TV star Holly shines at Chestnut Tree House

Brighton-born Holly, 27, visited the Poling children's hospice in her role as sole patron of the Children's Hospices UK (CHUK) organisation, a national charity which gives voice and support to the country's 43 children's hospices.

The BAFTA-award winning presenter made collages and cookies as she spent time with children, their families and staff on Wednesday afternoon.

"I've found it amazing," said Holly. "I always do.

"It couldn't be warmer or have a more uplifting vibe. It's very much a family, a community of togetherness and everybody is enjoying themselves. Once you walk in you don't want to go.

"You feel warm and cosy. It's just a wonderful, wonderful place."

She posed for photographs with the young residents, copies of which will be presented to families and later auctioned during Children's Hospice Week, from September 20 to 27.

Ten-year-old Fred Strachan made a decorative iced cookie for the celebrity visitor and said: "It was fun to meet Holly and it's great that she supports Chestnut Tree House."

Holly was raised in Sussex, going to school in Burgess Hill, living for 24 years in Woodmancote, outside Henfield and, last year, getting married at Amberley Castle.

After making her name presenting children's television, receiving the BAFTA award for best children's television presenter in 2006, she began hosting the ITV hit show Dancing on Ice with Phillip Schofield.

She became involved with CHUK after a feature by daytime programme This Morning arranged for celebrities to visit hospices.

"I got asked to go to a children's hospice and I loved it," said Holly. "You can't help but want to be part of it once you see what goes into it."

She backed calls for more government funding for hospices and said communities would "really be in trouble" without them.

She said: "Hospices do an amazing, incredible job.

"You never know when you might need them, God forbid you did, but if you do, they are there. I've seen the work they do first hand and I think it's incredible. If the government did have more of a role, it's something they could be really proud of."

Janet Parsons, spokeswoman for the Chestnut Tree House, said: "It's fantastic to have Holly here.

"She has seen round the whole hospice and and met all the children and their families staying here. She has spent so much time playing with the children and meeting everybody. She has been absolutely wonderful."

For more information about CHUK, visit www.childhospice.org.uk

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