16 April, Edinburgh: Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS) has launched a major new campaign, ‘More Than A Hospice’, with an emotional film that brings to life the reality faced by families across Scotland who are caring for a child who will die young.
The appeal aims to raise £20 million and will run for three years, from April 2026 to March 2029.
Every week in Scotland, three children die from an incurable illness; three families hear the words no parent should ever hear; three worlds fall apart. Thanks to advances in medicine, more babies now survive conditions that once would have taken their lives quickly. Some live for months, and some for years, but it also means Scotland must change how it cares for them. Too many families still do not have a real choice at the end of their child’s life.
CHAS believes no one should face the death of their child alone.
The new film, created by Leith and directed by Leith’s Chris Watson, tells the story of a mother remembering the moment she first saw her daughter’s ten tiny fingers and toes. On screen, a single fingerprint appears on paper. It slowly transforms into Zoe, an animated fingerprint character illustrated by renowned Scottish artist and author Marion Deuchars. The characters were created using fingerprints from children at a CHAS workshop at Rachel House.
As the mother describes the moment she learned Zoe would die, the animation shifts into darker tones. The colours lift again as she speaks about the support CHAS provided throughout Zoe’s life. Zoe laughed, played and swam for the first time. The hospices became the light in her mother’s darkness. They offered a beautiful place to live and then die. The film ends with Zoe walking into the woods, holding balloons, before they drift gently into the sky.
The ‘More Than A Hospice’ appeal is a once-in-a-generation chance to redesign how Scotland cares for children who will die young. CHAS will modernise its hospices so they meet the needs of today’s children and families. It will help more children have end-of-life care at home, if that is what families want, and for care to be truly seamless between hospital, hospice and home, so families feel supported wherever they are. This is about giving families real choice and ensuring that wherever they are, they are loved, supported and not alone.
It has been 30 years since CHAS opened Scotland’s first children’s hospice, Rachel House in Kinross, followed by Robin House in Balloch. These buildings met the needs of families at the time, but advances in healthcare and the increasing complexity of children’s conditions mean they now require essential upgrading. The Scottish public is being asked to help connect the dots across children’s palliative care, bringing vital support to families in hospitals, hospices and at home.
The campaign will run across TV, social, digital, radio, DM and OOH, which features artwork inspired by Marion Deuchars.
CHAS is calling on the people of Scotland to help ensure that no parent faces the death of their child alone. Donations can be made at www.chas.org.uk/more-than-a-hospice chas.org.uk/more-than-a-hospice
Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (known as CHAS) is a Scottish charity. SC019724.
Chris Watson, Deputy Creative Director at Leith, said:
“Telling a story like this comes with huge responsibility. We wanted to create something which felt truthful to the families who live this reality every day, while showing the light CHAS brings into their lives. Using fingerprints let us build a world that is human, personal, and unmistakably theirs.”
Iain McAndrew, Director of Income Generation and Engagement at CHAS, said:
“We want to unite and inspire people across every walk of life to join our ‘More Than a Hospice’ movement and ensure that every family managing the unbearable reality of knowing their child will die young has a genuine choice and unwavering support during the hardest moments of their lives.
“Working with Leith on this powerful campaign creative has been central. We believe it will make a real difference and help people across Scotland to understand the important care CHAS supports. ‘More Than A Hospice’ is our biggest ever fundraising appeal since Rachel House, Scotland’s first ever children’s hospice, was built over 30 years ago. This is an invitation for the people of Scotland to stand together behind a simple belief: that no one should face the death of their child alone.”
