JULIA'S House has just been granted £10,000 to help towards the cost of building the site in Devizes by the Friends of Savernake Hospital, giving the children's hospice a huge boost in funding.

Over the past few weeks the Friends have been receiving and organising a variety of grant applications from groups which help those suffering from illness and disabilities. The approved grant to Julia’s House of £10,000, the maximum amount the Friends can give in one grant, is set to help with the costs of building the children’s hospice in Devizes.

Ian Wadley, Julia’s House Wiltshire fundraising manager, said: “We are delighted that the Friends of Savernake Hospital and the Community have chosen to make this generous donation towards the new Julia’s House Wiltshire children’s hospice. These vital funds will go towards the construction costs of converting the existing buildings into the new hospice.

“The Wiltshire children’s hospice will be a safe, homely and welcoming place and it will be for the local community, funded by the local community. We would like to offer our thanks to the Friends of Savernake Hospital and the Community for kindly supporting this landmark project for local families.”

At a previous AGM of the Friends of Savernake, representatives from Julia’s House attended to hold a presentation and have spoken to the Friends before the decision was made.

Janet Louth, of Salisbury Road, Marlborough, chairman of the Friends of Savernake, said: “I am delighted we are able to help and provide the grant to Julia’s House. At a recent AGM members of the Julia’s House team paid us a visit to talk about the work they do and the site that is being developed in Devizes. We gave them £10,000 which is the maximum amount we can give to one organisation without having a second meeting to decide.

“Everyone was unanimous on the decision to give this grant to the hospice as it will really help people in the area.”

Work has already begun on the development for the hospice site in Bath Road, Devizes, after the planning application was approved by Wiltshire Council. The hospice is expected to be completed by the spring of next year.