Jessie May, a cherished children’s hospice serving Bath, East Somerset, and neighboring areas for nearly 30 years, is confronting an urgent £300,000 funding gap. This shortfall now threatens the continuation of essential at-home nursing care for some of the region’s most vulnerable children.
The charity, which supports 17 children locally and 196 across the South West, provides specialist nursing from diagnosis through end-of-life and bereavement care. This enables families to receive compassionate support in their own homes, a service critical to their well-being.
Despite rising demand and care costs spiking from £1.7 million last year to £2 million this year, Jessie May’s government funding remains minimal—only 18% of its income comes from public sources. The remaining 82% depends on community donations. In response, the hospice has launched the “Your Community Needs You” appeal, calling on local residents to help bridge this unprecedented funding crisis.
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Daniel Cheesman, Jessie May’s Chief Executive, emphasized the grave situation: “Hospices are a vital part of healthcare, but we are facing the sector’s greatest financial challenge. We have already tightened our budgets, but we refuse to reduce vital services that families rely on.”
One family directly impacted is that of four-year-old Margot from Bath. Born premature and diagnosed with the rare genetic condition Trisomy 9 Mosaicism, Margot’s family has experienced firsthand the transformative support Jessie May provides. Her mother, Vicks, shared, “Jessie May isn’t just medical care—it’s a lifeline that lets us breathe and rest. Losing their support would profoundly affect all of us, including Margot’s sister Mimi, who finds comfort knowing Jessie May is here for us.”
The charity reports a 53% increase in referrals this year, underscoring a growing need for their services at a time when funding is more fragile than ever.
“We serve 17 families in Bath & East Somerset alone,” said Daniel Cheesman. “If everyone in the area donated just £1, we would reach our goal. We urge the community to help by donating, sharing our message, or becoming fundraising champions.”
This campaign is about more than money—it’s about keeping children at home with their loved ones, siblings spending cherished time together, and providing exhausted parents with a much-needed breather. It’s about giving families choice and dignity when they need it most.