A real home-from-home

Lots of people think hospices must be sad, quiet places – but Russell House is exactly the opposite. It’s light and airy, cheerful and welcoming, where children and families can enjoy spending time together and get the support they need.

A view of the rear of Russell House taken from the garden, with the stone sculpture in the foreground.

A white girl with long red hair looks at the camera and smiles as she stretches over the play equipment in the soft play room at Russell House

A place to have fun

The Hub – a huge open-plan space filled with comfy, bright sofas, every kind of toy and game imaginable and a dining area where you can enjoy meals suited for every type of diet, including halal.

Soft play room – the perfect space for children of all abilities to play and have fun safely.

Cinema – enjoy a movie night together in our very own cinema that comes equipped with a popcorn machine and a freezer full of ice-cream!

Garden – our amazing outside space includes a fully-accessible playground, woodland walk, sensory play and even a pirate ship!

The bedroom in the Snowflake Suite, showing a large bed with side tables and lamps.

A place to stay

Children’s bedrooms – nothing like hospital rooms, our children’s bedrooms are ideal for when children need to stay overnight, or to give their parents a much-needed break. Children can even bring their own bedding, toys and posters, if they want.

Family suites – beautifully designed, comfortable hotel-style suites for when you need to stay over with your child or are in need of a little respite.

Snowflake Suite – a private apartment for those families who need to say a last goodbye.

Inside a music therapy session with a young boy in a wheelchair. He is surrounded by his mum and dad, while the music therapist sits beside them playing a harp.

A place for therapy

Hydrotherapy pool – a good-sized pool with sensory lighting and gentle water movement.

Music room – full of instruments and ways to make sound, our music room is a place to express emotions and build self-esteem as well as have fun.

Sensory room – loads to experience, including a touch wall, sensory wall, bubble tube, voice recognition and water bed with music.

Counselling room – a quiet space to meet with our counsellor, although counselling can just as easily take place at your home, in our garden or on a walk.

A Forget Me Not employee stoof next to the metal memory tree sculpture in the garden at Russell House, reaching up to read one of the names.

A place for memories

Memory garden – a place for reflection and remembrance, this beautiful space includes a memory tree where families can hang engraved keepsakes to remember their child. We hold a number of remembrance events for bereaved families.

The hospice is a lovely, magical place both indoors and outdoors. You feel like you can walk anywhere or go anywhere within the grounds and just be yourself with your family.

Mum