Willow Burn Hospice

Willow Burn Hospice Willow Burn Hospice treasures the lives of people whose illnesses are no longer curable.

Willow Burn Hospice treasures the lives of people whose illnesses are no longer curable, enabling them to achieve the best quality of life. Our local hospice services provide a friendly and supportive environment in which everyone feels welcome. Willow Burn Hospice is well known locally for its commitment to service quality, compassion for the people that it serves and integrity to the community a

nd to the staff and volunteers. Willow Burn Hospice opened in 1989 as a result of two remarkable women, Irene Mortimer and Valerie Davison, who identified a local gap in the service of hospice care and with the support of the Secretary of State set up Day Hospice Care with the help of funding from Macmillan. The Willow Burn Day Hospice service was expanded in 1991 to include in-patient services and in 2014, we opened Phase 1 of our new building project, thanks to funding from Sir Tom Cowie. That brings us to present day, and following a very generous donation from Helen McArdle CBE, we have opened our new six-bed hospice which is home to:

Luxury in-patient accommodation
Day Services
Overnight family room
Family Support and Bereavement Service
Child Bereavement Support Services
Innovative Health and Wellbeing Services
The Willows Community Café

Patient’s comfort and care is very important to us, which is why the new Willow Burn Hospice has been designed with patient experience in mind. Each of the six ensuite bedrooms are well-equipped for all of your needs, as well as being beautifully appointed to ensure rest and relaxation. Each room has its own private balcony and the portable beds can be moved to the balcony upon request. Patients also have access to a large luxurious spa bathroom equipped with a hydrotherapy bath, television and music, everything you might need for a relaxing soak in the bath. Most members of the local population have been touched in one way or another by the hospice, either by direct or indirect contact with the facility. This gives the community a real sense of local ownership which is evident in all aspects of the service from patients and their families, fundraising contributions received by the hospice and in the numbers of volunteers gifting their time, skills and knowledge to the facility.

05/06/2026

This week at Willow Burn Hospice, we were proud to join organisations across the country in celebrating and saying a heartfelt thank you to our incredible volunteers 💚

As a special gesture of appreciation, we enjoyed a wonderful day out in Edinburgh with those who were able to join us. It was filled with laughter, great company, and plenty of memorable moments. The journey home was made even more special with everyone singing together on the bus, a truly life-affirming moment that perfectly captured the spirit of Willow Burn volunteers.

We are so grateful for everything our volunteers do. Your kindness, dedication and compassion make such a difference every single day to thousands of people. Thank you for being part of the Willow Burn family. Thank you for being you.

New Children’s Book Now Available for Pre-Order: Will O’Burn and the Friends Who RememberWillow Burn Hospice is delighte...
02/06/2026

New Children’s Book Now Available for Pre-Order: Will O’Burn and the Friends Who Remember

Willow Burn Hospice is delighted to announce that its much-anticipated children’s book, Will O’Burn and the Friends Who Remember, is now officially available for pre-order.

This beautifully illustrated and thoughtfully written story has been carefully created by Victoria Downes Author and Illustrated By Helen to support children and families in understanding and talking about grief, memory and the importance of remembering loved ones. With warmth and sensitivity, Will O’Burn and the Friends Who Remember offers a gentle way to introduce difficult conversations, helping young readers navigate loss while celebrating connection and friendship.

Developed as part of Willow Burn Hospice’s ongoing commitment to compassionate care and community support, the book provides a valuable resource for families, schools, and professionals alike. It reflects the hospice’s mission to ensure that no one faces bereavement alone.

Through its engaging storyline and relatable characters, Will O’Burn and the Friends Who Remember encourages open dialogue, emotional expression and the reassurance that remembering loved ones can be a comforting and positive experience.

👉 Pre-order your copy on the link in comments.

By purchasing the book, readers are not only gaining an important storytelling resource but also directly supporting the vital work of Willow Burn Hospice in providing care, comfort, and guidance to families in their time of need.

We’re proud to share that Willow Burn Hospice has been recognised by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) with an ‘Outstand...
01/06/2026

We’re proud to share that Willow Burn Hospice has been recognised by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) with an ‘Outstanding’ rating for responsiveness, following our most recent inspection.

The hospice was rated Good overall, with inspectors highlighting strong leadership, improved governance and a clear commitment to placing patients and their families at the centre of care.

This recognition reflects our ongoing focus on listening and adapting to individual needs, while working closely with partner organisations to deliver high-quality, compassionate support.

We are particularly pleased that feedback from patients, families and the wider community continues to shape and strengthen our services.

Our CEO, David Barker MBE, acknowledged the dedication of our staff and volunteers, whose compassion and commitment underpin everything we do - thank you to you all 💚

You can read our latest report in the comments.

29/05/2026

✨ Friday Fundraiser Thank You ✨

This week, we’re sending a huge thank you to Jack Ramshaw, who took on not one, but TWO marathons to raise funds for Willow Burn Hospice - an incredible achievement in memory of his beloved Grandad, Freddy. 🏅🏃‍♂️

Jack ran both the Rome Marathon and Milan Marathon after sadly losing Freddy to cancer. Speaking about his grandad, Jack said he was “strong, stubborn, funny and full of character” - words that clearly reflect the strength and determination Jack has shown throughout this challenge.

Jack said that his fundraising was his way of giving back and helping other families receive the same compassionate support.

We are incredibly grateful to share that Jack has raised over £2,000 for hospice care in Derwentside. Every single pound will help us continue providing palliative care and support to local families when they need it most.

Thank you, Jack, for your dedication, generosity and for keeping Freddy’s memory alive in such a meaningful way 💚

27/05/2026

A simple cup of coffee can mean so much more than you think, a chance to chat, a moment of comfort, a friendly face.

We’re looking for volunteers to join our café team and help create a welcoming space for patients, families and the community at Willow Burn Hospice.

Whether you have a few hours to spare each week or just want to give something back to your local community, we’d love to hear from you. No experience is needed — just a kind, friendly approach and willingness to help 😊

What you’ll gain:
Meet new people and be part of a supportive team
Build confidence and skills
Make a real difference in your community

If you enjoy a good chat and being around people, this could be the perfect opportunity for you.

👉 Find out more and apply on the link in bio or feel free to DM or ring the hospice us if you’d like to know more

It's been such a big week for Will O'Burn and the Friends Who Remember - the proof has been approved and it has official...
23/05/2026

It's been such a big week for Will O'Burn and the Friends Who Remember - the proof has been approved and it has officially gone to print.

To celebrate this momentous occasion we will be opening pre-orders on 1 June from 10am.

The book commissioned by Willow Burn Hospice in Lanchester, County Durham, will be available from 18 June and we can't wait to share it with you.

Watch out for on Tuesday for further information about how you can pre-order this beautiful illustrated picture book 🐰💚

Willow Burn Hospice Needs YouWe are calling on our lovely community to nominate the hospice for a chance to be awarded £...
22/05/2026

Willow Burn Hospice Needs You

We are calling on our lovely community to nominate the hospice for a chance to be awarded £5,000 as part of Benefact Group’s Health & Wellbeing Special Draw, which will award a share of £50,000.

Benefact Group’s Movement for Good Awards gives over £1million away to charities and good causes every year.

How to nominate: The nomination window for health and wellbeing charities is open from Monday 11 to Sunday 24 May. It’s quick and easy to nominate online at:
https://movementforgood.com/draws/special/health-wellbeing?cn=519659&ct=health&i=1779440214-47959.jpg&utm_source=holiday+card&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=M4G2025card&utm_id=M4G2025card

Please note, you will need to nominate Derwentside Hospice Care Foundation the registered name for Willow Burn Hospice.

This Monday at Willow Burn Hospice 📸 Moments That Matter: Talking About Death and Life🗓 18 May | 2pm - 3.30pm | Free Dro...
16/05/2026

This Monday at Willow Burn Hospice

📸 Moments That Matter: Talking About Death and Life
🗓 18 May | 2pm - 3.30pm | Free Drop‑in event
📍 The Willows Café at Willow Burn Hospice

Join us for a warm, welcoming space to talk about death, dying and what they mean to us. Using photography as a starting point, we’ll reflect together on themes including traditions, support, spirituality, care, remembrance, bereavement, celebration of life and planning ahead. You’re invited to bring one special photograph that holds meaning for you, if a person, place, tradition, moment or memory, to share if you wish.

Listening is just as welcome as speaking. Refreshments

👉 Everyone welcome | Please share to help spread the word

Compassionate. Caring. Supportive. Respectful. Person-Centred. Informative.Just some of the words used to describe the i...
12/05/2026

Compassionate. Caring. Supportive. Respectful. Person-Centred. Informative.
Just some of the words used to describe the incredible Willow Burn Hospice Care Team.

Today, on International Nurses’ Day, we celebrate the dedication, kindness and expertise our care team brings to patients and families every single day. Thank you for the care you give and the difference you make 💚

🌸 A Warm Thank You to You All🌸We’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone who braved the rain to join us at our Annual...
11/05/2026

🌸 A Warm Thank You to You All🌸

We’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone who braved the rain to join us at our Annual Nurses’ Spring Fair on Saturday. As always, your support, kindness and generosity made all the difference💚

We’re delighted to share that this year’s fair raised an incredible £3,485.27 - despite the wet weather, which is absolutely AMAZING 💫

A special thank you goes to our wonderful staff and volunteers for their hard work and unwavering support 👏

We’d also like to give a little shoutout to those who helped make the day possible:
✨ Kelly at Little Barn of Calm CIC for bringing along the wonderful petting animals and fabulous prize donation
✨ The The Glo House for the fantastic face painting
✨ Lynda and the Co-op Engagement Team for the crafts
✨ Kevin at Iced Dreams - icecream/slush van for bringing the ice cream van out just for us (despite the weather!)
✨ Tynemouth Aquarium and Crinnions for their generous prize donations
✨ Our Nurse Shirley Cramond for her beautiful handmade gifts
✨ Linda, Kelly and the team at Tesco Annfield Plain for the bottles and gorgeous hand-knitted characters
✨ Paul Jackson, our Honorary President

And finally to you, our countless supporters, who donated raffle prizes, gifts, bottles, handmade items and more - we simply couldn’t do it without you 🥰

🎟️ Winning raffle numbers are listed below and winners have been notified where possible.

Radley Tote Bag - Blue 351 - 355
Family Day Voucher to Tynemouth Aquarium - Yellow 51 – 55
Aspinal of London Brown Croc Leather Hipflask - Green 371 - 375
Spring Door Wreath - Pink/beige 241 – 245
Yankee Candle Home Inspiration Gift Set - Pink/beige 31 – 35
Crinnions Voucher - Dark Pink 691 – 695
Clinique Happy Perfume Gift Set - Pink/beige 11 – 15
Macks Hairdressing £20 Gift Voucher - Yellow 191 - 195
Smirnoff Vodka 1L - Pink/beige 441 – 445
Famous Grouse 1L - Pink/beige 346 – 350
Baileys Original 1L - Yellow 11 – 15
Whitley Neill Rhubarb & Ginger Gin 70cl - Green 406 - 410
Gordons Morello Cherry Gin 70cl - Orange 201 – 205
Jack Daniels 70cl - Pink/beige 446 – 450
Sanctuary Spa ‘Spa Day’ Luxury Gift Set - Pink/beige 281 – 285
Lego Minecraft Fox Lodge Gift Set - Pink/beige 656 - 660
Hand Knitted Paddington Teddy Bear - Dark Pink 596 – 600
£10 M&S Gift Voucher - Pink/beige 321 - 325
£10 M&S Gift Voucher - Yellow 196 – 200
Tia Maria Orange 70cl - Blue 416 – 420
Captain Morgan Gingerbread Spiced Rum 500ml - Orange 246 – 250
Little Barn of Calm Voucher - Pink/beige 581 585

Prizes can be collected from Willow Burn Hospice Reception Monday - Friday, between 9am and 5pm.

Address

Maiden Law Hospital, Howden Bank
Durham
DH70QS

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