A Warm Welcome Awaits at Francis House Children’s Hospice Open Day
By Karen Flower
At a glance
Francis House Children’s Hospice in Manchester will host an Open Day on Saturday, November 7, 2026, offering guided tours to show how donations support children with life-shortening conditions and their families. The event allows the public to see the hospice's facilities and learn about its services, highlighting the importance of community support. Visitors can also purchase merchandise and learn about future events, with refreshments available.
Francis House Children’s Hospice opens its doors to the public for an Open Day on Saturday, November 7, 2026. The hospice in Manchester is hosting fascinating and informative tours to give members of the public and supporters the opportunity to see how their donations help support children and families from across Greater Manchester. A warm welcome is in store as guided tours led by members of the hospice care team take place throughout the day. Visitors can experience the home-from-home environment and see the incredible facilities including colourful painted murals, refurbished children’s bedrooms, sensory and cinema rooms and upgraded parents’ flats, where families stay whilst their child is having respite.
Francis House is based on Parrswood Road in Didsbury and supports the families of children and young people with life-shortening conditions.
Sharon Doodson, director of care at Francis House said: “We rely on the generosity of the community to help fund the services that we can offer to the families. “There are less services available in the community especially for children and young people with life-shortening conditions and complex needs. “We want to be able to continue to support these families and anyone coming to visit us on open day, will see just how important their support is to help keep us going.”
In addition to the tours, members of the public will be able to purchase merchandise and find out about upcoming events. Refreshments will also be available in the hall.
The Francis House open day takes place from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Saturday, November 7, 2026, at Francis House Children’s Hospice, 390 Parrswood Road, Didsbury M20 5NA.
No children or families will be resident during Open Day. For more information call 0161 443 2200 or visit https://www.francishouse.org.uk/get-involved/events/open-day-november/
Editorial insight
Opportunities for the public to visit children’s hospices are relatively rare, making open days like this one at Francis House in Manchester a notable event for supporters and the wider community. For donors and local residents, the chance to see first-hand how funds are used provides transparency and a tangible connection to the service, which can be especially important for charities reliant on community fundraising.
As statutory funding for children’s palliative care remains limited, hospices such as Francis House depend heavily on voluntary donations to sustain their services. The open day offers a practical way for the public to understand the scope of care provided and the ongoing need for support, particularly as demand for specialist respite and family accommodation continues to outpace available provision in many regions.
Story ideas and journalist angles
Local/communityCommunity Engagement through Hospice Open Days
Francis House Children's Hospice's open day serves as a model for community engagement, demonstrating the impact of public support in sustaining essential services for children with critical health needs.
Target audience local newspapers, community radio, regional magazines Story potential 6/10 Human interestIncreasing Demand for Hospice Care for Children with Life-Shortening Conditions
The open day at Francis House Children's Hospice highlights the growing need for hospice care services for children with life-shortening conditions and complex needs in Greater Manchester.
Target audience health and science reporters, public health journals Story potential 7/10Issued by Francis House Children’s Hospice. Distributed by WebPR UK.
About Francis House Children’s Hospice
About Us Francis House Children’s Hospice supports more than 435 families from across Greater Manchester. The hospice provides holistic care in a home from home environment to children and young adults who have a life-shortening or life-threatening condition. Support is offered to the whole family and includes physical, emotional and psychological care from a dedicated multi-disciplinary care team. In addition to respite care the teams at the hospice also provide homecare and community support. The total running cost of Francis House per year is £5.8 million. The majority of funding comes from charitable donations. Out of every £1 spent 94p goes towards charitable work.