After two years and nine months, the Morrisons and Together for Short Lives partnership has come to an end. However, whilst the partnership is officially over, the impact it has had will continue for years to come. There are five key ways in which the partnership has changed lives.
1. Funding to provide 215,685 hours of children’s hospice care
With over £6.5 million raised for children’s hospices, 215,685 hours of vital support for seriously ill children and their families has been made possible, ensuring families facing the challenges of caring for a sick child can access the resources they need.
Morrisons Store Manager Matt Dodd, who lives in Bristol with his wife and three children, has told us about the importance of this support from personal experience, “I understand first-hand how crucial it is for families with seriously ill children to receive adequate support. As a father to a seriously ill child, I know I can’t ask my family to look after Noah because his needs are too complex,” he shared. With the help of their local children’s hospice, Acorns, Matt and his wife can enjoy precious one-on-one time with their daughters while knowing that Noah is well cared for.
Noah, who is now eleven, was born with several complex health conditions, including blindness, deafness, and quadriplegic cerebral palsy, and requires specialised care. The Dodd family has relied on Acorns Children’s Hospice since Noah was a year old, receiving invaluable support such as twelve nights of respite care each year and additional resources for his sisters. “Without Acorns, we would really struggle,” Matt reflects, emphasising the hospice’s role in helping families like his navigate the complexities of caring for a seriously ill child.
Without Acorns, we would really struggle.
Matt Dodd, Noah's Dad
2. Special activities for 6,223 family members to make precious memories.
The Making Memories Together grant has had a profound impact, enabling 6,223 seriously ill children and their family members to create cherished memories through parties, keepsakes, and special outings. Making precious memories is especially important for families who don’t know how long they may have left with their child, which is why this grant is such an important part of the partnership.
One children’s hospice in Oxfordshire, Helen & Douglas House, used their grant to organise a wonderful day out for 33 families at the Cotswold Wildlife Park. The event was carefully planned with accessibility in mind, allowing families to enjoy various activities, including craft stations, entertainment from a musician and magician, and refreshments. One family expressed their gratitude, stating, “It was a great opportunity to get out and do activities we wouldn’t normally be able to do – we felt so welcome.”
An indoor seating area provided a comfortable space for families to connect. To capture the day’s special moments, staff took photographs for families to treasure. Each child also received a small gift, ensuring the day was filled with joy and lasting precious memories.
3. Grants for 29 hospices to fund renovations and purchase vital equipment.
Utilising the Building a Legacy Together grant, 29 children’s hospices will complete vital renovations and acquire new equipment. Of the 29 grants, three have funded counselling pods.
Counselling provides a safe space for families to express their emotions and process their grief, and a separate counselling area can be invaluable for those who find it difficult to return to the main hospice building. Conducting these sessions in outdoor pods, surrounded by nature, enhances the therapeutic experience, promoting relaxation and encouraging openness.
Gareth Pierce, CEO of Forget Me Not children’s hospice, who are one of the hospices that used the grant for a counselling pod, expressed his gratitude for this support: “The new garden counselling room is a very welcome addition to our facilities here at Forget Me Not. When we were looking at how to extend our offering on counselling for families, we wanted something that was of the hospice but wasn’t in the hospice…having this quiet, cosy space in our grounds means we make it easier for families to access the counselling that is so vital in supporting them.”
4. A community outreach team to support 1,415 new families.
Thanks to the Morrisons partnership, we have been able to reach 1,415 new families through our Community Outreach project, enabling access to vital support. Emily, mother to Amelia who has a life limiting condition and has supported the Morrisons partnership from the beginning, highlighted the significance of this work: “Children’s hospices provide not just medical care, but a haven of comfort and compassion. This partnership has been instrumental in ensuring that more families have access to these vital services – a lifeline during our most challenging times.”
Emily’s daughter, Amelia, was diagnosed with Nemaline Myopathy type 2, a rare genetic neuromuscular disorder at just a couple of weeks old. For support and help, the family have always found Keech Hospice Care to be a safe haven, “They scooped us up into a giant hug. They are angels.” The partnership between Morrisons and Together for Short Lives has raised essential funds and increased awareness about the critical services that children’s hospices provide, ensuring that no family has to face caring for a seriously ill child alone. “Thank you, Morrisons, for your support,” Emily added.
Thank you, Morrisons, for your support.
Emily, Amelia's Mum
5. Emergency grants and food deliveries for 756 families.
For 756 families in need of emergency support, we have provided cost-of-living grants, crisis pantry food deliveries, and bereavement grants. The Crisis Pantry, in particular, delivers a one-off £150 grocery shop at no cost, alleviating the financial and mental strain of the weekly shop during times of heightened stress.
Each delivery includes essential items for every family member, from toothpaste to comforting treats, offering much-needed relief during challenging times. Dr Helena Dunbar, Together for Short Lives’ Director of Service Development and Improvement expressed gratitude for this support, “we are so grateful to lift a heavy burden off families’ shoulders through emergency grants and crisis pantry deliveries…it has been amazing to reach more families with this direct support when it is needed most.”
The emergency grants have helped families across the country, including one family of six in Greater Manchester. They were facing financial strains while caring for a child undergoing chemotherapy.
With rising living costs and frequent hospital visits, making ends meet was increasingly difficult. The Crisis Pantry provided a much-needed grocery shop, allowing them to enjoy meaningful meals together. “The difference this made to our family is amazing,” said the mother of four. “We feel so grateful to have been helped like this. The practical things are so appreciated in times of stress.”
A lasting legacy
From February 2022 to October 2024, the Morrisons and Together for Short Lives partnership raised millions to support children’s hospices, and the families that rely on them. The legacy of the partnership will live on through the families we continue to reach, the hospices we support and memories we have helped to create.
None of this would have been possible without the dedication of Morrisons colleagues, suppliers and customers – so thank you to everyone involved in making the partnership such a success.