Willow Burn Hospice

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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.

19/06/2026

What a special afternoon yesterday at Willow Burn Hospice!

We were so proud to celebrate the launch of our new children’s book, Will O’Burn and the Friends Who Remember, alongside families, schools, charities and healthcare partners 💚

Hosted by the brilliant Anna Foster from BBC Radio Newcastle, the event was full of warmth, storytelling and plenty of smiles. Guests heard from Victoria Downes Author and Illustrated By Helen, enjoyed a fun game of ‘ears and tails’, Bucks Bunny Cocktails and stepped onto the green carpet for photos with Will O’Burn himself!

The afternoon wouldn’t have been the same without our amazing funders, whose support made this book possible: Amethyst Homes Conside Lodge 7179 Rotary Club of Consett, Durham Freemasons and Wolsingham School. A special thanks also to our fantastic Willow Burn Catering Team for the delicious bunny-themed treats

This beautiful book has been created to help children and families talk more openly about bereavement, offering a gentle, supportive way to understand feelings of loss and keep memories alive.
A huge thank you to everyone who joined us and made it such a memorable launch.

📖 Will O’Burn and the Friends Who Remember is now on sale at Willow Burn Hospice, our shops and online.

👉 Read more on the link in the comments.

18/06/2026

We’re so proud to celebrate the official launch of Will O’Burn’s brand new book - now available to buy today!

You can pick up your copy at our hospice shops, with every purchase helping to support the care we provide 💚

Pop into Willow Burn Hospice, your local Willow Burn shop or the Tea Hatch at Shotley Bridge to grab a copy and be part of something special. You can also get it online (see link in comments).

Thank you for your continued support and happy reading!

10/06/2026

Will O’Burn has just taken delivery of the first edition of his new book, 'Will O’Burn and the Friends Who Remember.' What an amazing moment! He’s absolutely thrilled and counting down the days to the official launch next Thursday.

Please excuse his casual appearance, his Coat of Memories is currently at the dry cleaners, ready for his big day next week.

Will is very proud to work with...
Illustrated By Helen Victoria Downes Author Alexa Whitten and Halstan

Pre-order available now – https://willowburnhospice.org.uk/will-o-burn-and-the-friends-who-remember

06/06/2026

🌟Saturday Spotlight🌟

We’d like to say a heartfelt thank you to Mandy, who is fundraising in memory of her mam, Gillian, who passed away at Willow Burn in January last year.

Mandy cared for her mam for many years and losing her was incredibly difficult. After her passing, she found it hard to adjust and fill her time. In a lovely way to honour her mam, Mandy started a small business from home selling sweets and gifts 💝

Gillian had the sweetest tooth, earning her the nickname “Sweet Gilly” which Mandy has lovingly named her home business, selling sweets and gifts in her mam’s honour.

To give back, Mandy is organising a charity event next Saturday 13th June at her home. There will be a tombola, stalls with sweets, gifts and greetings cards and cake shed by From Fleur will be open too 🍬🍰

Everyone is welcome to come along and support 🥰

We’re so grateful to Mandy for thinking of us and for everything she is doing in memory of her mam 🤍

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.

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.

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 💚

Address

Maiden Law Hospital, Howden Bank
Durham
DH70QS

Website

http://www.willowburnhospice.org.uk/

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