A brief history of EACH
Founded in August 1989, we have supported families EACH and every step of their journey's ever since. Find out a little bit more about us and how we came to be below.
1989
Milton Children’s Hospice (CHER – Children’s Hospice for the Eastern Region) was officially opened by Diana Princess of Wales on 1st August.
1990
Milton Children’s Hospice care area was extended.
1991
Quidenham Children’s Hospice opened in September.
1994
The first Ride for Life cycling event in aid of Quidenham Children’s Hospice took place.
1996
Quidenham Children’s Hospice launched its Rupert Appeal to raise £40,000 to renovate an old stable block to house offices and utilities.
1998
Quidenham Children’s Hospice merged with CHER (Milton) to become East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH).
1999
EACH Ipswich opened in Walker Close as a pilot project and the dining room and bedrooms at Milton were extended, with a new reception and walkway to the hydrotherapy pool installed.
2003
The EACH Education, Training and Research Centre (ETR) at Milton was opened by Princess Anne and music therapy was delivered at the hospice for the first time.
2004
Our sensory garden at Milton was opened.
2006
During April the ‘Closer to Home’ care model was launched. Multi-disciplinary teams were developed at all EACH sites allowing access for families to community & hospice based care assessed by needs.
2007
A neonatal end of life care pathway was developed between EACH Quidenham, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital Foundation Trust, Norfolk Community Health Care & the University of East Anglia. Developed to be used when a baby is moving towards imminent end of life care or has a life-threatening condition and agreed the baby can be transferred home or to a hospice. The care pathway is also used when families wish to move their baby to a hospice after death has occurred.
2008
Neonatal end of life pathway implemented with Addenbrookes.
2009
The outside patio at Milton was extended so even children confined to a bed can go outside.
2010
On 16th March The Treehouse Appeal to raise £3 million was publicly launched.
EACH secured a funding grant from The True Colours Trust to create a 24/7 symptom management service for families accessing EACH services. This is now a nationally recognised model of support.
In September a major expansion was completed at Quidenham. Offices were relocated, meeting rooms and a parent resource area created. A music therapy room, en-suite family accommodation as well as a bedroom with cooling facilities to care for a child’s body after death were created along with two new bedrooms and a soft play room.
2011
EACH Quidenham began delivering Haemodialysis treatment – the first children’s hospice in the UK to do so.
In May The Treehouse opened to deliver care and support to families.
During November HRH The Princess of Wales paid a private visit to Milton hospice to find out more about the work of EACH.
2012
In January EACH announced HRH The Princess of Wales as our Royal Patron. During March HRH The Princess of Wales officially opened The Treehouse and delivers her first public speech.
In April Child’s Play Appeal raised £80k for an outdoor playground at Milton.
2013
In April EACH released HRH The Princess of Wales’ first video message, as part of Children’s Hospice Week.
2014
At Milton, The Haven, a room offering a place for quiet reflection and retreat, and the new ‘Den’ for teenagers were both opened and the hydrotherapy pool facilities were extended.
On 25th November The Nook Appeal, to raise £10 million for a new purpose-built Norfolk hospice to replace Quidenham, was publicly launched in the presence of HRH The Princess of Wales.
2015
£2 million was secured for The Nook Appeal on 27th November.
2017
£7 million was secured for The Nook Appeal on 15th November, as the turf was cut on site to begin construction of our new hospice for Norfolk.
2018
In January, and to mark the start of building work for The Nook, EACH shared a letter to staff and supporters from The Princess of Wales, praising their “dedication, generosity and achievements”.
During April Milton opened its newly refurbished sensory room.
On 29th November the final tile was placed on the roof of The Nook, with staff and families getting an early glimpse inside. Parents sign some of the steelwork.
2019
EACH marked 20 years since the opening of EACH Ipswich, in Walker Close, and 30 years since the opening of the hospice in Milton. The latter is celebrated with a tea party on the front lawn attended by staff, trustees, volunteers and families.
On 15th August EACH opened its 40th shop in Sheringham, following a period of sustained growth, which saw EACH recorded as the second-fastest growing retailer in a national survey of charities during 2017/18.
In September the move from Quidenham to The Nook was completed and we began offering care and support from The Nook for the first time. On 15th November HRH The Princess of Wales formally opened The Nook meeting with families, volunteers, staff and supporters.
2020
During March the public fundraising target of £10 million for The Nook Appeal was reached.
In November the Milton Hub was set up in response to the need for urgent respite care during the COVD-19 pandemic. This was a 12-month collaborative project with Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Clinical Commissioning Group and Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust. The Hub ran until October 2021.
2022
During June Their Royal Highnesses, The Prince and Princess of Wales visited Milton to meet with families, staff, volunteers and supporters, while marking ten years of The Princess's Patronage during Children’s Hospice Week.