2023: Our 30th anniversary
At Derian House Children’s Hospice we’ve been helping children and young people with life-limiting conditions make the most of every moment for 30 years.
The hospice offers care to 400 babies, children young people and their families from across the North West and is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We never close to those who need us.
We’re proud to be Lancashire’s children’s hospice, helping children make happy memories and giving families care and support when they need it most.
Celebrate with us!
Will you help us celebrate our 30th birthday and buy us a virtual slice of birthday cake for just a £3 donation?
This year Derian House Children’s Hospice celebrates it’s 30th birthday – that’s 30 years of care, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Purchasing a virtual slice of birthday cake will help us to care for more than 400 babies, children and young people from across the North West.
How it all began
1991
The Haydock family set up a fundraising group with the goal of building a children’s hospice in Lancashire. They called it Derian House, a blend of the names of their two sons, Derek and Ian. £25,000 was raised.
The charitable trust was established and the Board of Trustees was appointed.
Fundraising began – with friends, benefactors, celebrities, and a range of organisations joining to raise money to build the hospice. Ken Dodd dug the first turf in a ceremony.
Builder Bert Ainscough began the build.
11 October 1993
The completed hospice was opened by the Duchess of Norfolk, Lavinia Fitzalan-Howard on October 11th 1993 and the hospice welcomed it’s first child – a baby boy aged three months.
1996
First Forget Me Not appeal raised £34,269.
2004
Planets in the Park with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra (RLPO) raises £21,305.
2009
Lights of Love staged at Blackburn Cathedral for the first time.
2010
The Lodge at Derian House opened in November.
2011
Margaret Vinten awarded an MBE for her years of service to Derian House.
2018
Derian House celebrates 25 years of care and Derian on Holiday opens.
2019
Derian House Children’s Hospice was named Charity of the Year 2019 at the prestigious JustGiving Awards.
2019
Work on the £1.6million ‘Fit for the Future’ makeover began.
2020
Work is complete on a lighter, brighter and more flexible Derian House that now includes a larger sensory room, a large messy play area, and a new £100,000 cinema room.
2022
Derian House celebrates 30 years of care.
