'Magical' technology donated to Bluebell Wood children's hospice will allow families to create amazing memories

The children’s charity Lifelites has donated a brand-new life-changing technology package worth tens of thousands of pounds for life-limited and disabled children at Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice.
Bluebell Wood staff with some of the new donations.Bluebell Wood staff with some of the new donations.
Bluebell Wood staff with some of the new donations.

All children cared for by Bluebell Wood in North Anston, have life-threatening or life-limiting conditions, made all the more difficult by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The specialist technology, which Lifelites donated this year, can give these children the opportunity to do things they and their parents never thought possible.

This technology enables them to play, to be creative, to control something for themselves and communicate.

"The technology Lifelites has donated over the years has been immensely popular with our families and our care team, and I have no doubt whatsoever that the new donations will be a huge hit.""The technology Lifelites has donated over the years has been immensely popular with our families and our care team, and I have no doubt whatsoever that the new donations will be a huge hit."
"The technology Lifelites has donated over the years has been immensely popular with our families and our care team, and I have no doubt whatsoever that the new donations will be a huge hit."

Children can escape the confines of their conditions, connect with their loved ones and communicate their wishes and fears, which is proving especially vital during this unsettling and isolating time.

The technology, along with training and technical support services which Lifelites donates, costs around £50,000 over four years.

After four years, Lifelites aims to return to replace the equipment with the latest, up-to-date technology that is bespoke and most suitable for the children using Bluebell Wood hospice services.

One of the latest additions to the Lifelites-donated technology package that was donated to Bluebell Wood is the POD, a mobile and sensory pop-up tent that offers room for every child, irrespective of their abilities.

It comes in a rucksack so that hospice staff can easily take it wherever the children are in the hospice or in their own homes.

The sensory tent enables life-limited and disabled children to escape their often stressful lives the chance to escape i into a calm and happy virtual world where they are surrounded by sea animals swimming all around them and can listen to built-in calming music at the same time.

Judith Bentley, head of care at Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice, said: “We’re incredibly grateful for the latest donations from Lifelites which will help us make special memories with the families in our care.

“Assistive technology is very important to the children and young people we support and it offers so many opportunities for them to play, be creative and have that bit more independence.

“The technology Lifelites has donated over the years has been immensely popular with our families and our care team, and I have no doubt whatsoever that the new donations will be a huge hit.

“A big thank you to Lifelites and their amazing supporters for helping us to make a real difference to the families we support.”

Simone Enefer-Doy, chief executive of Lifelites, said: “Lifelites is delighted to be able to donate a package of magical technology for the children using the services of Bluebell Wood.

"Every Lifelites-donated piece of equipment is specially adapted and accessible so that it can be used by anyone, irrespective of their abilities. All of Lifelites-donated technology is mobile so that hospice staff can reach every child, in hospice as well as in children’s own homes.

"Every moment is precious for these children and their families and this assistive technology gives them the opportunities they deserve to make the most of their time.

“We couldn’t have provided this package if it wasn’t for the generosity of our supporters, so for this we are incredibly grateful.”

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