Boost for Childrens Hospice South West
Children’s Hospice South West, the children’s charity providing care for children and young people with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions and their families across Devon, Somerset and Cornwall, has been boosted by a contribution from Bloor Homes.
The funds will be used by the charity to continue its provision of a range of on-site services at its three hospices located in Barnstaple, Bristol and St Austell. It will also help the charity further the ‘at-home’ support services, which emerged as a result of the pandemic.
Paul Courtney, Director of Fundraising at Children’s Hospice South West, said, “As is the case with many charities, our fundraising capacity was really limited during the pandemic. Receiving such a sizeable donation from Bloor Homes to support the work we do with young people and their families will make a huge difference and we are very thankful for their support.
“The pandemic did give us the opportunity to assess and address the need for at-home support for the young people we care for and the families we work with, especially important at a time when Covid restrictions were in place. This worked hand-in-hand with the adaptions we were able to make at our hospices, creating bubbles where families could be together at crucial times.
“As a result, we have been able to take our professional support into the community, supplementing the on-site care given at our three hospices and reducing the need to travel. The contribution from Bloor Homes will certainly go a long way to supporting this growing aspect of our community work.”
Established more than 30 years ago in response to a need for more local care when the nearest provision was in Oxford, Children’s Hospice South West provides care for young patients who are not expected to survive into adulthood. It also gives patients’ families much needed support, from respite visits to counselling for parents and siblings.
The charity prides itself on giving visitors and those in its care a true home-from-home experience with full accessibility, with all three hospices thoughtfully designed and built to reflect this.
All staff are passionate about providing a relaxed, informal but very supportive atmosphere, where families can enjoy time together and use the facilities. These include a hydrotherapy pool, games room with activities and computer games, playrooms, a relaxing multi-sensory room, a wide range of different toys and games and importantly, a large garden for outdoor time, with good access.
A spokesperson from Bloor Homes said, “We admire and support the work Children’s Hospice South West has done for more than 30 years. We know from our Exeter and South West regions that Devon, Somerset and Cornwall is a vast area. The charity is a constant for so many families across this whole area, providing unwavering care when it is really needed.
“We are particularly pleased to learn our donation will support the work Children’s Charities South West has begun in providing at-home services, so the excellent care they give in their hospices can continue to be extended where and when it is needed in the communities. This really reflects our own values of enhancing and supporting the communities we build in.”
Bloor Homes also donated chocolates and selection boxes on their visit to Little Bridge House in Devon.
To find out more about Children’s Hospice South West, the care and support they provide, and how you can volunteer or support the charity, visit www.chsw.org.uk