Our 2026-2030 strategy
Our 2023-2026 strategy, For Every Family, set out a bold ambition – to be there for every family with a child who is life-limited or whose child has died, when they need us. Thanks to your incredible support, we’ve reached more families than ever before. Together, we’ve providing vital end-of-life care, specialist bereavement support, and a steady presence through the most unimaginable moments.
So, what comes next? With an ever-changing landscape in healthcare, and more children having increasingly complex medical conditions, our Director of Strategy and Partnerships, Jo Cohen, reflects on where we’re heading for our 2026-2030 strategy. “It’s safe to say our 2023-2026 strategy was ambitious,” says Jo. “In just three years, Shooting Star has grown rapidly and we’re incredibly proud of the results we’ve achieved – a 143% increase in the number of bereaved families we support, 92% increase in the number of children supported at the end-of-life and 160% increased in the number of events held per year to name just a few.
“Our focus over the next year is on strengthening the foundations we’ve built, listening, learning and making sure every part of our work truly delivers for the families who rely on us. The most important thing is our children’s and families’ voices – understanding what they need from us.”
Across the wider healthcare system, the NHS is placing greater emphasis on supporting families earlier and closer to home. “For Shooting Star, this means partnerships will matter more than ever,” Jo explains. “With a focus on local care, our relationships with other children’s hospices and community organisations will continue to evolve. When services work well together, sharing specialist knowledge rather than focusing on boundaries, families receive the care and support they deserve.
“We’ll also be strengthening collaboration across the charity sector, recognising where we can signpost families to support beyond our walls. We’re also committed to continually improving, including carrying out more robust audits in our care settings so we can better understand what’s working and where we can do more,” Jo continues.
“Over the coming years, we need to ask the big questions – ‘What should a children’s hospice look like in 2030?’ and ‘What are we trying to build?’ – whilst ensuring that our work not only reflects the NHS 10-year plan, but is seen a central part of providing care in the community.”
As we begin this next strategic chapter, we know we can only achieve it with you by our side. Thank you for all you do for families across Surrey, south-west London and north-west London.
