People from across Liverpool and beyond are desperately trying to raise the money that Zoe’s Place needs
A group of children living on the estate next door to Zoe’s Place hospice have been rallying around to raise vital funds. The hugely loved centre in Yew Tree Lane, West Derby, provides respite, palliative and end-of-life care for babies and children up to the age of five.
It has supported countless local families in their most difficult moments. Devastated staff and families of children being cared for at Zoe’s Place were told on Monday that the centre would close before the end of the year and that staff would lose their jobs in 30 days.
Since the news broke, people across Liverpool and beyond have been pulling out all the stops to try and raise the money that Zoe’s Place needs to remain in the city. Some of those helping to raise vital funds are a group of children aged between six and 12-years-old living on the Grange Avenue estate, next door to Zoe’s Place.
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Leanne Robinson’s son Harrison is one of the children raising money. Leanne said it was all Harrison’s idea and he wanted to help the hospice as the little brother of his best friend, Lucas, is being supported by Zoe’s Place.
The children have been knocking on neighbours’ doors with fundraising t-shirts and a Zoe’s Place tin which they filled within three hours. Leanne, 42, said: “They filled the tub to the brim within three hours. They’re back out again today with a tin covered in masking tape with a slot on the top.
“They all live on the Grange Estate and have grown up together. Zoe’s Place is right on our doorstep. I went up to football with them with another tin and they’re all back out on the estate now.”
She added: “We’re so proud. The amount of neighbours who have come and knocked on my house and said ‘can’t believe what your son is doing’. I have had messaged from people who I went to school with saying they want to drop some money off, so it’s not just people on the estate, but people dropping money off from all over.”
Leanne said they are an “amazing gang of kids” and has been “heartbroken” at the news of the hospice’s potential closure, she said: “It’s such a special place and it needs to stay open.”
Zoe’s Place needs a new home as its lease on the current site runs out next year. The charity says that it needs £5 million to build a new facility that will mean the hospice stays in the city. But with plans to close the site already underway, there are just 30 days to save it.
The Liverpool ECHO will be joining people across Liverpool in campaigning over the next 30 days to galvanize as much support as we can and we know we will be joined by many people across the city and region as we fight to keep this incredible facility in Liverpool, supporting the families who need it so badly.
The ECHO wants to hear from everyone who wants to join this campaign and everyone who is fundraising for Zoe’s Place. We are open to all ideas. Please contact [email protected], [email protected] and [email protected]. You can also follow our live coverage of the fundraising campaign here.
