Noah's Ark opens new hospice building for north and central London

• Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan joins representatives from the Club to open Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice’s new home.
• The Ark is a new children’s hospice building which will support babies, children and young people with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions living in north and central London and Hertsmere.
• Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice has been the Club’s official charity partner since 2016.

Today, Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan joined representatives from the Club, including captains Hugo Lloris and Jenna Schillaci, to open The Ark - a new children’s hospice building for north and central London and Hertsmere.

The Club’s official charity partner since 2016, Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice provides support for babies, children and young people with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions and their families living in North London.

The Ark will complement the charity’s ‘Hospice at Home’ service and enable Noah’s Ark to increase the scale and quality of its delivery.

The building, which is shaped like a butterfly - the symbol of the children's hospice movement - has been built on a 7.5 acre nature reserve in Barnet and will provide a relaxing space for children and their families to connect with others facing similar challenges.

The hospice will offer a range of children’s palliative care services including a sensory room, sensory garden, drop-in facility for families to come and meet, overnight stays for children and families and after death care. Each room overlooks the nature reserve and has been designed to create a home like environment rather than feeling like a hospital.

Accompanied by Jeremy Isaacs CBE, Noah’s Ark Chair of Trustees and Ru Watkins, Noah’s Ark Chief Executive, the Mayor and representatives from Tottenham Hotspur were given a tour of the new hospice building before meeting families who have been supported by the charity.

One family who have been helped by Noah’s Ark is Rose Charles and her two grandchildren. Ben had a rare genetic condition and died in 2014. Rose continues to care for Ben’s sister Sophie who has the same diagnosis.

Rose Charles said: “End-of-life care at a local children’s hospice wasn’t available for Ben, my lovely grandson who died at home. That’s why I wanted things to be different for my granddaughter Sophie. I dreamt of this facility being built in time for Sophie and it’s a joy to witness the care that this place will provide to her. It will make a huge difference to our lives.”

Tottenham Hotspur’s partnership with Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice has seen the Club help raise awareness of the work of the charity and drive the recruitment of volunteers via high profile events and the support of First Team players, including the squad’s donation of an hour’s wages to help raise funds to build The Ark. We shall be dedicating our home north London derby against Arsenal in April to supporting the charity.

Donna-Maria Cullen, Executive Director at Tottenham Hotspur, said: “We are so very proud to be a partner of Noah’s Ark. We have huge admiration for the staff, volunteers, brave families and children. The Ark truly is the home that the charity and those it supports deserves – providing first-class facilities to further enhance the vital delivery of care and support. The Club, its staff, players and fans are humbled to have played a small part on this journey.”

Ru Watkins, Chief Executive, Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice, said: “It’s fantastic to be standing here today as we officially declare The Ark open. We have aimed to fulfil the needs of our families and create an environment where their children can receive the care and attention they require in a calm and relaxed space. This iconic building has been designed to ensure children and their siblings can be at one with nature and enjoy time together away from the family home. I would like to extend my thanks to our local community and generous partners who have enabled us to complete The Ark, allowing more sick children and their families to receive much needed support.”

Sadiq Khan, The Mayor of London, said: “Noah’s Ark has been a beacon of light for the children and families it serves, so I’m delighted that they have a brand-new home. The Ark will ensure that children across north and central London receive the best possible care and support. It’s a children’s hospice that has been built by the community for the community and is a fantastic example of what can be achieved when Londoners work together.

“Tottenham Hotspur have been the Official Charity Partner of Noah’s Ark since 2016 and have been incredibly generous. They have not just one but two captains here today in Hugo and Jenna. This is just one example of the generosity of Spurs. They should be extremely proud of the work they have done in making their team such a force both on and off the pitch. Spurs have probably the best football stadium in the world and now we are opening the best home for our children in the world as well.”

To find out more about Noah’s Ark please visit https://www.noahsarkhospice.org.uk/