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.
To race and fundraise for Julia’s House click HERE
The West of England MS Therapy Centre has been caring for people with Multiple Sclerosis, their families and carers since 1985. MS is a disease affecting the central nervous system and is the most common cause of disability in young people in the UK today.
In 2012 the Centre moved into a larger, fully accessible, bespoke building in Bradley Stoke, Bristol, less than five minutes from the M4/M5 interchange. The Centre provides treatments, therapies and vital support to people living with MS and increasingly other neurological conditions in a caring, friendly and professional setting.
We are the only Therapy Centre open to people with neurological conditions on a self-referral basis in the Greater Bristol Area and our aim is to support them so that they can remain independent and active for as long as possible. Whilst there is no cure for many of the conditions we treat, the therapies and social support we offer help individuals to cope better with the day-to-day challenges they face.
The Centre offers physiotherapy, exercise classes and oxygen treatment. We have a dedicated team of professional therapists providing Acupuncture, Reflexology, Aromatherapy, Foot Health, Beauty Treatments, Hypnotherapy and other Talking Therapies including a Counselling Service. We also hold specialised clinics for Bladder and Bowel Wellness, Spasticity Management, MS Nurse Advice Clinic and Employment and Benefits Advice.
It costs around £360,000 to keep the Centre running every year and currently less that 1% is received from statutory funding.
To race and fundraise for the MS Therapy Centre click HERE
Jessie May is a Bristol-based charity providing nursing care at home for children and young people with life limiting conditions who are not expected to live beyond the age of 19. Jessie May was established in September 1994 by Chris and Philippa Purrington, following the death of their baby daughter Jessica May. She died from a genetic condition known as severe Spinal Muscular Atrophy when she was only 4½ months old.
Whilst the family were visiting relatives in Bristol, Jessica was admitted to the local hospital. It was here that the family learnt that the support they had received back at home in High Wycombe was not available to families caring for their child at home in the Bristol area. Jessica was cared for by her family at home throughout her illness. She died peacefully at home in her father’s arms, in privacy, with dignity and surrounded by all those who loved her.
Jessica’s parents were determined to do what they could to enable other children with conditions like Jessica’s and their families to have support in their own homes and the choice to die at home when that time comes. After a lot of hard work and perseverance initial funding was secured, and Jessie May was officially launched in 1996.
For reasons of safety and security, all Jessie May Care Team personnel are employed through University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust (UHBristol), and these posts are fully funded by Jessie May. All administrative personnel are employed directly by the charity. The Trust is almost entirely reliant upon voluntary funding, and encourages donations from individuals, corporate organisations, community groups and grant-making or charitable trusts. No charge is made to families using the services of the charity.
Since Jessie May was founded in 1996 we have supported over 300 children and their families in the Bristol, South Gloucestershire, Bath and North East Somerset, Wiltshire and North Somerset areas.