NAOMI HOUSE CHILDREN'S HOSPICE

We took delivery of the keys to Naomi House children's hospice on Monday 30th June 2014, meeting ITN's charming Alistair Stewart who performed the handover in his role as patron of the Caterpillar Appeal. The campaign raised £4m to fund the refurbishment of the existing building (opened in 1997) and the construction of a new Hub centre and covered link to Jacksplace, the adjacent hospice for young people aged 16+ with life limiting or life threatening conditions.

Tuesday 1st July saw the full team of Reside contractors on site as work commenced in earnest. This was an important project for us to get absolutely right for these very special children, their families and the dedicated staff who care for and support them. 

Almost all of the Reside team working on this project comprised local tradespeople, most of whom already understood the crucial role that Naomi House and Jacksplace provide. Unusually, most of the contractors were on site for the full duration of the build, which encouraged tight-knit collaboration and appreciation of the project's significance.

We transformed the building into a state of the art hospice facility, providing more space for advanced care, activities, family support and bereavement care - all alongside discreetly innovative technology. Bedrooms were extended by 33%, with the UK's first installation of a heated air temperature control system and piped oxygen in each room. Kitchen facilities and a new dining area complemented an exciting arts room and serene multi-faith spiritual space. The covered bridge link connected the two adjacent hospices for the first time, and the outside area was landcaped to provide a foundation for wonderful play equipment as well as a quiet garden of reflection. 

The new hospice was opened to the public in September 2015, with a launch day attended by hundreds of excited visitors. Chair of Naomi House, David Holmes CBE, described the project as "a glorious testament to everyone's hard work," and Reside are proud to have played such a significant role in its development.