The St Nicholas Children's Hospice was established in 1998 to serve and care for children with incurable and life-limiting conditions and children orphaned by HIV and AIDS in communities within Magaung in Bloemfontein, Thaba 'Nchu, Botshabelo and Smithfield in the southern Free State and surrounding informal and rural areas. Over 700 children are cared for each month through an extensive community home based care programme to 500 children, six community palliative care and support centres which are open from Monday to Friday and where children receive health, psychological and spiritual care and early childhood development.

Sunflower House an 18 cot and or bed in-patient unit for children too sick to be cared for at home, children who are dying and children being stabilised on anti-retroviral therapy. Training of the communities and families to care for these children is an active and important part of the hospice programme. We believe that care of the child includes care of the family and we resepct the right of the child and family to make informed decisions regarding their care. Support to the family continues into the bereavement period with special programmes for bereavement in children, including memorial work.