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26/09/2007
Naomi House Children’s Hospice today (26 September 2007) unveiled plans for a brand new building to offer care and support to young people with life-limiting conditions. And a £12 million major appeal – to build, equip and run the new building at the charity’s existing site in Sutton Scotney – has got off to a flying start thanks to a very generous £6 million legacy from Southampton businessman, Jack Witham. “Extending our services by providing a hospice exclusively for young people has been top of our wish list for several years,” explains Chairman of the Trustees, Professor Khalid Aziz. “Without Mr Witham’s marvellous legacy, we quite simply would not have been able make this dream a reality.” Medical advances mean that many of the youngsters who have grown up using Naomi House Children’s Hospice are now enjoying life into early adulthood. As they grow older and their conditions become more complex and challenging, their need for care changes; nursing often becomes more intensive and the equipment required, larger and more sophisticated. Professor Aziz added: “Whilst many of these young people have outgrown our facilities, an adult environment is equally unsuited to their needs. At the moment, however there is, quite literally nowhere else for them to go in our region as the nearest hospice for young people is Douglas House, Oxford - about 50 miles from Naomi House. “That is why we want to build a dedicated hospice that will enable us to continue to offer care and support appropriate to their needs - and we will call it jacksplace@naomihouse in recognition of Jack Witham's wonderful generosity. “ jacksplace@naomihouse will be the only dedicated hospice for life limited young people from the seven counties Naomi House was built to serve – Berkshire, Dorset, Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Surrey, West Sussex and Wiltshire. There are only three other specialist hospices for young people in the UK. The charity is now launching its appeal to raise the remaining £6 million it needs to make jacksplace@naomihouse a reality.The new building, land and fit out will cost £6million, with an extra £500,000 for specialist equipment. In addition, the appeal needs to cover the first three years running costs and clinical support services, which are estimated at £5.5 million. “We are very proud of our place in the community,” says Director of Fundraising, Jane Tabor. “Naomi House was funded and built by local people for local children and families to use and every year their tremendous support enables us to keep our doors open. “We really hope that everyone in the community, and in particular new supporters, will want to be part of this exciting phase in our future. We will be unveiling ways for people of all ages to get involved in the coming months and are sure that there is something for everyone – literally every penny counts!” jacksplace@naomihouse - Fact File The design incorporates ideas and suggestions from young people who currently use Naomi House, after extensive consultation, to ensure it will meet their medical, mobility and emotional needs A total of ten bedrooms for young people and their families Wide corridors so that wheelchair users can go along side by side One to one professional care and support to both the young people and their families Hoists for easy access to and from beds and bathrooms Flexible wheelchair friendly outdoor and living space including an easily accessible kitchen A graffiti wall for the young people to express themselves! Six spacious bedrooms with en suite bathrooms big enough to accommodate wheelchairs, specialist medical equipment and supplies, and to provide privacy, independence and dignity Two bedrooms to accommodate parents A special bedsitting room adjacent to the bedrooms to enable family to stay close when a young person is ill A Butterfly suite – a special space allowing families to stay with loved ones after death to say goodbye and make the necessary arrangements Hydrotherapy suite – excellent for muscle conditions and stiff joints; allows freedom of movement and alleviates pressure to relieve pain jacksplace@naomihouse will be used by young people with conditions such as Duchenne’s muscular dystrophy, cancer, cystic fibrosis, cerebral palsy and metabolic and neurodegenerative disorders The charity has bought a lease on land adjacent to its existing site in the grounds of Sutton Manor, Sutton Scotney for the new building. Designed by Winchester-based Architecture PLB which has an extensive portfolio of major projects including Redwood Park Special Educational Needs School in Cosham, Portsmouth; Winchester Cathedral Visitor Centre and the Aston Martin Museum in Drayton St Leonards, Oxfordshire. For more information please contact Chief Executive Ray Kipling on 01962 760060
Naomi House Children’s Hospice today (26 September 2007) unveiled plans for a brand new building to offer care and support to young people with life-limiting conditions.
And a £12 million major appeal – to build, equip and run the new building at the charity’s existing site in Sutton Scotney – has got off to a flying start thanks to a very generous £6 million legacy from Southampton businessman, Jack Witham.
“Extending our services by providing a hospice exclusively for young people has been top of our wish list for several years,” explains Chairman of the Trustees, Professor Khalid Aziz. “Without Mr Witham’s marvellous legacy, we quite simply would not have been able make this dream a reality.”
Medical advances mean that many of the youngsters who have grown up using Naomi House Children’s Hospice are now enjoying life into early adulthood. As they grow older and their conditions become more complex and challenging, their need for care changes; nursing often becomes more intensive and the equipment required, larger and more sophisticated.
Professor Aziz added: “Whilst many of these young people have outgrown our facilities, an adult environment is equally unsuited to their needs. At the moment, however there is, quite literally nowhere else for them to go in our region as the nearest hospice for young people is Douglas House, Oxford - about 50 miles from Naomi House.
“That is why we want to build a dedicated hospice that will enable us to continue to offer care and support appropriate to their needs - and we will call it jacksplace@naomihouse in recognition of Jack Witham's wonderful generosity. “
jacksplace@naomihouse will be the only dedicated hospice for life limited young people from the seven counties Naomi House was built to serve – Berkshire, Dorset, Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Surrey, West Sussex and Wiltshire. There are only three other specialist hospices for young people in the UK.
The charity is now launching its appeal to raise the remaining £6 million it needs to make jacksplace@naomihouse a reality.The new building, land and fit out will cost £6million, with an extra £500,000 for specialist equipment. In addition, the appeal needs to cover the first three years running costs and clinical support services, which are estimated at £5.5 million.
“We are very proud of our place in the community,” says Director of Fundraising, Jane Tabor. “Naomi House was funded and built by local people for local children and families to use and every year their tremendous support enables us to keep our doors open.
“We really hope that everyone in the community, and in particular new supporters, will want to be part of this exciting phase in our future. We will be unveiling ways for people of all ages to get involved in the coming months and are sure that there is something for everyone – literally every penny counts!”
jacksplace@naomihouse - Fact File
The design incorporates ideas and suggestions from young people who currently use Naomi House, after extensive consultation, to ensure it will meet their medical, mobility and emotional needs
A total of ten bedrooms for young people and their families
Wide corridors so that wheelchair users can go along side by side
One to one professional care and support to both the young people and their families
Hoists for easy access to and from beds and bathrooms
Flexible wheelchair friendly outdoor and living space including an easily accessible kitchen
A graffiti wall for the young people to express themselves!
Six spacious bedrooms with en suite bathrooms big enough to accommodate wheelchairs, specialist medical equipment and supplies, and to provide privacy, independence and dignity
Two bedrooms to accommodate parents
A special bedsitting room adjacent to the bedrooms to enable family to stay close when a young person is ill
A Butterfly suite – a special space allowing families to stay with loved ones after death to say goodbye and make the necessary arrangements
Hydrotherapy suite – excellent for muscle conditions and stiff joints; allows freedom of movement and alleviates pressure to relieve pain
jacksplace@naomihouse will be used by young people with conditions such as Duchenne’s muscular dystrophy, cancer, cystic fibrosis, cerebral palsy and metabolic and neurodegenerative disorders
The charity has bought a lease on land adjacent to its existing site in the grounds of Sutton Manor, Sutton Scotney for the new building.
Designed by Winchester-based Architecture PLB which has an extensive portfolio of major projects including Redwood Park Special Educational Needs School in Cosham, Portsmouth; Winchester Cathedral Visitor Centre and the Aston Martin Museum in Drayton St Leonards, Oxfordshire.
For more information please contact Chief Executive Ray Kipling on 01962 760060