A CHIEF executive at a children’s hospice is calling for more community support to help them care for 500 severely disabled kids each year by 2020.

Haven House Children’s Hospice, in Woodford Green, announced yesterday (September 21) it was on track to reach its “ambitious” plan to care for more children than ever before.

The hospice’s annual report showed an increase in families using its services and more people volunteering with the charity.

Over the last year Haven House supported 337 children and young people across its services, an increase on the previous year.

This included activities for 42 of the brothers and sisters of children in their care, while they visited the hospice.

Haven House has also seen an increase in the number of volunteers with almost 340 people lending their services at the charity’s four shops.

Mike Palfreman, chief executive of Haven House, said: “We are providing care and support to more life-limited children and their families than ever before.

“But it is still the case that not enough families are accessing hospice care services in our local area.”

“We are on track to support 500 children each year by 2020, but this can only happen with the continued generosity of our local communities.

“We still need them to help raise funds and raise awareness of our work.”

To see how you can help the hospice, visit www.havenhouse.org.uk.