Media Release: Julia’s House Officially Opens Family & Therapies Wing

Poole, Dorset – Thursday May 6, 2010; Julia’s House will officially open a new Family and Therapies Wing at the children’s hospice located in Corfe Mullen, at 3pm on Wednesday, May 19, with a special ceremony attended by some of the families it cares for and charity patrons Martin Clunes, Liz Yelling and Chris Jarvis.

Since the opening of the Julia’s House hospice building in 2006, the charity has waited a long time to offer round the clock care. The opening of the new Wing finally allows Julia’s House to provide vital end-of-life care and support to Dorset children and their families in the hospice. This complements existing end-of-life care currently provided by the charity in the children’s own homes. The Wing, housed within the small extension building, includes the Mermaid suite, a private area consisting of a child’s bedroom, an en suite room for family members and a courtyard garden for families. The charity can now offer parents the option of spending the final few days with their child in a peaceful, non-clinical, and familiar setting rather than a hospital. When the rooms are not being used for end-of-life care, the space will be utilised to provide a range of complementary therapies and bereavement support for family members. The Family and Therapies Wing will be officially opened on May 19 by two of the children that Julia’s House cares for, Ebony, Honey and their respective families, and charity patrons Martin Clunes, Liz Yelling and Chris Jarvis. The opening will be marked with a red ribbon cutting ceremony and blessing at 3pm, conducted by the Bishop of Sherborne. Other guests of honour are the trustees of charitable trusts who have funded the extension building and valued Julia’s House supporters, without whom the hospice extension building would not be possible. Julia’s House is Dorset’s only hospice dedicated to caring for nearly 100 children with life-limited conditions, who are unlikely to live beyond the age of 18. It is estimated around 215 Dorset children and their families are eligible for the unique service it provides. Martin Edwards, Julia’s House Chief Executive, commented: “It has always been our dream to move beyond day care at the hospice, and now that dream has come true. Families with a child who is dying can now choose where they want the expert nursing support that we offer. Whether they wish to be supported at home or in the hospice for the final stages of their child’s journey, we will be there for them.” The Pyjama Appeal, backed by Martin Clunes, Harry Redknapp, Liz Yelling, Chris Jarvis and Lesley Waters, is a campaign to raise funds to provide the staffing for end-of-life care in the new facility and weekend respite care in the remainder of the hospice. The dedicated campaign website www.pyjamaappeal.co.uk is full of inspiring fundraising ideas of how you can help provide overnight and end-of-life care for Dorset children and their families. Or you can call 01202 607400 to simply make a donation. -Ends- Notes to Editors – About Julia’s House Julia’s House is Dorset’s hospice dedicated to children with life-limiting conditions. The majority of the children that it cares for are unlikely to live into adulthood (defined as beyond the age of 18). The children’s hospice complements the work of the Julia’s House Community Team, which consists of 80 nurses and carers who travel the county, providing life-changing support for families in their own homes. In 2009, the charity provided 22,592 hours of care for Dorset’s children, comprising 14,197 in the hospice and 8,395 in the community – an increase of 81% on 2008. It costs around £2.6m to run Julia’s House, yet the charity receives just three per cent of its total annual funding from the government. The rest of the charity’s essential income is raised through the generosity of the Dorset community, corporate partners and charitable foundations. For more information about Julia’s House, please contact 01202 607 400 or visit www.juliashouse.org Julia’s House achieved an outstanding ranking of 18th overall in the Sunday Times Top 100 Best Small Companies to Work For 2010 and was also awarded the maximum Three Star rating by Best Companies in 2010 for the second year running. This elite ‘Michelin-style’ star accreditation recognised the workforce engagement and management as ‘Extraordinary’. This rating placed Julia’s House as the highest ranked organisation in Dorset and the top children’s charity in the UK. Julia’s House Media Contact: Emma Spearing, Hazel PR Tel: +44 (0)1202 862411 Mobile: +44 (0)7736 341828 Email:emma.spearing@hazelpr.com

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