Our timeline
Since 2007, we’ve been dedicated to providing specialist care and vital support to as many children and their families across Berkshire and into surrounding counties as possible.
25 April 2007
Our charity was founded
Alexander Devine Children’s Hospice Service was founded by John and Fiona Devine in 2007.
Through their experience and much research, it was clear that Berkshire needed its own children’s hospice service. So in 2007, Fiona and John established Alexander Devine Cancer Trust (later to become Alexander Devine Children’s Hospice Service), and so began their journey to make sure that children, like their son Alexander, and families likes theirs would be able to access the support they needed closer to home.
2009
Recruitment of the first Alexander’s Nurse
Two years after the charity was first established, the charity was able to fund its first Alexander’s Nurse. Lucy Jones was based within the children’s community team at Wexham Park Hospital to provide respite and end of life care.
2012
CQC registration and launch of community service
2013
Launch of our capital campaign
With the support of our founder patron, Sir Michael Parkinson CBE, we launched our capital campaign to build a children’s hospice for Berkshire on 7th November 2013 at the Fredrick’s Hotel in Maidenhead.
2015
Hospice groundbreaking
Following a successful two year capital campaign, on Wednesday 23rd September 2015, supporters gathered in Maidenhead for the groundbreaking of our hospice. The Devine family, along with Sir Michael Parkinson CBE and Theresa May MP together put the first spade in the ground. The building of Berkshire’s children’s hospice had begun.
Specialist play and sibling support service established
Whilst the building work got underway, the support for families continued to grow with the introduction of a specialist play and sibling support service.
2018
Our children’s hospice opens in Maidenhead
In June 2018 we opened the doors of our children’s hospice in Maidenhead for Day care.
On 14 December we held a special opening ceremony to celebrate this momentous milestone with Prime Minister Theresa May MP and Sir Michael Parkinson CBE officially opening the hospice.
2019
Symptom management service launched
By 2019 our Alexander’s Care Team had grown to 14, which included the addition of two Clinical Nurse Specialists to develop our symptom management provision.
Sensory garden opened in March
On the first day of Spring we were delighted to be joined by our wonderful friends at LEGOLAND and Merlin’s Magic Wand to officially open the woodland themed sensory garden they designed and created for us.
Hydrotherapy pool opened
On 31st July, our patron Mr John Barley BEM officially opened our hydrotherapy pool. John, Chairman of Nirvana Spa, along with his family have played a pivotal role in sponsoring and maintaining our amazing pool.
2020
Opening of our adventure playground
We opened our exciting adventure playground that has special equipment to enable children of all abilities and their siblings to play together.
Caring through the pandemic
The pandemic is one of the biggest challenges our charity has ever faced. However, despite the severe impact on fundraising activities, our dedication to families remained steadfast. We were responsive and adapted the way we worked in order to make sure families were able to continue accessing the specialist care and vital support that they needed in a way that suited them. Indeed during this time we extended our support, offering even more care to make sure they did not face the pandemic alone.
2021
Overnight respite established
Our service development continued with the establishment of overnight respite for children at the hospice.
Need our help?
The word hospice should not seem scary and getting support from us doesn’t have to mean a child’s death is imminent. Helping to enrich the lives of the children and their families is at the heart of our service, our end of life and bereavement support is just a part of what we do.
Our children’s hospice service covers the whole of Berkshire and into surrounding counties. If you think your child may be eligible for our services, please do get in touch.
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Copyright © 2019 Alexander Devine Children's Hospice Service. UK Registered Charity No. 1118947.