Sophie's Sadness

Kids’ hospice she backs forced to close doors

- Russell Myers

A children's hospice backed by the Royal Family has been forced to close after Covid-19 blew a £2million hole in its finances.

Sophie, Countess of Wessex, patron of Shooting Star Children’s Hospices, has been left “incredibly saddened” after it shut one of two sites dedicated to helping 800 seriously ill kids.

The charity, which has been visited by other senior royals including Prince Charles and Camilla, and the Duchess of Cambridge, offers emergency respite and end-of-life care.

But a Mirror probe has discovered it is one of dozens of hospices, which rely on the public’s generosity, facing unprecedented hardship.

Mass cancellations of fundraising events such as the London Marathon and the closure of high street charity shops have fuelled the crisis.

Karen Sugarman, vice president of SSCH, which supports children in London and Surrey, said: “Covid-19 has had a devastating effect, like being run over by a massive steamroller.

“Nobody could have been prepared for this. We are fighting with everything we have to be there for people who need us in their darkest hour.”

Shooting Star was awarded £480,000 in emergency government funding last month, but with services costing £30,000 a day, Karen says it has “merely papered over the cracks”.

She added: “The Government has been slow to react and there hasn’t been an adequate response.

“Sadly I don’t think we have ever been high enough on their agenda.

“Charities around the world are suffering. We all have different needs but we are in this together.”