A Home from Home for families with a seriously ill child being treated at Newcastle’s Freeman Hospital has reached a significant milestone, celebrating ten years of keeping families together.

Since being opened this month by Geordie legends Ant McPartlin, Declan Donnelly, and Alan Shearer, Scott House, which is run by The Sick Children’s Trust charity, has provided a much-needed sanctuary to over 3,000 families, allowing them to stay just minutes away from the wards.

A significant percentage of families that use Scott House have a child receiving care at the hospital’s renowned Children’s Heart Unit, with stays often lasting many months or even years, sometimes hundreds of miles away from their own homes.

For these families, Scott House offers a sanctuary, a free, comfortable place to stay just a stone’s throw from their child’s hospital bedside, easing the emotional and financial strain of being far from home.

Supporters, friends, and families both past and present gathered at Scott House to mark a decade of togetherness.

Among the visitors were Peter Sutton and his ten-year-old son Oscar, who was diagnosed with two serious heart conditions on the same day that Scott House officially opened.

Peter, 53, from Killingworth, said: "We received a key on that first day, and it was the timeliest, most important lifeline for our family at a time of huge stress and worry.

“Oscar was only eight days old at the time. Being able to stay just minutes away from the ward was so important, keeping us close to Oscar while he was fighting for his life and giving us a place where our family could process everything that was going on.” 

“Staying at Scott House took away so much stress and uncertainty.

“Without it, the logistics of getting to the hospital in an emergency could’ve meant missing crucial moments with Oscar. But instead, we were always just a short walk away.

“Just like Scott House, Oscar turned ten this year and I’m thrilled to say he’s doing great. He’s gone from check-ups every six months, to yearly and now to every two years. He gets a bit out of breath when he's playing sports, but he's not going to be stopped – he's very resilient.”

Jane Featherstone, Chief Executive of The Sick Children's Trust, highlighted the importance of Scott House for families facing long hospital stays.

She said: "Without Scott House many families would face the difficult reality of staying in costly hotels, sleeping in their cars, or spending nights on uncomfortable hospital chairs.

"When your child is seriously ill, having a free, comfortable place to stay just moments from their bedside offers invaluable relief, helping to ease the burden during an incredibly challenging time.

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“Scott House really is a lifeline to all the families that have stayed or are staying there, and I must say a huge thank you to our supporters and fundraisers for everything they do to ensure that Scott House continues to be there for families when they really need it.”

Scott House’s 10th anniversary celebrations will continue on December 6 at The Snowflake Ball, with The Sick Children’s Trust and long-time supporters The Children’s Heart Unit Fund (Chuf) partnering for a special festive fundraising evening at The Biscuit Factory in Newcastle.

To purchase tickets or learn more about The Sick Children’s Trust click here.