May 14, 2026
Harrison Foundation Funding Supports Refurbishment at Sick Children’s Trust
Families staying at Scott House in Newcastle are now benefiting from newly refurbished bathroom facilities following a £25,000 donation from the Harrison Foundation.
This week, Harrison Foundation trustee Daniel Harrison MBE visited Scott House to see first-hand how the funding has been used and the impact the improvements are already having for families with seriously ill children receiving treatment at the nearby Freeman Hospital.
Operated by The Sick Children’s Trust, Scott House provides free “Home from Home” accommodation for families who need to remain close to their child during treatment. The house supports hundreds of families each year from across the North of England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, helping to ease both the emotional and financial pressure that can come with long hospital stays.
The Harrison Foundation funding was used to refurbish bathroom facilities within the house, improving the quality, comfort and accessibility of the accommodation available to families during what is often an extremely difficult period in their lives.
During the visit, Daniel met staff and heard more about the day-to-day support provided at Scott House, as well as the importance of maintaining high-quality facilities for families staying there.
For many parents, the accommodation provides much more than simply a place to sleep. Families often arrive unexpectedly following medical emergencies, with little time to prepare and no certainty around how long they may need to remain in Newcastle. Having access to clean, comfortable and supportive accommodation close to the hospital can make a significant difference during periods of uncertainty and stress.
One family supported by Scott House explained how their son became seriously ill after developing severe pneumonia and was transferred to the Freeman Hospital in a critical condition. “The doctor came round on Christmas Day and told us it was looking quite bad. That was extremely worrying and scary for us to hear. We made our way over to The Freeman and it dawned on us that we were now an hour away from home, with our son seriously ill in hospital and we had nowhere to stay.
“As we tried to work out what to do the nurses mentioned Scott House, a ‘Home from Home’ which supports families with a place to stay while their children are in hospital. It was an absolute lifesaver.
“At Scott House we had everything we needed to look after ourselves while also being just minutes from our son’s side. We couldn’t afford a hotel, especially when we had no idea how long he would be in hospital.
“He’s now doing much better, full of energy, and back to his usual self. We’ll always be grateful to The Sick Children’s Trust for their incredible support at Scott House.”
The donation to Scott House is not the first time the Harrison Foundation has supported the Sick Children’s Trust. In 2022, the Foundation funded refurbishment work at Crawford House in Newcastle and in 2019 a Harrison Foundation donation was used to purchase new equipment including washing and drying machines.
Daniel Harrison MBE said: “Seeing the work that Scott House does for families really brings home how important this support is. When families are dealing with extremely difficult situations, having access to clean, comfortable accommodation close to their child can make a real difference.
“We’re pleased that the Harrison Foundation has once again been able to support the Sick Children’s Trust and families that need the ‘home from home’ service. The refurbishment work will help ensure families staying at Scott House have the facilities and environment they need during challenging times.”