Little Havens Children’s Hospice welcomed more than 250 members of the local community through its doors for a special open day, which raised more than £3,000 to support its vital work with children and families across Essex.

The event, held at the children’s hospice in Thundersley on Sunday 27 September, gave visitors a rare opportunity to explore Little Havens and its beautiful grounds, including the new Moana-inspired Pacific island garden, which is usually reserved for families supported by the hospice.

Visitors were able to take guided tours of the hospice, meet members of the care and fundraising teams and find out more about the specialist support provided to children with incurable conditions and their families.

The day also gave supporters the chance to purchase items from the Little Havens pop-up charity shop, learn about volunteering and fundraising, and discover how they could support the hospice in the future. Alongside purchases and donations, several visitors signed up to become regular donors, helping provide a sustainable source of income for the hospice.

The new “Moana” inspired garden proved a particular highlight for visitor, as this garden is normally a private space for families using Little Havens, making the open day a special opportunity for the wider community to experience it.

Karen Summers, Individual Giving Fundraising Manager at Havens Hospices, said: “We were absolutely delighted to welcome more than 250 people to Little Havens and give them the opportunity to see for themselves what it is really like.

“People are often surprised when they visit because they expect a hospice to be a sad place. In reality, Little Havens is full of life, love and laughter. It was wonderful to see so many people exploring the hospice, enjoying the gardens and taking the time to understand the difference our care makes to children and their families.

“Raising more than £3,000 on the day, as well as welcoming new regular donors, is fantastic. Every donation helps us continue providing specialist care and support to local families when they need us most.”

The open day was kindly sponsored by Utilize, a Basildon-based IT and technology company. Their support covered the cost of putting on the event, meaning more of the money raised on the day can go directly towards Little Havens’ care.

The event also highlighted the important role the local community plays in helping Little Havens continue its work. As a charity, Havens Hospices relies on the generosity of its supporters to provide its compassionate care and support to children and families.