THE Winter Ball, a major fundraising event organised by Julia's House in Devizes, Wiltshire’s only children’s hospice, will be sponsored by local housebuilder Cotswold Homes.

The black-tie event, to ne held next month at Wellington Barn in the village of Calstone near Calne, follows the success of last year’s sell-out ball, attended by 200 people.

In addition to a four-course dinner and dancing to music by the Wiltshire-based band Echo, entertainment will be provided by the singer and actress Cassidy Janson, who this year appeared with Michael Ball in the West End production of Chess at the London Coliseum.

Julia’s House opened last year in response to growing demand for the services provided by the group’s first hospice established in Corfe Mullen, Dorset, 15 years ago.

It was named after Julia Perks, a paediatric nurse whose dream was to develop a support network for families struggling to care for a child with a life-limiting or life-threatening condition without any help or respite.

The two hospices, which together receive only six per cent of their income from Government funding, need to raise £7.5 million annually to provide their services across the two counties this year.

Welcoming Cotswold Homes’ sponsorship of the Winter Ball, Julia’s House corporate fundraiser Ged Montgomery said: "We are delighted and extremely grateful to have the support of Cotswold Homes for this very special event. Our nurses and carers can only continue to throw a lifeline to families thanks to the generosity of the local community."

Julia’s House currently supports more than 60 Wiltshire families providing care at its hospice in Devizes and in family homes across the county.

Terri Hayes-Pugh, head of sales and marketing at Cotswold Homes, explained why the company wants to support the charity: ‘We are keen that, for those who will never experience the excitement and challenges of adult life, their childhood is secure, safe, comfortable and as happy as it can be. That’s why we are such enthusiastic fans of Julia’s House.’