0:00:08 > 0:00:11Over the years, I've spent some quite a lot of time in hospices.
0:00:11 > 0:00:14Recently, visiting a very close family friend.
0:00:14 > 0:00:16Although they're home to such deep sadness,
0:00:16 > 0:00:20they also manage to inspire hope and happy memories
0:00:20 > 0:00:24and that's why I want to show you the special work that hospices do.
0:00:28 > 0:00:32UK hospices support around 200,000 adults and children
0:00:32 > 0:00:35with terminal and life-limiting conditions, every year.
0:00:38 > 0:00:42Aidan Moir died in 2012 when he was just ten.
0:00:44 > 0:00:46You shouldn't have to bury a child.
0:00:46 > 0:00:47It's just not the way it should be.
0:00:47 > 0:00:49They should be burying their parents.
0:00:50 > 0:00:52Nothing could ever prepare you for it.
0:00:53 > 0:00:57Aidan was born with a rare neurological condition.
0:00:57 > 0:01:00When he was five, his senses started to deteriorate,
0:01:00 > 0:01:03along with his ability to walk and talk.
0:01:05 > 0:01:09It's hard to imagine how difficult it is for people to cope
0:01:09 > 0:01:12when their child has such a devastating illness.
0:01:12 > 0:01:16But for families like Aidan's, children's hospices all over the UK
0:01:16 > 0:01:20offer support, comfort and valuable respite.
0:01:26 > 0:01:29Robin House Hospice, north of Glasgow.
0:01:29 > 0:01:32Aidan's mum and dad brought him here for visits
0:01:32 > 0:01:35with his brother and sister as his condition got worse.
0:01:37 > 0:01:39Although Robin House cares for children
0:01:39 > 0:01:41with life-limiting conditions,
0:01:41 > 0:01:43it also gives family, like the Moirs,
0:01:43 > 0:01:46a break from the demands of such a severe illness.
0:01:50 > 0:01:53Family life, it was all about clock watching.
0:01:53 > 0:01:56"Is it medicine time? Is it feed time?"
0:01:56 > 0:01:59Whereas when we come down here, he had his own member of staff
0:01:59 > 0:02:04so it meant we could go in the pool with him, read him a story...
0:02:04 > 0:02:07just lie, lie beside him in the bed and watch a DVD.
0:02:07 > 0:02:08Just...
0:02:08 > 0:02:10the everyday that people take for granted with their kids.
0:02:12 > 0:02:15And it was here that Aidan spent his final days.
0:02:15 > 0:02:17The doctor here looked him over and thought,
0:02:17 > 0:02:20this could maybe be Aidan's last.
0:02:21 > 0:02:24So, he was settled for the Thursday night.
0:02:25 > 0:02:28During the day on the Friday, didn't really...
0:02:33 > 0:02:37When the end came, he was surrounded by his whole family.
0:02:37 > 0:02:41- He just went in his sleep. - He went so peacefully, so quietly...
0:02:41 > 0:02:42with dignity.
0:02:44 > 0:02:48I think Robin House, for me, will always be a happy place,
0:02:48 > 0:02:50even though Aidan passed away here.
0:02:50 > 0:02:53For me, it was all about the memories that we made as a family.
0:02:53 > 0:02:55- Yeah, good memories.- Yeah.
0:02:55 > 0:02:56The good times, mm-hmm.
0:03:02 > 0:03:06Robin House is one of a network of over 200 UK hospices
0:03:06 > 0:03:10supported by a charity called Hospice UK.
0:03:10 > 0:03:15Hospice UK works very hard to make sure they offer the best care.
0:03:15 > 0:03:18Now that could mean pain relief or counselling.
0:03:18 > 0:03:20But it's also so much more.
0:03:20 > 0:03:24Hospice UK depends on all of us to make it happen.
0:03:27 > 0:03:31Like many hospices, Robin House relies on the help of volunteers.
0:03:31 > 0:03:35Whether they're in the garden, the kitchen,
0:03:35 > 0:03:36or working directly with the children.
0:03:38 > 0:03:40- Oh!- He liked that.- Is that one good?
0:03:43 > 0:03:47- Feargus is nearly two and loves drumming.- Hi.
0:03:47 > 0:03:49- Today, he's with Phil... - Here you go, Feargus.- You do it.
0:03:49 > 0:03:53..who's been volunteering at Robin House for three years.
0:03:54 > 0:03:58Feargus spent his first 14 months and hospital
0:03:58 > 0:04:01for a complex life-limiting condition.
0:04:01 > 0:04:02Big...bang!
0:04:02 > 0:04:04- FEARGUS CHUCKLES - Again!
0:04:04 > 0:04:06He was then referred to Robin House.
0:04:06 > 0:04:09But it was a hard step for the family to take.
0:04:11 > 0:04:15You never want to go to a children's hospice.
0:04:20 > 0:04:22It's not something you want to do.
0:04:27 > 0:04:29FEARGUS BABBLES IN BACKGROUND
0:04:29 > 0:04:33It took us a while to get our head round everything.
0:04:40 > 0:04:44Now it's a place to enjoy precious moments together.
0:04:44 > 0:04:46Yay!
0:04:46 > 0:04:49'And it's about living. It's not...'
0:04:49 > 0:04:52It's not about end of life all the time.
0:04:52 > 0:04:57It's about making the best of what you have and making memories,
0:04:57 > 0:05:01because that's really all we are doing, is making memories.
0:05:01 > 0:05:02That's...
0:05:05 > 0:05:07Hospices across the UK are giving
0:05:07 > 0:05:10support to people of all ages.
0:05:10 > 0:05:13Here at London's Royal Trinity Hospice,
0:05:13 > 0:05:15terminally ill adults can also choose from
0:05:15 > 0:05:19a wide range of activities, thanks to volunteers giving up their time.
0:05:19 > 0:05:23This is Monday club. It's for people with dementia.
0:05:23 > 0:05:26They live at home but they use their local hospice for classes
0:05:26 > 0:05:28which volunteers help to run.
0:05:30 > 0:05:31THEY SING
0:05:31 > 0:05:33Well, they needed a pianist.
0:05:36 > 0:05:40Trinity has 450 volunteers who are given training to work
0:05:40 > 0:05:43sensitively with people who are terminally ill.
0:05:43 > 0:05:47They help the specialist staff make the patients' lives more enjoyable.
0:05:50 > 0:05:53Now, this may surprise you, but much of the care they give
0:05:53 > 0:05:57actually happens outside of the hospice building.
0:05:57 > 0:06:00Hospice UK have championed the idea of training up volunteers
0:06:00 > 0:06:04to support people with a terminal illness living at home.
0:06:04 > 0:06:08It's a great idea and importantly, it frees up hospice nurses
0:06:08 > 0:06:10so they can concentrate on clinical work.
0:06:14 > 0:06:1828-year-old marketing consultant Eddie gives up several hours
0:06:18 > 0:06:19a week to volunteer.
0:06:21 > 0:06:26Trinity matched with Ken, who's 84 and has Parkinson's.
0:06:26 > 0:06:29Ken lives with his wife, Kirstin, in south London.
0:06:29 > 0:06:31Let me serve some cake.
0:06:31 > 0:06:36Eddie's visits give Ken the confidence to get some exercise.
0:06:36 > 0:06:38Mind if I use some fingers?
0:06:38 > 0:06:42Eddie comes along once a week and we go out for a walk.
0:06:47 > 0:06:51Here we go. I've got you.
0:06:51 > 0:06:55And by the time we get back, I must say, I'm shattered.
0:06:56 > 0:06:58You're doing great.
0:06:59 > 0:07:02And it's getting more difficult.
0:07:02 > 0:07:04But I'm determined to keep it going.
0:07:04 > 0:07:08Because otherwise, I would be completely immobile.
0:07:09 > 0:07:11You're doing great.
0:07:11 > 0:07:15Trinity train volunteers like Eddie to keep an eye on patients' welfare.
0:07:16 > 0:07:19After every visit, I report back.
0:07:19 > 0:07:21Fortunately, I haven't had to say that there's anything
0:07:21 > 0:07:24that I'm concerned about with Ken, because he's in pretty good shape,
0:07:24 > 0:07:26pretty good nick.
0:07:26 > 0:07:30I'm very lucky. And we hope it'll last for a long time.
0:07:36 > 0:07:40Hospices rely on these volunteers and depend on the generosity
0:07:40 > 0:07:45of people like you to fund much of the wonderful work they do.
0:07:45 > 0:07:49But the truth is, Hospice UK would like to do a lot, lot more.
0:07:49 > 0:07:53More specially trained volunteers in hospices and doing home visits
0:07:53 > 0:07:55would make a big difference.
0:07:55 > 0:07:58Together with the nurses, they can ensure that people don't face dying
0:07:58 > 0:08:01without the support they really need.
0:08:01 > 0:08:05So please donate and help Hospice UK give more adults and children
0:08:05 > 0:08:08the chance to live their lives to the full.
0:08:10 > 0:08:11To give by phone, call...
0:08:14 > 0:08:18Calls are free from mobiles and landlines.
0:08:18 > 0:08:20You can also donate £10 by texting...
0:08:22 > 0:08:26Texts cost £10, plus your standard network message charge
0:08:26 > 0:08:29and the whole £10 goes to Hospice UK.
0:08:30 > 0:08:33For full terms and conditions, or to make a donation online,
0:08:33 > 0:08:35visit the Lifeline website at...
0:08:39 > 0:08:41Or if you would like to post a donation,
0:08:41 > 0:08:44please make your cheque payable to "Hospice UK"
0:08:44 > 0:08:45and send it to...
0:08:47 > 0:08:49..writing "Hospice UK"
0:08:49 > 0:08:51on the back of the envelope.
0:08:52 > 0:08:53Thank you!