Thomas Cook has spent more than £58,000 to donate special suitcases containing equipment for therapy, education and play to every children’s hospice in the UK.
The 43 ‘sensory suitcases’ have been donated as part of a £1 million three-year fund raising effort to fund vital refurbishment projects in children’s hospices.
The suitcases are seen as being a vital piece of equipment to enable each hospice to extend its care of children to their own homes.
Thomas Cook Children’s Charity has partnered with Together for Short Lives, the only national charity working across all UK children’s hospices, in the campaign.
Pete Constanti, chairman of the travel group’s charity arm, said: “Many children who are supported by children’s hospices have one or more of their senses impaired so these Sensory Suitcases will become a fantastic resource.”
Together for Short Lives fundraising director Stephen Ballantyne added: “We are thrilled to be working with Thomas Cook Children’s Charity on these projects and are delighted with this donation of the SensoryPlus Sensory Suitcases. They are sure to make a real difference to the lives of those children cared for by hospices.”
David Payne, sensory product manager at supplier SensoryPlus, said: “Our sensory suitcases have been specifically designed so that the sensory experience can be taken to the individual, rather than the other way round.
“They are extremely compact yet house a wealth of sensory equipment, which will help the hospices to deliver vital care for seriously ill children by stimulating awareness, relaxation and learning.
“Thanks to their portability, nurses and parents will have the opportunity to care for children in the comfort and security of their own home, which from my experience is of great benefit to the child.”