A donation of £1 per person could make children’s hospice vision a reality

After a superb four-and-a-half-year fundraising effort by individuals, groups and businesses right across Norfolk, the £10 million campaign, being run by East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH), has now reached £9.1 million and with the population of Norfolk estimated to be around 900,000, if everyone in the county donated just one more pound, the nook appeal would be finished.

Among key contributors to the appeal, to fund a new children’s hospice, has been the nook friends group. Formed in March 2015 and now made up of 41 members from in and around Framlingham Earl, where the hospice is being built, the group has been involved in and organised all manner of community events to raise £106,987.53 to date.

Their efforts have not gone unnoticed either, with the group winning the Community Fundraiser of the Year prize at South Norfolk Council’s Community Awards last year.

Judith Sykes, who leads the nook friends group, said: “The group has fundraised non-stop, holding regular events with huge support from the community.

“Our next event is at Eaton Park Miniature Railway on Monday, 6 May and will be amazing fun for all the family. For the group, our greatest reward will be seeing the nook completed and to know how much it’ll benefit the families who need it most.”

Hannah Bloom, Capital Appeal Project Lead for the nook, said: “We’re extremely grateful for the support received so far and delighted to have reached £9.1 million. Building of the nook is progressing well and, while it’s beginning to feel like the end’s in sight, we hope to be able to start delivering care in the new hospice from autumn onwards, highlighting the urgency for us to continue raising money required to complete the build and fitting out.”

EACH offers care to children and young people with life-threatening conditions, and support to their family members, right across the region. That care and support is currently delivered to Norfolk families from a hospice in Quidenham.

The changing and more complex needs of those EACH cares for, though, and the increased demand for its service, means the charity has outgrown that hospice.

The nook will be a 21st century hospice to provide 21st century care, spread across a single floor, with more areas for clinical care, a hydrotherapy pool, state-of-the-art sensory room, larger and better equipped en-suite bedrooms, dedicated therapy rooms and much more.

It will need kitting out before then and one campaign EACH is running as part of the nook appeal, Shop for the nook, asks supporters to help fund practical items such as cutlery sets, table lamps and anti-allergy duvets. The list of items is 21 long, with the cheapest £3 and the most expensive £210. For more information and to get involved, go to www.each.org.uk/shop-for-the-nook.

The nook appeal was launched by EACH’s Royal Patron, HRH The Duchess of Cambridge, at the Norfolk Showground in November 2014.

For more information about it visit www.each.org.uk/the-nook and more ideas on how to raise money call EACH’s Norfolk fundraising team on 01508 500894.