Huddersfield’s children’s hospice is to host a couple of open days after it was revealed it has helped well over 1,000 people over the last year.
Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice is opening its doors to give supporters old and new the chance to see behind the scenes at their base called Russell House on Fell Greave Road in Brackenhall.
One open day will be on Saturday, October 11 from 10am to 2pm which is open to anyone who can just turn up.
A special open day has also been organised for businesses, schools and groups on Thursday, October 9 from 10am to 4pm. Places on this need to be booked in advance by emailing fundraising@forgetmenotchild.co.uk as guided tours will be held throughout the day.
During the open days visitors will have the chance to explore the sensory room, hydrotherapy pool, cinema, soft play area, outdoor counselling room and garden.
Staff will be on hand to explain more about the vital care Forget Me Not provides to local children, their families and families living with the loss of their child.
They can also find out more about volunteering and career opportunities, upcoming events and opportunities to help the charity as it tackles a challenging year ahead – a year in which it has to find 80% of the £6.5 million cost of running its services through fundraising, retail and other income generation.
Forget Me Not recently published its 2024-25 Impact Report which shows the charity supported 1,075 people across West Yorkshire, either at Russell House or in families’ own homes, including 369 from Kirklees, 303 from Bradford, 161 from Calderdale, 134 from Leeds and 100 from Wakefield.
Among the staff visitors will meet at the open days is Forget Me Not’s family support team leader Stacey John (below).
She said: “When people visit Russell House they’re often surprised at what they discover. Where they might have imagined somewhere sad, gloomy or even scary, they find a joyful place that feels like a real home-from-home, a place of comfort and support.
“For our team our open days are a great opportunity for us to meet some of our supporters and thank them for the difference they make.
“However you support us – perhaps by donating, fundraising, volunteering, visiting our shops or leaving a gift in your will – it all makes a lasting difference to local families. Our open day is a chance to see that impact in action.
“Bring a friend, your kids or the whole family and experience the magic of Forget Me Not, made possible by people like you.”
More details about both open days can be found at https://www.forgetmenotchild.co.uk/supporting-us/events/
Written by ANDY HIRST who runs his own Yorkshire freelance journalism agency AH! PR (https://ah-pr.com/) specialising in press releases, blogging, website content, copywriting and ghost-writing autobiographies.
