Gift of technology extends Naomi and Jack’s immersive and interactive play at hospice for life-limited and life-threatened children and young adults
A generous gift in the name of a ‘champion of life’ has given children and young adults at Naomi and Jack’s interactive technology that can be used in play sessions and to relax and unwind.
Naomi and Jack’s offers expert palliative care for babies, children and young adults at hospice, hospital and at home. It supports hundreds of families in central Southern England, providing outstanding care, specialist short breaks and bereavement support.
Lisa Shattock, who was a Trustee of assistive and sensory technology charity, Lifelites, left a gift in her Will, specifying that it should be used to benefit children.
Her gifted technology includes devices such as a ‘Magic Carpet’, which projects interactive moving images onto the floor, enabling children to enjoy immersive play.
Unique experiences like kicking virtual leaves and splashing in a fishpond can be enjoyed – even when motor skills are restricted. A Sound Beam 6 device detects even the smallest movement, allowing a child or young adult with limited mobility to make music in any way they choose.
Rob Lightfoot, CEO at Lifelites, said: “Children and young adults with life-limiting conditions face unique challenges: communication barriers, continuous medical interventions, loss of independence and social isolation.
“Lifelites’ technology empowers them to increase their independence and make connections with the people they love. In doing so, it helps to bring families closer together, improve wellbeing and create long-lasting, cherished memories.”
Mark Smith, Chief Executive at Naomi and Jack’s, said: “Naomi and Jack’s is all about providing expert care and creating special memories for the babies, children and young adults in our care. Lifelites’ technology will enable wonderful experiences that are not only fun, but encourage independence, decision making, and facilitate activities that may not otherwise have been possible.”
Alex, the husband of Lisa Shattock, said: “Lisa believed that giving experiences was every bit as important as physical gifts. She was someone who did that regularly for our children and their lives were all the richer for it. Her entire life was defined by thinking of others and wanting to make a difference. We were so lucky to have had her in our lives, and it is particularly fitting that her legacy is used to support children and young adults at Naomi and Jack’s.”
Lifelites donates bespoke technology packages and provides specialised staff training to Naomi and Jack’s every four years, after which Lifelites aims to replace the kit with the latest up-to-date versions. Visitwww.lifelites.org to find out more.
To discover more about the breadth of services Naomi and Jack’s offers to babies, children and young adults across central southern England, visit: www.naomiandjacks.org.uk.
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Naomi and Jack’s
Naomi and Jack’s is an independent charity offering expert palliative care for children and young adults at two purpose-built hospices and in the community. It supports hundreds of families in central southern England, providing outstanding care, specialist short breaks and bereavement support. It is there for end-of-life care, 24 hours, 365 days a year.
Naomi House provides individualised care for babies and children, supporting families to make the most of their precious time together. Jack’s Place – the only hospice for young adults in the South of England – continues that care with unique services, social activities and a focus on independence.
Lifelites
Lifelites is a national charity that provides assistive and sensory technology for children and young people attending hospices, specialist education and care services across the UK and Ireland, enabling them to play, create and communicate in ways that would otherwise be impossible.
It currently supports over 15,500 children living with complex medical needs and life-limiting conditions at 72 partners, including Naomi and Jack’s, every year.
Alongside life-changing technology, Lifelites provides palliative care, education and health care professionals with specialist training and full tech support for four years, free of any charge, ensuring the maximum impact of the technology to transform the lives of seriously ill children no matter the challenges they face.
Pic attached Caption: Mark Smith, Naomi and Jacks, Alex Shattock and Rob Lightfoot, Lifelites.
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