The 18th February 2026 saw the Children’s Commissioner for England, Dame Rachel de Souza, visit Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice to meet four siblings of children with life-threatening or life-limiting conditions who are supported by Noah’s Ark.
The Children’s Commissioner for England is an independent statutory officeholder, mandated by the Children Act 2004 and Children and Families Act 2014 to promote and protect the rights of all children, particularly the most vulnerable. Working independently of the government, The Children’s Commissioner influences policy, amplifies children’s voices, and investigates issues affecting children in care or receiving social care.
Whilst in office Dame Rachel has commissioned two important surveys of the lives and aspirations of children in England. In 2021, Dame Rachel created, The Big Ask, a survey of children in England that received over a half-a-million responses, making it the largest-ever survey of children. The survey covered questions about the children’s lives and their dreams for the future. In 2024, Dame Rachel commissioned, The Big Ambition, a national survey of children and young people across England, compiling the voices, views and experiences of children about their lives and aspirations. The Big Ambition was launched formally in Parliament on March 25th, 2024, alongside the Commissioner’s 16 youth Ambassadors. It offers a positive vision to improve and protect childhood by setting 33 practical ambitions aimed at overcoming the challenges children told the Commissioner they face: from staying safe online and challenging harmful myths around body image, to lessons in how to manage their money and more enriching activities that divert away from crime.
Whilst at The Ark, Dame Rachel had a tour of the facility with the hospice’s CEO, Sophie Andrews OBE, and then took part in a panel discussion with two Noah’s Ark siblings to discuss the specific challenges they face and what they want the world to understand about their lives.
Arthur Mahoney, aged 14, from Islington
Arthur’s twin brother Ray suffered a bleed on the brain when he was born which has affected his development. Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice have been supporting the family since 2012.
Myala Allen, aged 10, from Enfield
Noah’s Ark have been supporting Myala’s family since 2013 when her brother Montell Tetteh, aged 12, was born with Hydrocephalus, which meant that he had excess fluid in his brain which left him with complex needs and requiring specialist care.
Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice believe in supporting the whole family and their work with siblings is a vital part of this. Noah’s Ark enables young family members to have positive and fun experiences and to develop mutually supportive relationships with siblings from other families. The siblings that took part in the panel discussion with Dame Rachel are part of Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice’s specialised, age-appropriate, sibling groups.
Children’s Commissioner, Dame Rachel de Souza, said: ‘It was a privilege to visit Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice and see first-hand the extraordinary care and compassion shown to children with life limiting and life-threatening conditions and their families. Listening to Arthur and Myala’s stories and experiences about the support they have received through Noah’s Ark’s sibling groups and family events is a powerful reminder of how vital these services are for children and their families – not only in providing expert clinical care but creating family moments together during the most difficult times.’
Sophie Andrews OBE, CEO of Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice, said: ‘It was an honour to welcome Dame Rachel De Souza to The Ark to learn more about our work and to meet two of the siblings we support. Siblings of children with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions face unique challenges, and their needs are often overlooked. Arthur and Myala spoke with great clarity and confidence, sharing their experiences and powerfully highlighting the need for greater advocacy. They did an outstanding job of making the case for support from Dame Rachel in her role as Children’s Commissioner for England.’
