Richard House Children’s Hospice began as the vision of our founder and life-president Anthea Hare.
The hospice was named after Anthea’s brother, Richard. Richard died as a very young adult from profound and multiple disabilities. It was the experience of growing up as a sibling of a very sick child, and seeing the impact that this had on her parents and her, that provided the inspiration for Richard House.
Anthea became a children’s nurse in east London and many years later decided to turn her vision of a children’s hospice for the capital into a reality. She began talking to her colleagues and cashed in a pension to pay for research into the need for a hospice in east London.
The charity was officially registered in 1996.
The capital appeal to build Richard House began around the same time and the land was acquired in 1997. But the construction of the hospice itself was to take several years.
Before its completion we began offering a home care service in June 2000 and later that year we opened our day care centre - even though other parts of the site were still being built. We also launched our befriending service for siblings in January 2001.
The main building work was completed in summer 2001. But furnishing and equipping the residential unit, and registering with the appropriate authorities, meant it was not until December 2002 that the first residential stays were offered, and then only on a limited basis.
Since these beginnings Richard House’s range of services and our capacity to help families has grown and grown. It now includes a wide-range of family support services, charity shops and transition work.
We have four beds open at all times and since January 2007 have been able to open two extra beds on the weekends and in the summer holidays.
With the continuing support of our friends and community Richard House will continue to develop its umbrella of services and work towards becoming a centre of excellence in the provision of palliative care.
