BBC Look East live visit to EACH Ipswich Children’s Hospice

As the EACH Treehouse Appeal launched in Ipswich, BBC Look East reporter Kevin Burch visited the existing Children’s hospice bungalow from where BBC Suffolk was live broadcasting their morning show with Mark Murphy.

Kevin first meets volunteer Tony Golding lost his first grandchild Samuel at the hospice ten years ago. Tony values the support the staff at the Ipswich hospice give to all the families – “they describe it as just their job, but what they do is a lot more than just a job”.

The small bungalow which currently serves as the hospice was planned to support 40 families, but now helps nearly 80 throughout Suffolk and North Essex, and the number is rising.

EACH wants to move to a new purpose built hospice on a 4 acre woodland site nearby. The site has been donated and the specially designed building, by Architects Barefoot & Gilles, is will nestle into the surrounding woodland between mature trees. The building is highly serviced and will provide a greater range of equipment and facilities to help and support more seriously ill children and their families.

Kevin then joins the fundraising launch at Trinity Park (who donated the venue) where 300 supporters heard about the work of the hospice and pledged their support. He meets the Wombwells whose son Callum is cared at the hospice – they are looking forward to the improved facilities, which include dedicated activity spaces and specialised bathrooms rather than the single one in the current hospice.

EACH needs to raise £3m from public donations to pay for the new hospice. Contractors Barnes Construction has started work on the site and the building should be open early in the New Year.

You can find out the many ways you can support the East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices Treehouse Appeal by visiting the EACH Treehouse Appeal Website.

This item originally appeared on BBC Look East on 16 March at 6.30pm on BBC1. A link to the item is reproduced here by kind permission of the BBC. Click the link below to view the video on the BBC News website:

Campaign to build new £3m Ipswich children's hospice (1.37minutes)