Sir Gareth Southgate officially opens transformed Martin House Children’s Hospice

Martin House Children’s Hospice officially opened the doors to THE BUILD on Friday 5th June – a major £21.9m redevelopment project designed to safeguard the future of children’s palliative care across Yorkshire.

The special launch event saw Sir Gareth Southgate, long-term Martin House ambassador, perform the ribbon cutting alongside families, supporters, staff and community partners who helped make the transformation possible.

THE BUILD has completely modernised and expanded the Boston Spa hospice, creating new specialist spaces for children and young people with life-shortening conditions, and their families.

New facilities include a hydrotherapy pool, immersive sensory room, recording studio and enhanced clinical spaces, alongside a new children’s wing, refurbished teenage wing and a brand-new Education Centre, which will help expand specialist palliative care training across the region.

The redevelopment reflects the changing needs of children receiving hospice care, as clinical advancements mean children are living longer with increasingly complex conditions.

“Martin House is a lifeline for my family.”

One of the families supported by Martin House is Bethany Harrison and her son Thomas.

Thomas has a rare genetic disorder called ATR-X Syndrome, which has left him unable to walk or talk. He is fed through a gastric tube and is prone to recurrent chest infections.

Bethany says respite stays and symptom management support from Martin House help keep Thomas out of hospital.

“We wouldn’t cope without Martin House,” she said. “They put you and your child at the centre, giving us that extra level of support – it’s just like another member of the family to help us.”

Because of THE BUILD, Bethany says her family will now be able to experience moments together that previously wouldn’t have been possible.

“We had our first chance to swim with Thomas as a family in the new hydrotherapy pool,” she said. “Martin House is also better equipped than ever to meet Thomas’s changing needs, with specialist facilities such as piped oxygen in every room.”

“Martin House is a lifeline for my family, and now that lifeline is bigger and better than ever.”

“So much more than bricks and mortar.”

Clair Holdsworth, Chief Executive at Martin House, said the launch event was an emotional moment for everyone connected to the hospice.

“THE BUILD is so much more than bricks and mortar,” she said.

“It’s about creating a modern, family-focused hospice that matches the extraordinary quality of care our teams provide every day. Children, young people and families will now experience a more spacious, welcoming and state-of-the-art environment, designed to support them in the best possible way.”

Clair added: “We would never have reached this moment without the incredible support of people, businesses and communities across Yorkshire.”

Sir Gareth Southgate and HARIBO UK support transformation

Sir Gareth Southgate, who has supported Martin House for several years as an ambassador, said visiting the hospice and meeting families had left a lasting impression on him.

“Seeing firsthand the difference Martin House makes for children – giving them somewhere to escape and feel supported – has really stayed with me,” he said.

“It’s that personal, tailored care that makes it so powerful.”

As headline sponsor of THE BUILD, long-term supporter HARIBO UK also played a major role in helping bring the redevelopment to life, with colleagues taking part in fundraising events ranging from charity zipwires to the Leeds Dragon Boat Race.

Phil Murphy, Chief Marketing Officer at HARIBO UK, said: “HARIBO has been privileged to support Martin House throughout this transformational project, helping create a hospice that will provide the care children and young people across Yorkshire deserve.”

Looking ahead

Every year, Martin House supports more than 550 children and young people with life-shortening conditions, alongside around 200 bereaved family members, across West, North and East Yorkshire.

Our services are provided free of charge, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, with the majority of funding coming from voluntary donations and fundraising.

As demand for children’s palliative care continues to grow, THE BUILD ensures Martin House can continue adapting to the changing needs of families across Yorkshire for generations to come.

To find out how you can support Martin House, visit our Get Involved page.