Children and young adults with life-limiting illnesses who attend Jigsaw, Cumbria’s Children’s Hospice will be able to benefit from tens of thousands of pounds worth of new assistive technology thanks to an incredible donation.
The package of technology, worth around £46,000, is being gifted to Jigsaw by Lifelites, a charity working with children’s hospices across the British Isles which aims to enrich the lives of children and young people with life-limiting conditions and disabilities.
Lifelites has been a long-time supporter of Jigsaw and the latest donation is the sixth package which has been given to the only children’s hospice in Cumbria. The equipment has just been handed over to Jigsaw with a series of training and demonstrations for staff, children and families.
Among the equipment which has been donated are:
- PODs inflatable sensory play tent – which comes with colourful lights and relaxing music to provide a calm environment.
- Mobile ‘Magic Carpet’ – a versatile and revolutionary piece of equipment which enables children to play with interactive images which can be projected on to the floor, wheelchair tray or bed.
- Tilt and touch table – essentially a large touch screen tablet set into a table which can be moved from room to room. Fully adjustable, the table can be raised, lowered and tilted to suit the child’s needs.
- Music Soundbeam 6 – a versatile inclusive piece of technology which enables children to create music through movement and play with hospice staff, music therapists or music champions.
- Cameras – Waterproof and GoPro cameras will enable a child or young person to make their own films and photobooks, to record experiences and document their life the way they want to.
Rebecca Morrison, Education, Play and Activity Facilitator at Jigsaw, said: “This wonderful donation from Lifelites will make a big difference to our young people, allowing them to play, create, imagine and have hours of fun in a variety of different ways.
“At Jigsaw, we’re keen not only to offer incredible care, but also to help our children and young people, as well as their families, make memories which will last a lifetime and this new equipment will certainly support us in achieving that. We cannot thank Lifelites enough for their continued support.”
Lifelites chief executive, Rob Lightfoot, said: “We are delighted to continue our partnership with Jigsaw, Cumbria’s Children’s Hospice. As the needs of the children and families using their services change and become more complex, Lifelites has responded by providing an extensive package of the latest assistive technology.
“With over 20 years’ experience, we know that these technologies will empower children and young people with life-limiting conditions to engage and interact with the people they love and enjoy the world they live in. We hope that this helps them to create many joyful memories. A big thank you too to our supporters including Freemasons of Cumberland & Westmorland who have helped us to provide this support.”
As part of the package, Lifelites also pledges to maintain the donated technology over the course of the four-year lifespan.
