get closer to home. The hospices closer to home wouldn't take us after Tommy died. During our stay we couldn't of asked for more, we had the perfect setting for the family to say their goodbyes we were looked after and still make regular visits to meet up with the brilliant staff. We are keeping busy now fundraising to keep these services for other family's, bless you all we will be forever grateful xxxx
The Donna Louise have supported my family for many years now and my son Boden loves the place. They were also fabulous when my daughter Bronwyn passed away from a tragic accident and they took us under there wing for which we can never be so thankful.
Amazing xxxxx
Thank you for a fantastic night Evening with Phil Taylor ,Barry Hearn &Guests David Seaman Ray Thompson and Lorraine Thompson was happy to attend and support The Donna Louise Children's Hospice . Thank you for the many years of support through the years .You have given us the strength to carry on .Hope the fund raising for male carers goes well .
Ray and Lorraine Thompson
Such a great place and so reassuring to no my boy is in good hands whilst mummy gets to recoup, such a loved little boy xxx
Staying at Donna louise is a great experience, the staff are very caring of individual needs and make you feel at home. You also meet new families who are going through the same thing as you and you know you are not alone.there is always someone to talk to and counciling if required. All children enjoy spending time there with all the friendly staff doing different activities or playing outside on the playground. You find time to relax and spend time with your other children knowing that your poorly child is safe and haveing fun And being cared for by qualified staff and you can go to them at any time. Staying upstairs in the lovely bedrooms and spaceious sitting room with kitchen with everything required eg" washer, dryer and most importantly phone in the room so that the staff could contact you in the night if there is any problems or concerns. Over all its just a brilliant place and I would recomend it to anyone. Thankyou to all the caring people who put a lot of time in to keep this place going and to all the fund raisers provideing the money to do so it is very much appreciated by many I am sure xxxx Thanks again, you are all wonderfull XXXX
Our daughter Jade passed away in August 2005, we didn't know what would happen but we're told we could take her to the Donna Louise. We were met by wonderful staff who took us to the garden room. Such a beautiful room where we could spend time together with Jade to say our final goodbyes and get used to the fact that she was no longer with us. The staff were amazing and looked after our family and friends that came to see Jade. We truly can't thank them enough and so most years we take part in the annual fun run/walk at Trentham gardens, and have had a few larger fundraisers on her special birthdays. We will continue to support the Hospice, because their care and compassion is so greatly needed sadly for the many families that have to take the same path as ours. Their support is ongoing and for us we return each year for the memory day which remembers each and everyone of our beautiful angel children. An emotional day, but one we can share and cry together knowing exactly how we are all feeling. Thankyou for everything you do xxx
My son James is a regular at the Donna Louise. It's such a great and happy place, the staff are all lovely and James is spoilt rotten there. They support the whole family too, through all the ups and downs off caring for a child with a life limiting condition. You are wonderful, couldn't manage without you.
My daughter went in this hospice as an end of life disorder and couldnt thank all the staff enough for looking after her and giving me and my girlfriend respite, and giving us help and support, always there if you needed them had tough and great times at this place defernatly the best ever charity place running and deserve everything , been a year and imiss this place defo have too visit again soon :)
Just the best go in as a special family the special ones stay downstairs to be looked after by very very special nurses and carers and the family then go upstairs to chill and be waited on like a 10 star hotel but with special people in there lives we loved every special minute of this place
I would like to thank everyone at the Donna Louise for everything they've done for me and Jake and especially our beautiful princess Sophia who is now in heaven�� you are all truely amazing and supported us all the way through it. We can never thank you enough for everything you've done for us and all the memories we've made with our princess because of your amazing staff!� we will be donating to you for the rest of lifes. We truly appreciate everything you've all done for us all. Thank you so much���
I used to come here for my sister who unfautualy passed away a few years ago now. Donna Louise trust is amazing place helped my mum loads and the staff are lovely too :).
First time taking my boy last Thursday was so beautiful and the staff there r amazing xx Can't wait for me an my fam to spend a night there to see my bailey have smile on his face is priceless he loved so much as did my other kids and seeing there brother so happy xx
Amazing place, amazing staff, staff can not do enough for your family to make life easier :) x
Amazing place with unbelievable staff who go beyond the call of duty
well where to start these people looked after my baby cousin when he was poorly and when he died i would like to thank them for everything they did for him and my family letting us stay feeding us we were made to feel like it was our home but 1 day i shall return but for now thank you but sadly my cousin passed away when he was 13months old thank you for the support u gave him and his family thank you x
well I dont know what to say, i come yesterday to visit a special little girl and I can say this place is truly amazing! it's a sad place that shouldn't have to exist but the things they do to make it comfortable for children and their parents at such a horrible hard heartbreaking time is amazing! should be proud of themselves whoever is involved with the donna Louise! & i sure will be fundraising soon to help them help more children ���
the donna louise is like having another family and they take care of you like a mum does and if it wasn't for the donna louise i wouldn't be the person i am today so thank you amazing charity and I am glad to support the donna louise though the adult exstend thank you for me and charlotte are great full and so are my family xxx
Would like to say thank you to all the staff that has looked after my son this week, you are all amazing people.
Where do i even start, this place is amazing and all the Staff are simply out of this world. The care you have all given Mckayla during her final days was out of this world, we could not have wished for anything better for her. You are all such amazing people and make such a horrible and sad time that little bit better. You treated her with love and so much care � you will always be a special part in our hearts. The extra love and support that you showed us as a Family to was also amazing and playing with Finley everyday was more than we could have ever asked for � We will come back and visit you all and will continue to raise funds for you. Such a special special place that will stay with us forever. Again thank you all so so very much xxx
This time last year we were in the garden suit following the sudden death of our little man Tommy. We arrived on Wednesday 14th & left on Friday 16th January, we could have stayed longer but we wanted to get closer to home. The hospices closer to home wouldn't take us after Tommy died. During our stay we couldn't of asked for more, we had the perfect setting for the family to say their goodbyes we were looked after and still make regular visits to meet up with the brilliant staff. We are keeping busy now fundraising to keep these services for other family's, bless you all we will be forever grateful xxxx
The Donna Louise have supported my family for many years now and my son Boden loves the place. They were also fabulous when my daughter Bronwyn passed away from a tragic accident and they took us under there wing for which we can never be so thankful.
Amazing xxxxx
Thank you for a fantastic night Evening with Phil Taylor ,Barry Hearn &Guests David Seaman Ray Thompson and Lorraine Thompson was happy to attend and support The Donna Louise Children's Hospice . Thank you for the many years of support through the years .You have given us the strength to carry on .Hope the fund raising for male carers goes well .
Ray and Lorraine Thompson
Such a great place and so reassuring to no my boy is in good hands whilst mummy gets to recoup, such a loved little boy xxx
Staying at Donna louise is a great experience, the staff are very caring of individual needs and make you feel at home. You also meet new families who are going through the same thing as you and you know you are not alone.there is always someone to talk to and counciling if required. All children enjoy spending time there with all the friendly staff doing different activities or playing outside on the playground. You find time to relax and spend time with your other children knowing that your poorly child is safe and haveing fun And being cared for by qualified staff and you can go to them at any time. Staying upstairs in the lovely bedrooms and spaceious sitting room with kitchen with everything required eg" washer, dryer and most importantly phone in the room so that the staff could contact you in the night if there is any problems or concerns. Over all its just a brilliant place and I would recomend it to anyone. Thankyou to all the caring people who put a lot of time in to keep this place going and to all the fund raisers provideing the money to do so it is very much appreciated by many I am sure xxxx Thanks again, you are all wonderfull XXXX
Our daughter Jade passed away in August 2005, we didn't know what would happen but we're told we could take her to the Donna Louise. We were met by wonderful staff who took us to the garden room. Such a beautiful room where we could spend time together with Jade to say our final goodbyes and get used to the fact that she was no longer with us. The staff were amazing and looked after our family and friends that came to see Jade. We truly can't thank them enough and so most years we take part in the annual fun run/walk at Trentham gardens, and have had a few larger fundraisers on her special birthdays. We will continue to support the Hospice, because their care and compassion is so greatly needed sadly for the many families that have to take the same path as ours. Their support is ongoing and for us we return each year for the memory day which remembers each and everyone of our beautiful angel children. An emotional day, but one we can share and cry together knowing exactly how we are all feeling. Thankyou for everything you do xxx
My son James is a regular at the Donna Louise. It's such a great and happy place, the staff are all lovely and James is spoilt rotten there. They support the whole family too, through all the ups and downs off caring for a child with a life limiting condition. You are wonderful, couldn't manage without you.
My daughter went in this hospice as an end of life disorder and couldnt thank all the staff enough for looking after her and giving me and my girlfriend respite, and giving us help and support, always there if you needed them had tough and great times at this place defernatly the best ever charity place running and deserve everything , been a year and imiss this place defo have too visit again soon :)
Just the best go in as a special family the special ones stay downstairs to be looked after by very very special nurses and carers and the family then go upstairs to chill and be waited on like a 10 star hotel but with special people in there lives we loved every special minute of this place
I would like to thank everyone at the Donna Louise for everything they've done for me and Jake and especially our beautiful princess Sophia who is now in heaven�� you are all truely amazing and supported us all the way through it. We can never thank you enough for everything you've done for us and all the memories we've made with our princess because of your amazing staff!� we will be donating to you for the rest of lifes. We truly appreciate everything you've all done for us all. Thank you so much���
I used to come here for my sister who unfautualy passed away a few years ago now. Donna Louise trust is amazing place helped my mum loads and the staff are lovely too :).
First time taking my boy last Thursday was so beautiful and the staff there r amazing xx Can't wait for me an my fam to spend a night there to see my bailey have smile on his face is priceless he loved so much as did my other kids and seeing there brother so happy xx
Amazing place, amazing staff, staff can not do enough for your family to make life easier :) x
Amazing place with unbelievable staff who go beyond the call of duty