You can make a difference to those we’re supporting this Christmas and lift the care experience for everyone who needs us.
As a reminder of just how special our care truly is, this Christmas we’re sharing the story of Lucy – one of our nurses - who found herself on the other side needing our care and support. Lucy has spent her career supporting children and families through end-of-life care at Little Havens. But when her best friend Bex became a patient at Fair Havens, she found herself experiencing our care from the other side.
“For Bex, the care at Fair Havens was about more than medicine. It was about the things that made her her - cake, music, jigsaws, laughter. It was about being with the people she loved. We had sleepovers, movie nights, and even a roast dinner in the garden. Things we never could have done in hospital.
This Christmas, hundreds of children and families across Essex will need the care and support that only Havens Hospices can provide.
We’re asking our community to donate and Make Your Mark – to help lift the care for everyone who needs us.
I'll make my mark on local hospice careThis year, we’re inviting schools, companies and groups to make their mark - just like Bex’s family and friends did. Every mark made helps support children and adults living with complex or incurable conditions - at Christmas and all year round.
From bake sales, to organising your own Christmas grotto or cheese and wine night, there's lots of jolly ways to celebrate and support Havens Hospices.
From bake sales, to organising your own Christmas grotto or cheese and wine night, there's lots of jolly ways to celebrate and support Havens Hospices.
Whether you're an individual, group, business or club we are here to support you with your fundraising.
We have lots of resources to make your event a festive success, please get in touch so we can support you every step of the way.
Kick off your festive celebrations with this cracking 5 mile race on Sunday 14th December. Designed to delight with every step, the Southend Rudolph Run is the seasonal treat you've been waiting for.
Kick off your festive celebrations with this cracking 5 mile race on Sunday 14th December. Designed to delight with every step, the Southend Rudolph Run is the seasonal treat you've been waiting for.
Organised by Nice Works supporting Havens Hospices, the 5 mile race includes a shorter option of a 1 mile route too.
Bring your customers, pupils, colleagues, or members together to create your very own Giving Tree - a beautiful way to unite your community and Make Your Mark for local hospice care.
Bring your customers, pupils, colleagues, or members together to create your very own Giving Tree - a beautiful way to unite your community and Make Your Mark for local hospice care.
We’ll provide special bauble tags for you to proudly hang on your tree, where every one represents a donation that makes a real difference.
Every contribution, big or small, helps provide specialist care and support for the children, adults, and families who need us most this Christmas.
Festive bake sales, Christmas Jumper Days, Christmas Quizzes, Carol-oke, there are lots of jolly ways to raise funds for Havens Hospices and 'Make Your Mark'
Download our fundraising resources to help you on your wayBook in your slot for us to collect and recycle your Christmas tree, with a donation to your local hospice.
We will be collecting trees from the following postcodes: SS0, SS1, SS2, SS3, SS4, SS5, SS6, SS7, SS8 and SS9
More information coming soon. Bookings will open in November 2025 and close January 2026.
While we truly appreciate every thoughtful gesture, Christmas at the hospice looks a little different than many people imagine.
Care at Little Havens on Christmas is about providing specialist end-of-life care for those who need us most and care at home for the children and young people so they can be surrounded by the people they love. For these children, toys aren’t what they or their families need most right now. Instead, our specialist care, support, and compassion are the greatest gifts we can give.
Instead of collecting toys, by fundraising you could help fund the expert care that gives local families precious moments together - whether that’s pain management, respite support, or helping a child spend their final days in the comfort of their own home.
The inspiration behind our Make Your Mark campaign comes from a young woman called Bex, who was cared for by Fair Havens. During one of her creative therapy sessions, Bex worked with our Art Therapist, Katharine, to create a beautiful, heartfelt painting to leave for her son.
The painting featured a house in the centre of the image which represents Bex - her dreams, her wishes, and her memories. It’s surrounded by colourful balloons, each one made with a fingerprint from someone she loved. Together, these prints lifted the house into the sky, symbolising the love and support that surrounded her.
That painting has now inspired our Christmas appeal.
This year, we’re inviting schools, companies and community groups to make their mark - just like Bex’s family and friends did. Whether it’s adding a balloon, hosting your own fundraiser, making a donation or spreading the word, you’ll be helping us be there for families when they need us most
Read full storyThose are the things I remember of the last few months of her life, it’s all memories we treasure now.Lucy, Bex's best friend
