Children’s Hospice Week
June 22 - June 28
About Children’s Hospice Week
Children’s Hospice Week is the UK’s annual awareness week for children’s hospices and palliative care services. Run by national charity Together for Short Lives, the week celebrates the work of children’s hospices and raises vital funds for the families they support. In 2026 it takes place from Monday 22 June to Sunday 28 June.
What is Children’s Hospice Week?
Children’s Hospice Week is a UK-wide awareness and fundraising week dedicated to children’s hospices and the seriously ill children and young people they care for. It is coordinated each year by Together for Short Lives, the leading UK charity for children with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions. The week unites the children’s palliative care sector to increase public understanding, recognise the work of frontline staff, and raise funds that keep vital services running.
When is Children’s Hospice Week?
Children’s Hospice Week takes place each June. In 2026 the week runs from Monday 22 June to Sunday 28 June. Together for Short Lives publishes a campaign toolkit with social media graphics, fundraising packs, and template assemblies for schools. The official hashtag is #ChildrensHospiceWeek.
Why Children’s Hospice Week Matters
An estimated 99,000 children and young people in the UK are living with a life-limiting or life-threatening condition, and the number is rising as medical advances enable more children to survive previously fatal diagnoses. Children’s hospices provide specialist palliative care including symptom management, respite stays, sibling support, end-of-life care, and bereavement services, all free to families. Yet most receive only around 20 per cent of their funding from the state, leaving services to raise tens of millions of pounds a year through fundraising. Children’s Hospice Week is the sector’s most important moment to make the case for sustainable government funding and to thank the donors who keep services open.
How to Get Involved in Children’s Hospice Week
Anyone can take part, whether you are a parent, school, employer, or local community group:
- Take on the 99,000 Steps Challenge – Together for Short Lives runs an annual fundraising walk inspired by the 99,000 children with life-limiting conditions in the UK.
- Donate to your local children’s hospice – There are around 54 children’s hospice services in the UK, including Helen House, Martin House, Acorns, and Demelza; donations to your local service support the families on your doorstep.
- Run a workplace fundraiser – Bake sales, dress-down days, and sponsored events are all featured in Together for Short Lives’ free fundraising pack.
- Hold a school assembly – The campaign toolkit includes age-appropriate materials that explain children’s palliative care simply and respectfully.
- Volunteer at a hospice shop – Local hospice charity shops always welcome volunteers and the income raised supports clinical services.
- Share a family story – With permission, sharing posts from hospice families on social media helps the public understand what services do.
- Lobby your MP – Together for Short Lives runs an active campaign for sustainable funding and a fairer respite care offer; the week is a natural moment to write to your MP.
History of Children’s Hospice Week
Children’s hospice care in the UK began with the opening of Helen House in Oxford in 1982, the world’s first dedicated children’s hospice, founded by Sister Frances Dominica Ritchie. The model grew rapidly, and by the early 2000s a national network of children’s hospices was offering specialist palliative care across the UK. Together for Short Lives was formed in 2011 from the merger of two national charities, the Association of Children’s Hospices and Children’s Hospices UK, creating a single voice for children’s palliative care.
Children’s Hospice Week was launched as a sector-wide awareness moment, giving the UK’s children’s hospices a coordinated platform to celebrate their work, secure media coverage, and thank supporters. The week now involves every children’s hospice service in the UK, alongside major partners such as Morrisons, who have raised tens of millions of pounds for Together for Short Lives through till-point campaigns and customer donations.
Noteworthy Facts About Children’s Hospice Week
- Around 99,000 children and young people in the UK have a life-limiting or life-threatening condition.
- The world’s first children’s hospice, Helen House, opened in Oxford in 1982.
- There are around 54 children’s hospice services across the UK.
- Most children’s hospices raise around 80 per cent of their income through donations.
- Together for Short Lives was formed in 2011 from the merger of two predecessor charities.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Children’s Hospice Week?
The UK’s annual awareness and fundraising week for children’s hospices and the families they support, coordinated by Together for Short Lives.
When is Children’s Hospice Week in 2026?
Monday 22 June to Sunday 28 June 2026.
Who organises Children’s Hospice Week?
Together for Short Lives, the UK’s national charity for children with life-limiting conditions.
Spread the Word
Help raise awareness by sharing Children’s Hospice Week with your friends, family, and followers. Use the hashtag #ChildrensHospiceWeek on social media. Every share helps families with seriously ill children feel less alone.
Related Awareness Days
- World Mental Health Day – Recognises the bereavement and emotional support needs of families using hospice services.
- International Day of the Midwife – Honours another vital workforce supporting families through difficult times.
- Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week – Connects with the mental wellbeing of parents whose children use hospice care.
Links
- Visit the official Children’s Hospice Week page at Together for Short Lives
- Explore more awareness days at AwarenessDays.com
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