THIS last year has seen Martin House Hospice Care for Children and Young People reach an important landmark, celebrating our 30th anniversary.

When Martin House opened in 1987, it was only the second children’s hospice in the UK. Through the years much has changed as we’ve developed our building and services, but the family-led care we provide has remained absolutely at the heart of all we do.

We reflected that by celebrating our anniversary with our families – both past and present – and with our young people and the community, through a service at Selby Abbey, a garden party, the creation of a community art project and a music festival.

On top of this, we carried on caring for our children and their families, which includes respite stays where families enjoy time making memories together, and visits from our community team to support them at home.

We also give families the help they need through the saddest of times, at the end of their child’s life and afterwards, as our bereavement team support families often for up two to three years after their child has died.

But our service isn’t cheap; it costs more than £6.5 million a year to run Martin House, and most of that is raised by the public.

Your fundraising takes many forms – taking part in one of the many events our fundraising team organises, corporate and community support, donating to our shops, or completing individual challenges.

We are incredibly grateful to everyone who supports us and fundraises and on behalf of Martin House, I want to say thank you for everything you did for us in 2017.

We’re now looking to develop our services for the next 30 years, to make sure we are still providing the care and support our families need now and in the future.

MARTIN WARHURST Chief executive, Martin House Hospice Care for Children and Young People