Zoe’s Place provides specialist respite, palliative and end-of-life care for babies, infants and children with life-limiting conditions and complex needs, supporting families across Teesside and the wider North East.
More than a hospice
Walking through Zoe’s Place, one thing immediately stood out: this doesn’t feel like a hospital. It feels like a nursery, a playground and a home. The team saw specially designed accommodation for children and their families, accessible play equipment, sensory spaces and physiotherapy facilities.
The hospice doesn’t limit the catchment area, so there is even an apartment providing families somewhere to stay when travelling from further afield. The playground is adapted for wheelchair users, there is a beautiful garden with a green house and much more.
The focus is simple: helping children live life to the full. That means creating opportunities for all the usual childhood experiences - from the annual summer fair, to meeting Santa at Christmas, exploring the garden and taking part in activities and therapies. Zoe’s Place even welcomes some unusual visitors, including therapy dogs, ponies, alpacas and a range of creepy crawlies!
The importance of fundraising
The visit also gave the team a real insight into how much Zoe’s Place depends on donations and the incredible efforts of its volunteers and fundraisers. From maintaining specialist equipment and training to community fundraising events, it takes a huge collective effort to keep the hospice running and provide its services free to families. That commitment to fundraising is something that has always been close to Labman.
Our late founder, George Carter, was a passionate advocate for fundraising and supporting charities, and that spirit continues to be part of who we are today.
Seeing the impact
For our Tough Mudder team, visiting Zoe’s Place brought their fundraising to life. What might start as a muddy challenge, a fundraising page or a donation ultimately helps provide specialist care, equipment, therapies, respite and — most importantly — precious time for children and their families.
We left Zoe’s Place with a much greater appreciation of the incredible work happening there, and a reminder of why getting stuck in and raising money for good causes matters.
To learn more about this fantastic charity, or if you wish to donate, visit their webpage at Zoe’s Place, Middlesbrough.