William Birch helps The Sick Children’s Trust ‘Home from Home’ take shape

Local construction company William Birch is helping national charity The Sick Children’s Trust (SCT) find extra space for parents and families with a ‘Home from Home’ conversion project opposite the Clarendon Wing of the Leeds General Infirmary (LGI).

The project involves converting a row of five terraced houses situated beside the LGI’s children’s wing, so that parents and families of seriously ill children being treated there can stay close by. It will accommodate – and expand – the SCT’s existing Eckersley House facilities being moved across from St James’s Hospital. A total of 22 rooms are being created (the existing site has 16 rooms), and the SCT’s Big Move appeal to raise £1.72 million for the move has already passed the halfway point.

On Friday 6 November the actor Christopher Timothy (All Creatures Great and Small), who is vice-president of the SCT, laid the final slate on the roof of the new home and commented:

“I’ve been a supporter of The Sick Children’s Trust for more than 20 years and I’m still touched by the stories of families that use a ‘Home from Home’. We provide a home where mum has a private room to gather her thoughts, dad can get some much needed sleep, and siblings are nearby to lighten the mood. But most importantly, we help families to stay close by their sick child at all times, making a real difference to their recovery.”

Eckersley House has supported the recovery of seriously ill children across Yorkshire for 16 years, providing high quality accommodation and caring staff for families. Leeds’ St James’s Hospital is moving its children’s wards across to the LGI to create a paediatric Centre of Excellence; hence the Eckersley House move from its current location at St James’s Hospital.

William Birch started work on the new site in August, and the conversion should be completed by May 2010. Managing director Chris Birch said he was delighted his company was working on such a worthwhile scheme, continuing Birch’s long running success and involvement in community based projects in the region, and one which would benefit many families in the future.

Today The Sick Children’s Trust has seven ‘Homes from Home’ around the UK, where families can stay free of charge while their child is undergoing treatment. Over 30,000 families have been helped by the Trust to date.

Donations can be made by visiting www.sickchildrenstrust.org

ENDS