20 years of caring at Robin House

Children's hospice holds year of events to mark occasion

- STAFF REPORTER

Celebrations are underway at Robin House in Balloch as the dedicated children’s hospice marks its 20th birthday.

Officially opened on July 4, 2005, by HRH The Princess Royal, Robin House has offered a full family support service for babies, children and young people with life-shortening conditions for the last two decades.

The specialist facility is one of two vital children’s hospices operated by Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS), the other being Rachel House in Kinross which opened in 1996.

The £10million campaign to build Robin House began back in 1999, fronted by a five-year-old girl called Robyn Watterson, from Knightswood in Glasgow, who suffered from a rare, terminal condition called Hurler's disease.

Scottish stars Ewan McGregor and Sharleen Spiteri joined Robyn to cut the first turf in 2003 in the grounds of the chosen hospice location in Balloch and Robin House officially opened its doors two years later.

Since 2005 Robin House has supported more than 3,000 family members by providing professional care for babies, children and young people living with life-shortening conditions.

To celebrate the hospice’s 20th anniversary milestone teams across CHAS have been busy organising various events, the first of which was a Mad Hatter’s Tea Party which took place on Saturday, July 5.

As well as making colourful hats, children and families enjoyed a lunchtime tea party, with tasty sandwiches and sweet treats, then took part in a scavenger hunt in the gardens.

The 20th anniversary will continue to be celebrated at future hospice events that will span across the year including Rebecca Rocks and Bring a Bulb Day.