The Bright Horizons Foundation for Children was delighted to open a Bright Space at the St Elizabeth Hospice in Ipswich on 7 August.
The Bright Space is in the Family Room of the hospice, used by children aged up to 18 who are visiting parents, grandparents, other relations, carers and friends receiving end of life or palliative care. The Bright Space was set-up and fundraised for by the community of Bright Horizons’ Quayside Nursery in Ipswich who raised thousands of pounds to fund the project.
This Bright Space is particularly poignant as several members of the Quayside team have had close family members supported by the hospice. Amy Cant, Quayside Nursery’s Third in Charge, said, “My mum was a patient and received amazing end of life care here over 17 years ago. We were a young family and although my mum only received care there for a short period of time the impact the team had on us was immense. We will never forget everything they did for us and it means so much to be able to give back and make a difference to children and families going through similar experiences.”
The Bright Space has transformed the family room into a homely and inviting environment in which children can play, relax and have fun, and hopefully feel care-free for a while. It also provides a place where children and their loved ones can enjoy time together and make happy memories. The Bright Horizons Foundation has provided comfortable seating, soft furnishings and storage; and a range of play equipment, toys, books, games, and art and craft supplies, suitable for children of all ages.
Tracy Wilkes-Green, the Foundation’s Bright Space Manager said, “We are delighted to open this Bright Space for St Elizabeth Hospice, and really hope to make a difference to the children and families being supported here. It also means a great deal that we have been able to support the Quayside Nursery team to help a cause that means so much to them. ”
Verity Jolly, Director of Patient Services at the Hospital, said “We’re very grateful to Bright Horizons for the funding for this project. They designed, decorated and furnished the room and the transformation is wonderful. We now have a really family friendly space, equipped for children, young people and adults to use when visiting the hospice. We hope all visitors to the hospice feel welcome, and the newly refurbished room will really help us to do this and give patients and families the ideal space to relax in. We held a staff and volunteer vote to rename the room to mark its new look and the winning name of Honeysuckle will be added to a plaque at its official opening. Thank you so much it looks amazing, we love it.”