Bereaved dad's film celebrates hospice 'superheroes'

Paul Woodward produced the documentary, inspired by his own experience at Derian House

Emotions were inevitably running high when Paul Woodward stepped foot into Derian House Children's Hospice with his young son Kalel for the first time.

The family had been referred to the centre in Chorley, Lancashire, as Kalel had been suffering from frequent bone fractures, seizures and chest infections due to an unknown condition.

He was just four years old at the time.

"I was terrified," recalled 38-year-old Paul from Skelmersdale.

"I didn't know what to expect going to a hospice when you are told your son is going to go to a hospice."

Little did he know at the time that his trepidation would be short-lived.

The reality of life within the walls of a hospice was far different than what he ever expected, and was not the cold and clinical place he had feared.

"It was at Derian House where we found many happy memories," he said.

"Unless you've been through it, it's difficult to explain, now looking back, how amazing that opportunity is."

Kalel received care for seven years until his death in 2019

Kalel, who was born with complex medical needs, received seven years of care and support before he died at the age of 11 in 2019.

Derian House, which costs £6m a year to run, is one of 54 children's hospices in the UK, supporting more than 400 young people from across the north west of England with respite and end-of-life care.

"It's a very unique place to come to work," said Paul.

"Everybody in this hospice and hospices around the country, palliative care with children, end of life care, they are very special people."

And that is what has inspired The Little Things, a documentary which offers a moving insight into the families, staff, and volunteers at the hospice.

It aims to break down misconceptions about children's hospices, highlighting not just the challenges but also the love, support, and treasured memories created within.

The documentary was Paul's way of saying thank you for the care his son received.

"You've got to look at these people as they're just a modern-day superhero, I've said that loads of times but it's true isn't it," said Paul.

The Little Things shares the stories of families, staff and volunteers

The film's director Thomas Elliott Griffiths, 29, said he was grateful for the opportunity, juggling filming the footage while working nightshifts at a hotel in Liverpool.

"Everyone's just got a smile on their face and a hello to say and when you learn about the stories and the people here, overall I found it incredibly rewarding," he said.

The documentary, which cost just £15,000 to make, has been released on Amazon Prime in the UK and America.

Karen Edwards OBE, chief executive officer at Derian House, said she hoped the documentary would help to spread awareness.

"It's about bringing the magic and the joy of the children's hospice world right into people's living rooms, breaking down some of the stigma about what children's hospices are and creating hope for the future," she said.

"It's about reminding people just how important the little things are."

Paul said he realised there was an opportunity to help people understand what life is like in a hospice

For Paul, this documentary is also a lasting legacy to his "incredible little boy".

"He doesn't feature. It's more of his feeling, more of what he gave us in this place," he said.

"We were watching the screening and I remember the credits rolled and at the very end it says inspired by Kalel.

"He's the last person you see and that hit me really hard

"The very end of the film – that is so incredibly personal – a little picture that means the world to me."