Robert Powell visits jacksplace, the new hospice for young people, in Hampshire

Robert Powell

Robert Powell, Holby City’s Mark Williams, was the first Naomi House supporter to take an official guided tour of jacksplace, the new hospice for young people, at Sutton Scotney near Winchester today.

The actor, who is a patron for the appeal to raise £12million to build, equip and run the new unit met supporters, staff and of course some of the young people who will visit when it opens in the new year.

The actor, who is known for playing the role of Jesus in the mini-series Jesus of Nazareth, was able to see at first hand the building that has been designed to meet the specific needs of the young people, with life limiting conditions, who will use the hospice. Jacksplace will be only the fourth unit in the country to offer such facilities.

Robert described their achievement by saying, “jacksplace is going to be an incredible environment for the young people. Nothing else exists like this at the moment; I can’t wait to see it completed. I have found it extremely heart warming to be involved in a project that is so earnestly supported by local people. I understand that many local people and companies have contributed to the appeal which is fantastic. jacksplace will benefit many families from the Wessex Region and make a world of difference to the young people who visit when it opens later this year.”

The general public can follow in Robert’s footsteps and take a look at this amazing facility which is being made possible through the generosity of the communities across the region. Visitors will be able to find out how their fundraising is providing a unique place for young people with life limiting conditions. The building will have a hydrotherapy suite, six en-suite bedrooms and large social areas. The space will be fitted with a range of specialist equipment including hoists, adjustable automatic sanitary ware in the bathrooms and electronic sensors to make the building easily accessible for the young people. £9.8million has been raised so far, but with a target of £12million there is a lot more to raise before the building opens.

“I can’t wait for jacksplace to be finished. It will be a great place to have more independence and give people of my age the chance to get together and do things we wouldn’t normally be able to..."

Tom, who will visit jacksplace, helped to show Robert around and described what he is looking forward to most about jacksplace. Tom said, “I can’t wait for jacksplace to be finished. It will be a great place to have more independence and give people of my age the chance to get together and do things we wouldn’t normally be able to. We are all very excited because we have helped to design the rooms and choose the equipment that will help us do things for ourselves and be treated as grown-ups. Naomi House is great and I have loved visiting, but now I am ready to be in a more adult environment which is exactly what jacksplace will be.”

Members of the public can book a place on a jacksplace tour by contacting Lynda Barrow on 01962 843 513 or email Lynda.barrow@naomihouse.org.uk.

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For more information, please contact Tina Lillington on 01962 760 060, or email tina.lillington@naomihouse.org.uk.

Notes to Editors
Naomi House is a purpose-built children's hospice that provides a homely environment for children and young people with life-limiting conditions that mean that they will not live to become adults.

Situated just north of Winchester in Hampshire, we offer one-to-one palliative care that includes respite, terminal and bereavement care and support to children and their families in central southern England. We are available 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year and it costs around £2.5 million every year to keep this service running.

With just 10% of our income coming from Government, Naomi House relies on the generosity of people in the community to continue its work. Their help and time allows us to provide these crucial care services, free of charge, to children and their families.

jacksplace@naomihouse

Building a new hospice for young people with life-limiting illnesses
Medical advances mean that many children with life-limiting illnesses, who have grown up visiting Naomi House, are now living to become young adults. The environment at Naomi House is principally designed to suit children; the needs of young people are very different to theirs. Naomi House has recognised this and has consulted extensively with young people to design a facility that caters for their medical and social needs.

In 2007 Naomi House launched a major appeal to raise £12million to build, equip and run a new hospice for young people with life-limiting illnesses. The new hospice will enable Naomi House to provide care for young people over the age of 18 years old. The new hospice will be named jacksplace@naomihouse, after Jack Witham, whose generous bequest made the dream of a hospice for young people possible. The appeal aims to raise the remaining £6million that is required to build, equip and run jacksplace over the next three years.

jacksplace will be completed in the summer of 2009. The design of the new facility includes six specially designed bedrooms with en-suite facilities that give the youngsters privacy and dignity. There will be two bedrooms where families can stay and be close to their young person, and a butterfly suite for end-of-life care. Other facilities will include a wheelchair accessible kitchen, social areas, a sports field and gardens.