Scotland’s first children’s hospice Rachel House in Kinross set for multi-million-pound revamp

Scotland’s first children’s hospice is set for a major multi-million-pound revamp.

Rachel House, in Kinross, is one of two children’s hospices run by CHAS – Children’s Hospices Across Scotland.

The charity announced plans on Friday for a £17m redesign of the house, which will see the original site transformed with an additional hydrotherapy pool, better-equipped bedrooms, and a fully accessible adventure garden.

The extensive upgrade is needed to ensure the hospice, which opened 30 years ago, can continue to meet the needs of children and families who rely on it.

Building work is set to begin in 2026 with the full project set for completion in 2027, subject to approval from Perth and Kinross planners.

CHAS CEO Rami Okasha said: “CHAS gives unwavering care to children who may die young, and their families, at every step on the hardest of journeys. Rebuilding Rachel House will cost £17m and is part of getting that right. Applying for planning permission today is the first important step for us.

“This is a huge project for us and one we haven’t taken on lightly. We want to transform end-of-life care for children and their families in Scotland. While Rachel House has served hundreds of families well until now, to deliver the high-level care required long into the future we need to upgrade and rebuild.

“No one should face the death of their child alone and to be successful we are once again asking or donors to get on board and help raise the millions of pounds that will make a difference every day for families dealing with the unimaginable reality of loving and caring for a child who will die young.”

The hospice cost £10m when it opened back in 1996.

In the 1990s, Rachel House supported just under 100 children a year, but now, the number has more than doubled to over 200 and continues to rise.

Ken Lowndes’ two daughters Jenny and Marion were two of the first children to be cared for at Rachel House when it opened.

“The time we had together in Rachel House was precious for our whole family,” he said. “It was a place my wife Ann and I felt supported and where we knew our girls would be loved and cared for.

“Children’s hospices can sound frightening but in reality it’s a place of joy, light and humour, where memories are made and where parents can recharge their batteries and can just be parents – not parent, medic, and round the clock carer.”

Born healthy babies, with a two-year age gap, both Jenny and Marion were diagnosed with leukodystrophy when they were four years old.

Before Rachel House opened, the family made regular 900-mile round trips from their home in Achiltibuie, north of Ullapool, to Martin House in West Yorkshire.

Ken added: “We helped to fundraise for Rachel House but we never knew if Jenny and Marion would get to visit, if they’d live to see it. They did. They loved it, as did we all.

“Ensuring the next generation of families has the same standard of care that my family experienced is vital and the redesigned Rachel House will go on to make a huge difference to hundreds more Scottish families.”

Architect Alastair Forbes said: “Listening to those who come to the hospice for care and support has been a priority for us. It’s key the rebuilt hospice meets the needs of the children and families supported now and as we look to the future. We were privileged to have input from a family involvement group made up of parents and supported children who have real experience of accessing services at Rachel House.

“The new plans reflect what they told us important to them about Rachel House and how families interact with the building and each other – showing us areas that needed to change.”