A year ago the much-loved baby hospice was saved from devastating closure
Lucas in his hard hat at the ground-breaking ceremony for the new Zoe’s Place hospice, to be re-named Little Lights Baby Hospice, on Haymon’s Green in West Derby(Image: Liverpool Echo)
Liverpool Zoe’s Place “belongs to everybody now” as the charity begins a new future. Families, staff and charity trustees have come together to break ground on the site of the new home of the much loved baby hospice a year on from it being saved from closure.
Last October, the facility in West Derby was hit with the shocking news that the doors could be shut for good. A massive effort from people across Liverpool and beyond saw millions of pounds raised across a memorable month to safeguard the future of a facility that provides vital care for very poorly babies, children and their families.
The hospice will now move forward as an independent charity to be known as Little Lights from next spring. A celebration was held yesterday on the site of the hospice’s new home – the former West Derby bowling club on Hayman’s Green – to commemorate the start of a new journey.
Michelle Wright has been the head of care at Liverpool Zoe’s Place for the past four years. She said: “It’s incredible. To think that a year ago we were told we were getting saved but everything that we’ve been through, and to be here, and to actually see the mock up of the areas, it feels real.”
The announcement of the potential closure came as a hammerblow to the whole of Liverpool but the care chief said it was remarkable to see how the entire city stood defiant against the proposed shut down.
Staff and children at the ground-breaking ceremony for the new Zoe’s Place hospice, to be re-named Little Lights Baby Hospice, on Haymon’s Green in West Derby(Image: Liverpool Echo)
She said: “It took about 48 hours before it was like the city was not going to let this happen. The fight was there, and the whole city just came together, didn’t they?
“It was such a surreal experience, really. When you think back, you came to work and there were kids with the pocket money queuing up outside to give you money and elderly people with the chequebooks.”
Michelle explained just how important it was that the hospice was saved for the city and its families. She said: “The children that we look after, they’ve got life limiting conditions.
“Often the families are caring for their children 24 hours a day. We provide respite for them and give them a little break, but we also give them an extended family. We give them that support and someone to talk to.
“We provide lots of services for the whole family and for the brothers and sisters, we do a lot of sibling support. It feels like an extended family.”
Ian Byrne, Labour MP for West Derby, led the charge to save Zoe’s Place last year and has been named patron of the new organisation. He said he was honoured to take on the role on such an emotional week for the city.
Mr Byrne said: “I didn’t ask for that, I was the MP and didn’t want to lose this. On the week of all weeks, to have the Hillsborough Law and then this, for me it shows politics can be a hell of a force for good.
“We’re so lucky to have Claire House and Zoe’s Place in West Derby, something I’m extremely proud of and the work that they do and have done for decades. So many people have been helped, received the care, help and love and the city didn’t want to lose such an incredible resource.”
Staff and children at the ground-breaking ceremony for the new Zoe’s Place hospice, to be re-named Little Lights Baby Hospice, on Haymon’s Green in West Derby(Image: Liverpool Echo)
The new purpose-built hospice will feature some of the most advanced facilities and technology available, ensuring that every child and family receives the very best care and comfort. Key features will include a hydrotherapy pool, providing therapeutic and sensory benefits to children with complex needs.
Matt Meaney heads up the fundraising side of the charity and said while there had been some dark moments, the city of Liverpool had ensured Zoe’s Place would emerge as Little Lights. He said: “Everybody worried, not from a lack of faith point of view, because we know Liverpool is the community that really can pull these things off, it was more being aware of the consequences if we did lose this baby hospice, what happens to the kids and families?
“It was definitely in everyone’s minds but once we saw the rallying of the community, the support of businesses and people from all around the world, we saw this was going to happen. The community saved our hospice but have continued to support us.
“It still costs us up to £2m to run the hospice and we still need the support to do that. The other side of that is to say Liverpool Zoe’s Place is everybody’s now.
“It’s the people’s charity and we want people to be involved, be interested and ask questions. This belongs to everyone now.”