Liverpool baby hospice saved after city helps raise funds for new home

A baby hospice in Liverpool has been rescued thanks to the community's efforts in gathering essential funds for a new location.

Zoe's Place is a charity that provides support for children with serious health conditions, catering to those from birth up until five years old. It was established in Liverpool in 1995 by Professor Jack Scarisbrick. The name "Zoe" was selected because it translates to "gift of life" in Greek. The organization quickly needed to gather £5 million to secure a new building, while also requiring an additional £1.4 million to keep the hospice operational in the meantime.

On Friday, Ian Byrne, the Labour MP representing Liverpool West Derby, shared some positive news. He and the trustees of the hospice initiated the Save Zoe’s Place campaign to try and stop its shutdown and to ensure it gets a new facility.

Byrne remarked, “Since that first appeal for support, the reaction from both the city and beyond has been amazing.” He expressed that he “was confident from the beginning that, with the incredible support of our local community, we could achieve this goal for the hospice and its dedicated staff, as well as the children and families they serve.”

"Raising £5 million in just a few weeks was definitely a tall order, but as I mentioned back then, if any city is capable of achieving that, it's Liverpool. I'm thrilled to see that Liverpool truly came through."

Zoe’s Place is a crucial resource for Merseyside and nearby areas. It is one of just three baby hospices in the UK that provide support for children with serious, life-threatening illnesses, sometimes including end-of-life care. The service in Liverpool assists around 50 families annually.

Enthusiasts participated in charity walks and runs to help fundraise for the organization. Notable local figures, such as former Liverpool FC players Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher, along with actress Claire Sweeney, contributed their support to the initiative.

Supporters of Liverpool FC displayed a banner reading “Save Zoe’s Place” at Anfield prior to their Premier League match against Chelsea in October. This was in recognition of their successful fundraising efforts, which totaled £150,000 for the hospice.

The Liverpool-based company TJ Morris Ltd, operating as Home Bargains, contributed £2.5 million towards a goal of £6.4 million. Additionally, local businesses helped by raising hundreds of thousands of pounds for the initiative.

Michelle Wright, the care leader at Zoe’s Place, expressed her deep emotions by stating, “I can’t put into words what I’m feeling. Being able to keep supporting our children and their families is incredibly important to us, and it’s what everyone on the team has always aimed to do.”

Wright expressed the charity's pride in being based in Liverpool and highlighted their determination to tackle the challenge of operating a new hospice. He emphasized that the spirit and collaboration they've demonstrated in recent weeks will guide them as they move forward. They are eager to assist many more families in their new facility.