Latest blogs
Leaving a gift in your will: Janet’s story
Leave a gift in your Will to Helen & Douglas House and help support families with children who have terminal or life-limiting illnesses. Read more
The Hospice Garden: A sanctuary of sensory delight
Helen & House children’s hospice is located in the heart of Oxford, but we are very fortunate to have outside space so we can spread our care and support into the outdoors.. Read more
The magic of Sensory Play
A massive thank you to Claire from Embracing Arts for putting on an incredible sensory show at the hospice last week. We were joined by children and their families who use Helen & Douglas House services. It was a sensory-tastic afternoon! Read more
From volunteer to member of staff
‘Volunteering enhanced my skills and reminded me why I went originally went into nursing before I had my children. I loved being back in the care environment. So, when I found myself with more time, I joined the care team as a member of staff, which I am so pleased about.’ Read more
Christmas celebrations at Helen & Douglas House
We’ve been looking forward to celebrating Christmas this year with our families this year as we weren't able to celebrate in person last year. Find out what special activities we got up to at our Christmas parties and which member of the royal family we visited. Read more
Opening the Helen & Douglas House Garden
Her Royal Highness, the former Duchess of Cornwall visited Helen & Douglas House on Tuesday 13th July to meet families supported by the hospice in the garden to learn how they have been coping with the pandemic. Read more
Her Majesty The Queen Visits Helen & Douglas House
Her Royal Highness, the Duchess of Cornwall visited Helen & Douglas House on Tuesday 13th July to meet families supported by the hospice in the garden to learn how they have been coping with the pandemic. Read more
How Oli celebrate’s Father’s Day
‘Helen & Douglas House has given us the opportunity and space to create special memories to treasure during the most difficult of times. As they are a charity, we felt it was so important to raise funds for them to ensure they can continue to care for children like Patrick, and to support families like ours’. Read more
How we support siblings
‘Helen & Douglas House has given us the opportunity and space to create special memories to treasure during the most difficult of times. As they are a charity, we felt it was so important to raise funds for them to ensure they can continue to care for children like Patrick, and to support families like ours’. Read more
Spring fashion trends: Fresh spring finds from Helen & Douglas House charity shops
We’re delighted to introduce you to our Helen & Douglas House seasonal trend picks which is a round-up of the top items selected ... Read more
How we’re ‘Showing a Little Love’ throughout February
‘Helen & Douglas House has given us the opportunity and space to create special memories to treasure during the most difficult of times. As they are a charity, we felt it was so important to raise funds for them to ensure they can continue to care for children like Patrick, and to support families like ours’. Read more
The therapeutic value of cuddling and stroking a therapy cat at our children’s hospice
At Helen & Douglas House we love to welcome animals into the hospice to complement and support the palliative care we provide, ... Read more
No New Clothes For A Year
Guest blog from sustainable personal styling expert Victoria Lochhead from Frankie & Ruby. No New Clothes For A Year? Here are ... Read more
Mum Ellie becomes a fundraising inspiration on social media
‘Helen & Douglas House has given us the opportunity and space to create special memories to treasure during the most difficult of times. As they are a charity, we felt it was so important to raise funds for them to ensure they can continue to care for children like Patrick, and to support families like ours’. Read more
How we support older children at the hospice and beyond
Emma is our Youth and Transition worker at Helen & Douglas House. She told us about her role at the hospice and how she supports the older children we care for, from the ages of 13-19, until they move on to adult care with other healthcare providers. Read more
How young fundraisers used ‘pedal power’ to raise vital funds
This summer a group of school friends from The Blake Primary School in Witney took part in a sponsored cycle challenge to raise funds ... Read more
How we have continued to care during a pandemic
This is Dr Emily Harrop, our Consultant in Paediatric Palliative Care & Medical Director at the hospice. We found out more about ... Read more
Make a virtual gift this Father’s Day to help children like Toby
‘Helen & Douglas House has given us the opportunity and space to create special memories to treasure during the most difficult of times. As they are a charity, we felt it was so important to raise funds for them to ensure they can continue to care for children like Patrick, and to support families like ours’. Read more
How Patrick’s family raised over £10,000 in just six months
‘Helen & Douglas House has given us the opportunity and space to create special memories to treasure during the most difficult of times. As they are a charity, we felt it was so important to raise funds for them to ensure they can continue to care for children like Patrick, and to support families like ours’. Read more
Tandem skydive: how it feels to fly whilst raising vital funds for a charity
Imagine standing on the edge of an open doorway in an aircraft flying at 13,000 feet. As you experience the noise of the engines and ... Read more
Non-verbal communication: ‘My boys cannot talk but they communicate to me with their eyes’
As a children’s hospice, we welcome a variety of children of differing ages, abilities and living with a range of conditions through ... Read more
Hospice school: How we help the children keep up with their schoolwork
You might be surprised to discover a schoolroom at our children’s hospice. Here, every day, we have a teaching assistant to help our ... Read more
8 reasons why our summer pirate party rocked (the boat!)
As fun, laughter and creating special memories is at the heart of what we do at Helen & Douglas House, we never miss an excuse for ... Read more
Furniture trends: How to bring style to your home with second-hand treasures from our furniture shops
This year the public consciousness has turned firmly to helping the planet, so it’s only natural that sustainability is one of the ... Read more
When play therapy turns into a river adventure
Helen & Douglas House is well-known for the respite care we provide to babies, children and teenagers and the support we give to ... Read more
Spare a thought for Dad’s like Jason this Father’s Day
Here at Helen & Douglas House we’re asking local families who are celebrating Father’s Day on 16 June to spare a thought for local ... Read more
What does Mother’s Day mean to Helen & Douglas House mums?
Mother's Day can be a precious time to celebrate the relationship between mother and child. On the morning of Mother’s Day many ... Read more
Meet Dr Emily Harrop
Meet Dr Emily, our Consultant in Paediatric Palliative Care and Lead Doctor. A few years ago, she told us about her career in medicine ... Read more
How our hospice uses outdoor sensory experiences to help terminally ill children
Helen & Douglas House charity is known for the care we provide to babies, children and teenagers inside the hospice, but our ... Read more
How our children’s parties create memorable moments for their families
We love to throw a good party to create magical moments that really lift our children's spirits and live long in the memory of their ... Read more
The role of music therapy at children’s hospices: We love music and so does Nathan
Music positively affects us all physically, psychologically and emotionally and the health benefits of music are ... Read more
How furry friends bring comfort and joy to Helen & Douglas House
Amate Animalia, a charity based in the Cotswolds who educate people about exotic animals & their specialist needs, recently bought ... Read more
How we celebrate Easter at the local children’s hospice
Easter at a children’s hospice is quite different to other children’s Easter celebrations. Terminally ill children who come to stay at ... Read more
Donate now
We need to raise £3.6 million each year to care for local terminally ill children at the hospice and at home.