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Coventry’s Zoe’s Place Baby Hospice Appeals for Public Help as it Welcomes Children Back Through the Door

Zoë’s Place Baby Hospice is rallying the Coventry community to support its local facility as it gets ready to welcome its children back through its doors.

The hospice re-opened on 10^th August after the hospice had closed its doors for more than four months, in the interests of the children, their parents and carers, and the hospice’s staff and volunteers.

Due to Zoe’s Place being closed during the pandemic period, they were not entitled to receive any of the Government’s £750m windfall. Fundraising events were also cancelled and with so substantial a loss in fundraising activity over those four months, Executive Trustee Joan Stainsby said it was vital now more than ever for the Zoë’s Place community to pull together to help provide the children with the care they deserve.

A report from Pro Bono Economics in June said the UK’s charity sector is facing a shortfall of £10 billion in the second half of 2020 alone.

Zoë’s Place, the UK’s only dedicated baby hospice for children with life-threatening and life-limiting illnesses, is among the charities that have been hit hard by the virus.

Its three facilities in Liverpool, Middlesbrough and Coventry cost a total £4.5 million a year to run – 80 per cent of which comes from members of the public, through fundraising events or donations.

Joan Stainsby, Executive Trustee of Zoë’s Place, said the dwindling income faced by the charity came at a time when demand for its services was at its highest.

She said, “Our hospices are the only three in the country to provide dedicated specialist care to babies and young children from all over the UK.

“Whereas other children’s hospices cater for children of all ages into their late teens we give a dedicated service for 0 to 5 year olds. And our policy here has always been to never turn a child away if the care we can provide fully matches their needs and is in their best interests.

“So, whereas our three facilities are in the Midlands and the north of England, we will not turn any child away if our specialist skills and services are suitable for them.

“With such a wide geographical scope, and with advances in medical care enabling our children to live longer lives than they would have done even just 10 years ago, our resources are under more pressure than ever before and every penny we receive is vital.”

For further information on Zoë’s Place Baby Hospice log on to www.zoes-place.org.uk/