Speaker Rebecca (Becki) Taylor of Martin House Children's Hospice

Becki explained that she is one of 3 regional fund raisers for the hospice. She said that the best description of Martin House is that it is a home from home. It is there to bring a smile to faces of the families that it caters for. It covers all of North, East and West Yorkshire and has been open for 37 years during which time it has changed a lot. As of today, the hospice is looking after 109 children in Bradford. It provides respite care for families with seriously ill children. Food is at the core of what's provided but it also provides everything that a family needs whilst a child is there including clothes washing.

The service is not just about palliative care in Boston Spa, but the staff also go into hospitals in the area covered with services such as a music therapist. The doctors and nurses also visit family homes to provide support.

THE BUILD
Becki said that the main purpose of her talk today was to explain the latest project. Currently the hospice buildings are in a semi-circle, and she likened this to a safe harbour. However, the buildings are getting old and are desperately in need of refurbishment to meet modern requirements. Before detailing the aim of the build, she showed a video of the mother of a severely disabled child. Amelia has quadriplegic cerebral palsy and suffered life shortening sepsis at the age of 6. Amelia's story can be seen on the Martin House web site at https://www.martinhouse.org.uk/the-build/amelia-story . 

The budget for the BUILD is £21.9 million of which £9.4million has already been received from private donations, £10.5 million is coming from reserves that the hospice has deliberately built up for this eventuality leaving £2 needed to be raised from the public appeal. The appeal started in April 2024 and since that time £560 thousand has already been raised.

User families were asked what they felt was required to refresh the place. This led to a plan being drawn up that is being implemented in 2 phases: -

Phase 1. This will be a new wing for children’s bedrooms (9 ensuite rooms & 2 family rooms) and 7 new parents’ bedrooms. 

Phase 2. Will encompass a new Well Being centre with a hydrotherapy pool as well as other therapy and treatment rooms, the Whitby Lodge a house for teenagers up to 25 years old and a new Education Centre

The BUILD will have a new entrance for children so that they are not entering the facility at the same place where deliveries and such like are taking place. There will be a new immersive experience room with 3 walls as cinema screens which will be able to simulate such experiences as being at the beach or in open countryside. There is also going to be an art room and 2 parent lounges. Each of the children’s bedrooms will have a different theme such as woodland, or bears and there will be a sofa bed for siblings to be able to stay. Also, there is a new dining room. a bereavement room, therapy rooms and a multi education centre.

The hospice has 3 paediatric palliative care consultants out of 18 in whole country. These consultants will be able to educate other palliative care professionals in paediatric care in the new education centre.

The refurbished Whitby Lodge for teenagers will include a recording studio, and various new rooms including an orangery. There will also be a Love Island themed outdoor area with an outside kitchen and fire pit.

When questioned Becki said that: -

• It takes £10.5 million p.a. to run Martin House

• Gareth Southgate is the ambassador for the BUILD

• The average stay at the hospice is for 4 days up to 4 times a year.

• Children can be left alone there but mostly all the family comes like being on holiday as it gives respite to the carers.

For more information about The Build and Martin House please click on the following posters:

The Build - What your money buys

The Big Challenge

About Martin House