A children's hospice has received a £3,000 donation from a housebuilder to support its end-of-life care and bereavement services in Sussex and South East Hampshire.
Support for Chestnut Tree House
Chestnut Tree House, based near Arundel, provides care for children and families facing the reality that they do not have much time left together, helping them to live life to the fullest. David Wilson Homes Southern, which is constructing new homes at Millers Grove in East Grinstead, donated £3,000 to the charity through its Community Fund scheme via The Barratt Redrow Foundation.
Hannah Seltzer, corporate partnerships manager at Chestnut Tree House, expressed gratitude for the donation. 'Every year, we care for around 300 children and young people, both at the hospice and in families' homes,' she said. 'At Chestnut Tree House, children can be astronauts for the day in the multi-sensory room, discover new smells and sights in the sensory garden, bounce high on the wheelchair trampoline, or form their very own pop group in the music room. When the time comes, we are there for children and families to provide specialist end-of-life care and ongoing support.'
Funding and Services
The hospice requires nearly £9 million annually to provide care for local children, with an NHS grant covering less than a tenth of these costs. The remaining funding comes from donations, fundraising, gifts in wills, charity shops, the Chestnut Tree House lottery, and volunteer time. In addition to on-site care, the hospice has a community nursing team that delivers specialist palliative and end-of-life care at home when necessary. The bereavement suite, named Stars, includes a special bedroom for a child to rest, along with accommodation for their family. Ongoing bereavement support is available through counselling, bereavement groups, and remembrance events.
Hannah added, 'There are fun and inclusive events for all the family, both at the hospice and across Sussex and South East Hampshire. These activities offer parents the chance to just be parents rather than carers, and siblings the space to talk to people who understand. The generosity of the local community makes this happen.'
Community Fund Initiative
David Wilson Homes' contribution was made as part of its Community Fund scheme via The Barratt Redrow Foundation, run by its parent company, Barratt Redrow. The foundation aims to support national and local charities across the UK, leaving a legacy in the communities where the housebuilder operates. The Barratt Redrow Foundation will celebrate its fifth anniversary in 2026. Since its launch, it has committed £20 million to charities and good causes, supported more than 2,000 different charities, and is estimated to have directly impacted 100,000 young people each year.
Campbell Gregg, managing director at David Wilson Homes Southern, commented, 'Chestnut Tree House is there for families facing unimaginable challenges, helping them to create special moments that they will cherish forever. It's a pleasure to support such a wonderful cause, and we hope the hospice can continue to offer its wide range of essential services for people across West Sussex and South East Hampshire for many years to come.'
To learn more about the charity or to support its work, visit the Chestnut Tree House website.
