Liverpool baby hospice Zoe’s Place looks to raise £3.5m to build a new home and faces a race against time with its current lease expiring in 2025. Tony McDonough reports
Baby hospice Zoe’s Place has launched an urgent appeal to raise £3.5m to build a new Liverpool home.
Currently based in Yew Tree Lane in West Derby, Zoe’s Place cares for babies and young children with life-limiting, life-threatening or complex conditions. However, its current lease is up in 2025 and it has unveiled a plan to build a new facility.
This week the hospice submitted a planning application to Liverpool City Council for a new hospice at the site of a former bowling club in Hayman’s Green in West Derby. Plans would incorporate an existing building as well as a new-build extension.
Designed by Mersey Design Group, the new Liverpool hospice will provide an environment created with the needs of its babies and their families at its heart.
Located close to the Casbah Coffee Club made famous by The Beatles in the 1960s, the central hospice space will include four bedrooms for up to eight children.
There will also be a hydrotherapy pool, sensory and soft play spaces, family residential facilities, two Snowdrop (bereavement) suites, accessible bathrooms and outdoor spaces for play, relaxation and reflection.
The hospice will also include specialist rooms for families to access holistic therapies and counselling.
Michael Cunningham, Zoe’s Place trustee and former architect at Mersey Design Group, said: “Being able to bring my architectural experience to my new trustee role at Zoe’s Place at a time when we’re launching this ambitious project is an honour.
“I’m determined to see these plans brought to fruition. Throughout my career, I’ve witnessed the impact of designing spaces that not only serve the practical needs of a building but also embrace the spirit of those within and the work that they’re doing.
“Since joining the Zoe’s Place team, I’ve experienced the outstanding care, support and comfort that is offered to the babies, children and families that come through these doors and my mission is to keep those doors open for many years to come.”
Zoe’s Place delivers respite, palliative and bereavement care to children aged 0 to five years and their families.
It will be launching several fundraising initiatives throughout the Capital Appeal, the first being ‘The 150’, which encourages 150 businesses to sign up and donate £1,000 through their own fundraising efforts.
Aimee Clare, Capital Appeal lead at Zoe’s Place, added: “Zoe’s Place Baby Hospice is an incredibly special place, providing specialist and essential care to our babies and their families at a time when they need it the most.
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“It’s a place of happiness, relief and is a true lifeline for those who need it, allowing families to be together and experience the joy of childhood, which can easily be taken for granted by many of us.
“I’m urging the business community, our generous supporters and new fundraisers to activate and help us at this pivotal time so we can build a new home and continue to provide outstanding and specialist care.”
Community events will also be arranged in the coming months to share plans and information about the new development. Click here to make a donation to the appeal.
More information on how your business can become part of ‘The 150’ can be found by clicking here.