Whether caring for a child or patient for years, months, weeks of even just hours, Havens Hospices make a real difference to their life. Find out about how it all started here.
When a family has been told that there’s no cure for their loved one’s illness and all that can be done is to make life comfortable, Havens Hospices can help. Fair Havens Hospice and Little Havens Hospice focus on the individual needs of the adults and children they care for, ‘making every day count’ for those with life-limiting illnesses, and their families. Havens Hospices are the only place in the area wholly dedicated to looking after those with an illness which could shorten their life.
In the beginning
Fair Havens Hospice was founded by a group of local Christians who wanted to provide better care for those who were dying.
After a lot of hard work and thanks to the generosity of the local community, the hospice opened its doors in June 1983. Since then, more than 20,000 seriously ill patients and their families from Southend, Castle Point and Rochford have turned to the hospice for the specialist care they need.
The three main founders were Reverend Ian Coffey, Daphne Hall MBE (original Matron and former Director of Care) and Dr Michael Stuart (Honorary Medical Director).
The name Fair Havens comes from the Bible when the Apostle Paul was shipwrecked on the Southern tip of Crete. It says, “Coasting along with difficulty, we came to a place called Fair Havens.” The original lighthouse symbol, a sign of safety and security, can still be found on the doors to the hospice.
Fair Havens now offers a range of specialist care and bereavement support services through its In Patient Unit and Day Care Centre in Chalkwell and within the home.
Havens Hospices help by controlling pain and medication, offering respite and caring for each child and patient at the end of their lives. Our care is often described by those we care for as “amazing.” Everyone matters at Havens Hospices, we care not just for patients but their families friends and neighbours too. All are welcome.
We’re a registered charity, not part of the NHS, and receive limited government funding. Our hospices can only exist because of the support and generosity of the community.