About Children's Hospice Association Scotland, (CHAS)

Children’s Hospice Association Scotland (CHAS) is a Scottish charity established to provide hospice services in Scotland for children and young people with life-limiting conditions.

A children’s hospice offers professional care, practical help and emotional support to the whole family usually from the day of acceptance, to the death of their child, and beyond. No two families are the same, and CHAS has the flexibility to respond to the particular needs of mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters, as well as the extended family.

Rachel House in Kinross, Scotland’s first children’s hospice, opened in March 1996. Robin House in Balloch opened in August 2005. Both hospices are purpose-built and each can provide ongoing support for up to 200 families across Scotland each year. The CHAS at Home Team offers support to families across Scotland by providing a home care service to families in their own homes when they need it.

CHAS services are free to children, young people and families who need them and both hospices and the CHAS at Home service are funded mainly through the huge generosity of our many supporters who help us in so many ways.

The Need

We all expect children to grow up healthy and strong. Sadly, though, some parents are living with the knowledge that their child’s life will be short.

When it is known that life is short, two things become very important to a family: the quality of life and the enjoyment of the time that is left. Caring for a seriously ill child or young person puts an immense physical and emotional strain on the whole family. There are huge demands in both time and energy when caring for a sick child.

The children’s hospices are a home from home, offering a place where families can relax, recharge their batteries and have fun with their children. Expert care is on hand to help them make the most of each day and live life to the full.

Rachel House and Robin House are not sad places, but places for living. They provide opportunities to share concerns and worries with people who understand. They offer fun and laughter, enjoyment, love and support.

The Challenge

The immediate challenge facing CHAS is to raise the annual running costs of over £5 million for both hospices and the CHAS at Home service.

To secure the funds needed to operate each year, CHAS relies on the continuing generosity of companies, organisations and the public so that children, young people and their families can turn to CHAS with confidence when they need us.