Midlands Fundraising News 2006 - 2008

Funds are for being raised for a 3rd Zöe’s Place Baby Hospice

Fundraising from Events

    Sunshine News Issue 1 (PDF)

UPDATE ON ZOE'S PLACE MIDLAND HOSPICE DEVELOPMENT

We have identified and are currently in the process of buying land for the hospice development on the campus of Exhall Grange School, Ash Green, Coventry. The school itself caters for around 200 children with a range of educational and behavioural special needs, and has many desirable features, such as, indoor and outdoor play areas designed for disabled children, swimming pool, gym facilities, a medical centre and is logistically very well placed close to the M6 to access the Midlands. We are beginning to make very strong links with the School and hope that all these aspects will add to the service Zoe’s Place can provide.

We have appointed an architect who has produced first draft plans of the hospice layout, after a few chops and changes he is now making amendments. These plans will then be sent to the Health Care Commission to make sure they are happy with the layout of the facility and comply with their regulations. With regards to Warwickshire county council, we are currently having land surveys carried out before the sale goes through and completes.

Zoe’s Place Trust run the only baby specific hospices in the UK, providing 24 hour one-to-one palliative respite and terminal care to infants aged 0-5 years with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions. Our hospices offer short term regular care in a small home from home supportive environment; babies can stay from a day to a two week period, giving parents and families a much needed break. We also provide longer periods of terminal care when required.

The Midlands hospice will cater for 5 babies at any one time, with around 35 families benefiting and using our services regularly throughout the year.

View PDF: Zöe's Place Baby Hospice Leaflet

FUNDRAISING - Press Release

A baby hospice earmarked for Coventry has received a fundraising boost, after receiving the support of a large local law-firm.

Wright Hassall, which employs over 200 people, has made Zöe’s Place Baby Hospice its ‘charity of the year’.

The charity takes its name from the Greek translation of ‘Zoe’ – which means ‘gift of life’ - and offers short-term palliative respite and terminal care for babies and young children.

It will build its third UK hospice in Ash Green, Coventry by Spring 2009. The project will cost £650,000 and will help families across the Midlands.

Vicki Partridge, of Zöe's Place Baby Hospice, said: “It’s fantastic for us to be linked with a large local firm like Wright Hassall because it will provide much-needed funds and increase local awareness of our cause.

“The company has a strong fundraising team and has offered other charities great support in the past and so we are hoping the messages about what we do will spread.

“We are hoping to help around 35 families from around the region every year to begin with. When you have a child with extreme special needs or with a serious illness, the simple tasks such as going shopping or visiting family can become extremely difficult so we offer short-term care. It may be a few hours, it may be a couple of days – but we’re here to help.

“There are also times when a family with a terminally ill child would prefer a more comforting environment than a hospital and we want to be there to support people through their difficult times.”

Wright Hassall, of Leamington Spa, raised £6,500 for Macmillan Cancer Support in 2007 – a record for the firm – and legal secretary Rebecca Mushing, who plays a key role in fundraising, says staff at the Olympus Avenue firm will aim to go one better.

She said: “There is a real willingness from the staff here to get behind our charity of the year. Zöe’s Place is in the early stages of development but when it is finished, the help it will offer to families across the Midlands will be fantastic.
“We are hoping to raise both Zöe’s Place profile and its funds. There’s a great deal of enthusiasm here to do our best and we’re all aiming to equal – if not better – last year’s total.”

Wright Hassall’s first fundraising event of the year will be a clients’ quiz in March.

Fundraising from Events

The Starlight Ball
The Starlight Ball, held on Saturday 3rd May, was a great success with a fabulous £4000 being raised for the development of the new Midlands baby hospice. Everyone had a wonderful time and danced the night away! A big thank you to Hamilton from Autographs of the world who did a brilliant job running the auction, our stilt walker - Luka, magicians - Jason and Nick and of course all those that attended and gave so generously!

CHARITY FASHION DINNER
Zoe’s Place Baby Hospice – Midlands held a charity fashion dinner at Chesford Grange Hotel on Sunday 17th June. The event was a huge success with over 70 people attending and supporting Zoe’s Place. The evening raised a wonderful £1170.

Thank you to all those involved in making the day as successful as it was, - Clay, Fabulous, Ferguson Nash, Kick Maternity, Michele, all the independent designers, Blaze, Virgin Vie, Music Generation, Salto and Three Spires Dance School.

With special thanks to Claudia Temple, Lauren Welby, Lisa Simpson, Samantha Adams and Sarah Lissaman.

St Nicholas Church in Warwick - Santa's Grotto
Through all of their hard work over the Christmas period they raised a fantastic £2,200 towards the new Midlands hospice development. Thank you to all those involved in making the wonderful grotto and for all the time spent manning the attraction over December.

To find out more about fundraising for the Midlands Baby Hospice, contact Vicki:

Phone: 01926 834642

email: vicki@zoesplacemidlands.org.uk