22 May 2026
Three years ago, Noah's Ark Children's Hospice and Feed London, part of Miracles, began a partnership rooted in one simple question: “What do you need?”
Today, that partnership has become a lifeline for families caring for children who are seriously unwell across London.
How Feed London and Miracles Support Families in Crisis
Miracles is a charity dedicated to supporting children and families living through illness, poverty and crisis. Through its Feed London programme, the charity provides nutritious food boxes containing fresh, healthy ingredients for six balanced meals, alongside child-friendly recipes, a £50 supermarket voucher to help ease financial pressures, and creative activities for children. These packages are delivered at the start of every major school holiday, helping families in crisis access essential support during particularly challenging times.
Three Years of Support for Noah’s Ark Families
For the past three years, Noah’s Ark families have benefited enormously from this partnership. Over that time, Miracles has consistently shown compassion, flexibility and responsiveness, becoming an invaluable source of support for many families supported by the hospice. As a charity supporting children with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions, Noah’s Ark regularly works with families facing overwhelming financial pressure alongside the emotional demands of caring for a child who is seriously unwell. Through tailored food support, emergency funding and practical help, Miracles has helped fill that gap in meaningful, timely and practical ways.
Providing Timely Support
For the Family Link team at Noah’s Ark, the relationship stands out because of its simplicity, speed and trust. “Our families are often in crisis,” explained Jo, Noah’s Ark Family Link Manager. “What makes Feed London and Miracles different is that they understand our timeframes. They don’t ask us to fill out endless forms or wait weeks for decisions. They trust our judgement and respond immediately.”
Several times a year, Feed London provides large, tailored food boxes for Noah’s Ark families across the London boroughs in our catchment area. Each parcel is adapted to suit the needs of the household, including dietary requirements such as halal or kosher food, the size of the family and the ages of children in the home. Alongside fresh produce and essential groceries, families also receive supermarket vouchers to help stretch budgets even further. “These aren’t small boxes,” Jo said. “They’re filled with fresh food, produce and items families often can’t afford to buy themselves.”
Emergency Crisis Support Through the Miracles Crisis Project
More than simply a charity partner, Miracles has become a lifeline for many families - offering peace of mind and relieving some of the immense stress experienced by parents caring for a child who is seriously unwell. Over the last three years, Miracles has provided bespoke food boxes, supermarket vouchers and emergency crisis grants to families in urgent need. Recently, the charity supported a family whose benefits had unexpectedly been halted. The mother was deeply worried about how she would afford groceries, and Miracles stepped in immediately with a Tesco voucher to help the family through the crisis within 24 hours.
In another case, a mother in need was given a voucher, enabling her not only to complete a much-needed food shop but also to purchase essential schoolbooks for her child. The partnership has also helped Noah’s Ark respond rapidly in emergencies through the Miracles Crisis Project, which offers support within 24 hours for families experiencing acute hardship.
Supporting Families
In one case, a mother caring for an end-of-life child was struggling under the pressure of soaring energy bills. Because her child required constant warmth and specialist care, reducing heating usage was not an option. After Noah’s Ark contacted the Miracles Crisis Team, the family received emergency financial support by the next morning, allowing them to redirect their budget and relieve some of the overwhelming stress they were facing. “It was immediate,” said Jo. “The emotional impact on that family was huge. It gave them breathing space at a time when they desperately needed it.”
At Christmas, Miracles also delivered festive hampers to families supported by Noah’s Ark. One parent became tearful upon receiving hers, explaining that she had been unwell for several weeks and had been unable to afford - or physically manage - a proper food shop for her family. During another Christmas delivery, one family received a food parcel just before a sibling’s birthday. The child’s mother shared that, alongside helping feed the family over the holidays, the supermarket voucher meant she could finally buy birthday treats and a cake. “She told us it meant she didn’t have to feel guilty about something else she couldn’t provide,” Jo recalled. “Sometimes it’s those little things that matter most.”
Shared Values Driving the Noah’s Ark and Miracles Partnership
Beyond practical support, the partnership has flourished because of a shared ethos between the two organisations: compassion, responsiveness and a determination to focus on what can be done. James, who leads the relationship on behalf of Feed London and Miracles, has visited Noah’s Ark in person to better understand the realities families face. After touring the hospice and meeting staff, he asked a question that has become central to the partnership: “Tell me what you need.”
Reflecting on the partnership, Jo said: “It’s hard to reflect on our partnership with Miracles without feeling quite emotional. They are consistently there to support us at the moments when help is needed most. James and his team exude kindness and compassion, and they truly understand the urgency of need whenever we approach them. They have taken the time to really get to know our charity, and this is reflected in the thoughtful and tailored support they provide to our families. We are incredibly grateful for everything they do for our children and families during times of crisis.”
Helping More Families Across London
That collaborative approach has enabled Noah’s Ark to support more families, respond more quickly to crises and reduce the administrative burden on frontline staff already managing intense caseloads. “The impact on our workload has been huge,” Jo explained. “It allows us to say ‘yes’ to families faster and get help to them when they need it most.”
Looking Ahead to the Future of the Partnership
As the partnership enters its fourth year, both organisations hope to continue developing new ways of working together to support children who are seriously unwell and their families across London.
“We’re a really good fit,” Jo said. “Their values are our values. They’re kind, responsive and completely focused on helping families in crisis. Together, we can make sure no family goes without the support they need.”
