Noah's Ark
Noah’s Ark help children, and their families, who have life-limiting or life-threatening conditions make the most of every day they have together. And for those children who will sadly not make adulthood Noah’s Ark will make sure their final days are as comfortable as possible and they enjoy life as children rather than as patients and as families not just as carers.
About Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice
Every child deserves a good quality of life, no matter how short that life may be. Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice, our charity partner, make this a reality. They do all they can to help babies, children and young people who are seriously unwell, and their families, make the most of every day.
Since they began offering services in 2006, a lot has changed for Noah’s Ark. From supporting 100 children in the community, to opening the first children’s hospice building in north London, The Ark, the charity now cares for over 350 children each year. What hasn’t changed is their perpetual dedication to providing the very highest standard of care. This was recognised this year by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), who rated the care delivered by the children’s hospice as Outstanding. The regulator even urged other hospices to ‘learn from this outstanding example’ - we are so proud to partner with a charity that truly is leading the way.
Medical advances mean that babies, children, and young people with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions are living longer. The need to be there for those children who are most unwell, and their families, is growing. Noah’s Ark focuses on what these children can do, rather than on any perceived limitations - supporting them to enjoy life as children, rather than as patients.
As their services and numbers of children and families they support increase, so do the associated costs. Their annual operating costs this year are £4.7m and are set to increase further next year. They cannot be there for the children and families who need them the most without the generous support of the Noah’s Ark community.
A message from Sophie Andrews OBE, Chief Executive, Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice
From the moment I became CEO of Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice in January 2020, I have been humbled and motivated in equal measure by the courage shown by the children and families we support. They are often facing the very toughest of times, whilst trying to find joy in the time they have together.
Noah’s Ark exists to help with just this; to help babies, children and young people who are seriously unwell, and their families, make the most of every day. There have been some amazing moments in the 12 months since last year’s Winter Ball. Some families have been on a week’s free holiday at our new Noah’s Ark Holiday Lodge, others have had incredible sensory experiences at The Ark. There have been baking days, visits to the farm, magical family days and so much more.
As a charity, delivering excellent care wouldn’t be possible without special partnerships like the one we have with the award-winning Winter Ball committee. The fundraising successes delivered by the committee year on year means that we can dedicate ourselves to doing what we do best: finding the right nurses and carers to grow our clinical team, building partnerships with other experts in palliative care and, most importantly, being there for families facing the unimaginable.
Your support through the Winter Ball also emboldens the charity to strive to have the best possible positioning in the children’s hospice sector. And that is exactly what we have achieved in our Outstanding rating by our regulator, the Care Quality Commission (CQC). From beginning to offer support out in the community in 2006, to opening the first children’s hospice building in north London 13 years later – our community of supporters has been with us every step of the way.
To find out more about the Noah’s Ark please visit their dedicated website.