Boston Spa-based Martin House Children’s Hospice reveals it’s one step closer to completing THE BUILD after achieving over £1m of the £2m public target and moving on to phase two which includes a teenage wing, hydrotherapy pool and education centre.
To strengthen its internal team, the charity has announced two senior appointments;
Laura Barnes as Head of Marketing and Communications and
Robyn Mountain Wade, Director of Income Generation.
Laura joins the renowned children’s hospice, bringing 18 years of not-for-profit experience. Prior to joining Martin House, Laura held key communications roles at Macmillan Cancer Support where she worked for more than ten years, with her remit encompassing strategic external and internal communication roles.
This role will see her strengthen the communications strategy at the charity as it edges closer to completing THE BUILD, a visionary multi-phase £21.9 million project.
THE BUILD aims to redevelop the facility, with the public fundraising target standing at £2 million by winter 2025.
Laura said: “I’m thrilled to be part of the Martin House team, a much loved and respected charity across Yorkshire. I’m joining at an exciting time in the charity’s journey as we drive the final fundraising push for THE BUILD, and prepare to open world class facilities to support children, young people and their families.”
The charity has continued to champion its all-female leadership team by appointing Robyn Mountain Wade as its permanent Director of Income Generation; previously acting.
She said: “Becoming the Director of Income Generation at Martin House is a genuine privilege. I am honoured to lead the team to secure the resources that allow us to provide vital care to children and families across Yorkshire, when they need it most.
“I’m hugely motivated by ‘purpose-driven’ work, and this role gives me the opportunity to contribute strategically and sustainably to something that really matters.
“It means bringing people together; supporters, teams, partners — around a shared mission, and together, finding new ways to make an impact whilst staying true to the heart of what Martin House stands for.”
Robyn brings over 22 years of experience in the charity sector, having held several key fundraising positions at Macmillan Cancer Support, where she successfully led diverse teams and spearheaded numerous fundraising campaigns
Robyn’s extensive background encompasses marketing and retail, both within and outside of the charity sector. Prior to her current role as Director of Income Generation, she served as Head of Fundraising at Martin House, showcasing her leadership and expertise in driving impactful fundraising initiatives and supporting her teams to achieve outstanding results.
Clair Holdworth, Chief Executive at Martin House Children’s Hospice, said: “Laura is joining our charity at a pivotal time, as we edge closer towards completing THE BUILD. She brings a wealth of experience that will strengthen the marketing team as we begin to look beyond THE BUILD, to the new era of the charity.
“We’re also pleased to announce Robyn’s permanent appointment as Director of Income Generation; having been with us for more than six years, Robyn is a crucial part of the team, and we’re very grateful for the impact she’s made on the hospice and its ambitious fundraising targets.”
For more information, visit: www.martinhouse.org.uk
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Martin House has been providing family-led care and support for babies, children and young people with life-shortening conditions since 1987 (life-shortening means the child or young person is not expected to live beyond young adulthood).
Every year we support over 550 children and young people, and their families plus around 200 bereaved family members across West, North and East Yorkshire, at our hospice, in hospitals and in families’ own homes.
The hospice, based in Boston Spa, has nine bedrooms in Martin House, and six in Whitby Lodge, which cares for teenagers and young people. Our services include specialist short stays, symptom control, emergency care, community care and end of life care.
Bereavement support is offered to families who have used Martin House, as well as to families whose child had a life-shortening condition but did not have the opportunity to use the hospice, or following a sudden death.
Martin House has three consultants in paediatric palliative medicine and also hosts two places to train future consultants, one of only six training centres in the UK.
There is no cost to any of the families using our services. It costs around £10.5 million a year to provide this care, the majority of which comes from voluntary donations and fundraising.
Registered Charity Number 517919
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