Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity announces fundraising drive in Essex for family accommodation

Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity has launched an exciting new fundraising appeal across Essex to raise vital funds to provide free accommodation for the parents and families of seriously ill children being treated at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH). Never Far Away aims to raise £300,000 with the help of fundraisers and supporters in Essex that will fund essential accommodation close to the hospital for patients and their families. Just £245 could pay for one week’s stay at the hospital’s accommodation.

More than 50 percent of children treated at GOSH come from outside the capital and because of the specialist care given at the hospital, some need to stay for many months – making it vital for their parents to have accommodation just a stone’s throw away, so they can be at their child’s bedside within minutes.

GOSH Charity is calling on supporters in Essex to back this new fundraising appeal. The accommodation will provide a ‘home away from home,’ helping to ensure that families can be close to their children during the most critical times. Last year, over 26,000 of the patient visits to GOSH were made by seriously ill children and young people who lived in Essex.

GOSH provides both short stay accommodation for day patients and long-term housing for families of children with complex needs, who benefit from working with hospital staff to learn the skills, they need in a homely environment before taking their child home. There are kitchens and facilities where families can eat together as well as phones in the bedrooms that connect directly to the hospital so that parents can be in contact with the wards.

Nicola White, from Manningtree in Essex, stayed in parent accommodation, Weston House, just minutes from the hospital while her son Hugo was a patient at GOSH. Hugo was treated for exomphalos, a serious condition where his entire liver and bowels were growing outside of his body. He was taken immediately to GOSH when he was born and had his first surgery when he was less than 24 hours old.

Nicola said: “The family accommodation opposite the hospital was a lifeline for our family at a very distressing and upsetting time. My room even had a phone where I could ring through directly to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit where Hugo was being treated. I could be in the unit within five minutes if I needed to be. Being close to Hugo and the hospital took away some of the stress and pressure, I just can’t imagine what it would have been like if we’d had to go home. As parents, we always wanted to be close to Hugo while he was in the hospital and an extended stay in a hotel wouldn't have been feasible for us.

“I don’t know how I’ll ever thank GOSH, they gave us our baby and we’re so grateful. The hospital and the charity means everything to us and I’m so glad to have the opportunity to support the Never Far Away appeal and help other families who are in the same position that I was when I had Hugo and may need to use the accommodation in the future.

“Hugo has just turned eight years old and he’s absolutely fine now, a very happy and healthy little boy! He gets to do all the same things as his friends at school, his condition hasn’t had any lasting effect on him and if anything, it’s taught him how lucky he is. We’ve spoken to him about what happened and he loves Great Ormond Street Hospital! For his birthday last year he asked for people to donate to GOSH rather than buy him presents.”

Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity Essex community fundraiser Judy Kuhl said:

“Keeping families together during difficult times is vital, and the accommodation funded by Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity offers respite for families and time away from the hospital while remaining close enough to return to the ward at a moment’s notice.

“I am excited to work with supporters in Essex, and I would urge people to consider supporting this appeal. The fundraising work we do really does make a difference to seriously ill children and their families from Essex and across the UK.”

Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity is inviting people to find out more on how to get involved in the Never Far Away appeal by coming to their launch event on Tuesday 29 January in the St. Cedds room, Chapter House at Chelmsford Cathedral from 6.30-8pm.

For more information about the Never Far Away appeal and how you can support, please visit gosh.org/nfa, email NeverFarAway@gosh.org or call 020 3841 3066.

You can also text to donate £5 to the appeal by sending the code NFAR99 £5 to 70070.

For media enquiries, please contact:
Francesca Vitale 
Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity
Tel: 0203 841 3011 
Email: francesca.vitale@gosh.org 

About Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity
Great Ormond Street Hospital is one of the world’s leading children’s hospitals with the broadest range of dedicated, children’s healthcare specialists under one roof in the UK. The hospital’s pioneering research and treatment gives hope to children from across the UK and around the world with the most complex and often life-threatening conditions. Our patients and families are central to everything we do – from the moment they come through the door and for as long as they need us.
Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity needs to raise money to support the hospital to give children who need help the most, the best chance for life. The charity funds research into pioneering new treatments for children, provides the most up to date medical equipment, funds support services for children and their families and supports the essential rebuilding and refurbishment of the hospital. You can help us to provide world class care for our patients and families. For more information visit www.gosh.org