Earlier this month, some of the Labcold team had the opportunity to visit Naomi & Jack’s for a tour of their hospice in Hampshire and learn more about the incredible work they do to support seriously ill babies, children, young adults, and their families.
The afternoon gave us a valuable insight into the many people and services that come together to make Naomi & Jack’s such a special place. From specialist consultants and nurses to fundraising departments, volunteers, hospitality staff, and play and activity teams, there’s an incredible community behind the care provided every day.
Naomi House is dedicated to babies and young children with life limiting or life threatening conditions, providing a calm and welcoming environment for them and their families to spend time together.
Here, we met one of the brilliant team members responsible for organising play and activities, from painting and messy play to sensory experiences and storytelling sessions. We also visited the sensory room, complete with a ball pit, lights, and other interactive features designed to provide stimulation and enjoyment for children. These activities offer the chance for children to play, explore, and have fun, and gives parents a valuable moment of respite to relax, step back, or simply enjoy watching their child play.
One thing that particularly stood out to us was the key role Naomi House plays in supporting parents as well as children. With experienced nurses on hand to provide specialist care, parents are able to step back from the responsibilities of being a carer and can simply be Mum or Dad, spending quality time with their child safe in the knowledge they’re being looked after by an expert team.
Jack's Place supports young adults up to the age of 35 years old, placing a strong emphasis on independence and freedom. The space has been designed with this in mind, with each area named after a different city, helping to create an environment that feels welcoming and relaxed.
We also heard about Jestival, a festival recently organised on site for the young adults who use the hospice service. With music from local musicians and DJs, festival style food, glitter face painting, and plenty of singing and dancing, it was a great example of how the team creates opportunities for young adults to have fun, socialise, and make memories.
We also had the chance to see the Jack's Place bar, a space where young adults can meet, spend time together and socialise. It was a lovely reminder that care is about much more than just medical support, including creating opportunities for people to enjoy life, connect with others, and have experiences that are meaningful to them.
During our visit, we also heard about the facilities shared by both Naomi & Jack’s, including the swimming pool, which is used for a variety of activities including physiotherapy, family time, and pool parties. The recently refurbished memory garden provides a peaceful space for bereaved families to remember loved ones who have died. Families can lay pebbles or hang leaves on a vine in their memory, or simply take a quiet moment to reflect. It was a reminder of the breadth of support Naomi & Jack’s provides, not only caring for children and young adults, but continuing to support families through some of the most difficult moments of their lives.
The visit was incredibly insightful for us, and seeing the hospice first hand gave the team a much greater understanding of the people, facilities and dedication behind the fundraising that makes this work possible.
It also reinforced why supporting organisations within our local community is so important. Naomi & Jack’s is a charity close to the hearts of our team who live and work in the surrounding area, and we’re proud to continue our partnership with them. We’re also looking forward to getting involved in more initiatives and activities later this year.
A huge thank you to Ash and Pete for taking the time to show us around, introduce us to members of the team, and share more about the valuable work taking place there everyday. To find out more about the support they provide, please visit naomiandjacks.org.uk.
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