An invitation to visit Julia’s House – whether as a newly-referred parent or a supporter – can often invoke a panicky, knee-jerk response: no, no thank you, that’s not for us. Many can’t face the ‘reality’ of Julia’s House. It’s going to be about death, isn’t it? It’s going to be like a hospital, a place full of sick children, a place without hope.
That’s a terrifying prospect and, not surprisingly, it can take a lot of gentle persuasion on the part of our nurses to bring parents round. They will gratefully accept our care, just as fundraisers and donors will generously support our service, but for some, a visit to our hospice is just a step too far.
Helping parents and the public overcome that mental hurdle isn’t just important, it’s a game-changer. It’s about connecting with Julia’s House in a tangible, positive way. No sick children in beds, no hint of the sterile or medical.
Parents of life-limited and life-threatened children are used to hearing about what their child cannot do. At Julia’s House our focus is on what a child CAN do - smiles, laughter and achievements, no matter how small are all celebrated. We want to build up a library of positives.
We are constantly looking to improve what we do for families, what we can offer children. We don’t want illness to be a barrier to a magical childhood.
Who says you can’t make mud pies just because you have a medical condition? Children can have a brilliant time outside getting grubby and still have all their clinical needs taken care of.
Find out what we get up to and how your donations have helped us kit out the hospice for fun and comfort.