There were smiles all around at Haven House children’s hospice as children’s technology charity Lifelites arrived at the children’s hospice, with a brand new package of specialist equipment for the children.

Lifelites is the only charity to provide assistive and inclusive technology packages for terminally ill and disabled children in every baby and children’s hospice across the British Isles.

At the training days at Haven House in July 2015, members of the care team were all amazed by the cutting edge equipment that will empower young people at the hospice, who have complex and life threatening healthcare needs, to communicate effectively and embrace their creativity.

The technology is specially designed for disabled children and the package includes a number of magical items such as: specialist adapted iPad packages with grip cases, smoothie switches, a portable touch screen computer and an Eyegaze package.

The revolutionary Eyegaze makes a computer accessible for disabled young people. Through a sensor, Eyegaze enables them to track their eye movements enabling them to move the cursor around the screen.   Children whose carers and families thought they were unable to communicate, can now do so with this magical technology –  they can tell their carers what they would like to eat or drink and can  even, maybe for the first time, tell their parents that they love them. It means that these children can enter and stay involved in the world around them for as long as it is possible.

Speaking about the donation, Mike Palfreman, Chief Executive of the Woodford Green hospice explained: “The aim of Haven House is to make every moment count for local life-limited children. With this new equipment, our children will be able to create and communicate in a way they’ve never been able to before.  A very big thank you to everyone at Lifelites for making this happen.”

Simone Enefer-Doy chief executive of Lifelites, said: “We’re absolutely delighted to be able to come back here for the third time to give Haven House another magical package of technology for the children. As well as more laughter and smiles, we’re well on the way to providing Eyegaze at over a quarter of children’s hospices in the British Isles, including Haven House children’s hospice.” 

There is a Lifelites project in all 50 baby and children’s hospices across the British Isles. The hospices do not pay anything towards their Lifelites project and all of Lifelites’ work is funded by donations: the equipment, ongoing technical support and training at each hospice costs Lifelites around £50,000 over four years.  Support for the package at Haven House came from The Provincial Grand Lodge of Essex, a number of Essex Freemason’s Lodges and Grange Farm Centre Trust.