THE number of families in Wiltshire being supported by Julia's House has grown tremendously since it was announced a new hospice is to open in Devizes.

We are trying to raise £100,000 by the end of the year to pay for carers for Wiltshire families and the need for this is growing every day.

A spokesman for Julia's House said: "When Julia’s House launched its small Wiltshire care service two years ago it was supporting just a handful of families, mostly in Salisbury.

"Today, with the new Devizes hospice on the horizon and an expanding team of dedicated nurses and carers the charity can now offer community-based respite in the vast majority of the county.

"A flurry of fresh referrals are coming in each month with new families as far afield as Marlborough, Calne and Corsham now being able to take advantage of home-based care sessions."

Six new referrals came in during the summer holidays with many more accepted or pending. Julia’s House is currently supporting 33 families across the county.

Lead nurse Heather Pilpotts said: “No matter where in the county a family lives, if we can possibly help, we will. And once the new hospice is open they will have even more access to our services, including social events for siblings and parents.”

Work on the new site is progressing well and although the former office building is far from glamorous to look at, the hulled out shell has revealed the potential of the space.

It small enough to feel homely, big enough to be a fantastic social venue for Wiltshire families.

This autumn garden will begin to take shape. Bare earth and utility trenches will be replaced with landscaping, decking and sensory planting and work is about to begin to extend the building and create a conservatory.

The site has been buzzing with hard hat tours to give supporters a first-hand view of developments.

One of those conducting the tour has a very special reason to feel excited and proud of the new hospice.

Surveyor Rebecca Thursby, from All Cannings, near Devizes, who is mum to three-year-old Sophia who receives care from the Julia’s House, said: "“Devizes is a great location and will give so many families access to the care they so desperately need.

"Building this hospice has been like building my own home. I feel a real connection with what we are trying to achieve here. It’s the best job I have ever had as a surveyor.”