Julia’s House already has a children’s hospice in Dorset and has been caring for seriously ill children and their families there for more than 13 years. We have already begun to replicate our award-winning service in neighbouring Wiltshire, where we estimate there are at least 250 families who need our care.
We launched our Wiltshire service in 2014 and have already built a small team of community nurses and carers who support families in their own homes. Julia’s House isn’t a typical children’s hospice – our main focus is frequent respite for the whole family throughout a child’s life. We also provide 24/7 nursing and bereavement support at the family’s home at the end of a child’s life, if the family chooses, or in our hospice.
Building work has now begun on the new Julia’s House children’s hospice in Devizes, which will open in Spring 2017. It will be the only children’s hospice situated in Wiltshire and, once opened, we plan to roll out our service county-wide. The hospice will be a second home for families where they can feel safe and supported. It will act as a day care centre with three bedrooms for overnight stays.
We receive just 5% of our total annual funding from government – so Julia’s House is very much a service for the local community, supported by the local community.