Wooden Spoon, the children’s charity of rugby has donated close to £30,000 to Lifelites for the purchase of special PODS sensory tents for our 2023/24 technology installation programme which will see us provide the latest assistive technology, bespoke training and maintenance support free of charge to 14 of our 57 palliative care partners.
The portable, light and fun PODS are ideal for children with life-limiting conditions wherever care is provided, either at one of our palliative care partner locations or in a child’s own home.
The PODS come with a changeable theme, remote-controlled internal lighting, complementing sound effects and a matching audiobook, making it perfect for the children we support to immerse themselves in their own world, enjoy moments of sensory magic or use the tent as chill out zone or safe place to reduce anxiety.
Themes come in a range of different styles, from jungle landscapes to under-the-sea adventures, allowing the PODS to be customised and updated according to each child’s individual preferences. The lightweight construction also allows the PODS to be installed in a variety of places, from main play areas to hospice bedrooms to a child’s own home, ensuring that no child misses out on enjoying the technology.
Barry Monahan, Director of Projects and Systems at Wooden Spoon, explained why the charity decided to support Lifelites, saying, “
“We are delighted to support Lifelites and fund the portable sensory PODS for children with life limiting conditions. Wooden Spoon believes that every child deserves moments of joy and wonder, and these sensory pods serve as a haven where they can experience a world of sensations, enhancing their overall well-being.
Our local regions have embraced the sensory PODS which means they are being installed in local hospices and facilities up and down the country thus making a positive impact in local communities across our regions.”
The incredibly generous donation by Wooden Spoon will allow us to provide PODS and a variety of themes to partners across Britain, giving thousands of children access to this versatile, fun and adaptive technology.
Rob Lightfoot, CEO of Lifelites, said, “We cannot thank Wooden Spoon enough for their wonderful support. The PODS are one of the most popular items of assistive and sensory technology we provide to our partners, and this generous donation means we can provide PODS to all of our partners that requested them during our 2023/24 installation programme. The impact this will have on thousands of children with life-limiting conditions and complex disabilities is truly amazing. A massive thank you to everyone at Wooden Spoon for choosing to support Lifelites and the vital work we carry out every year providing innovative technology so that children and families can play, create and communicate.”
If you are an organisation, community group or business and would like to find out more about supporting children with life-limiting conditions in local communities across Britain, please contact spitts@lifelites.org.