Most of the construction work is now complete on the site
A new state-of-the-art children's hospice is set to open in Eltham later this year. News editor HELEN BACKWAY takes a look around the site.
DESPITE the fact it was an extremely rainy day when I visited the site of charity Demelza's new hospice, spirits could not be dampened in the same way as shoes were, walking around the building site.
The completion of the project, which has been six years in the making, is now almost within touching distance.
Most of the construction work is finished and the building is starting to take shape.
Although there is still work to be done - plastering in most rooms has not been completed yet, flooring needs to go down and there is all the fitting out - you can certainly imagine
what it will look like in a few months.
When it is finished, it will be the only facility of its kind in the area, taking children from the boroughs of Bromley, Lewisham, Greenwich, Bexley, Croydon, Southwark and Lambeth.
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Fifty staff will be employed and the charity aims to help around 450 children a year.
The compact site - it is only a quarter of an acre - will offer six bedrooms for short breaks, end-of-life care, hospice at home services, day care and bereavement services.
The hospice's area fundraising manager Terrie Kennor and news editor Helen Backway
Much of the attention to detail apparent in the new building has been inspired by the charity's current hospice in Sittingbourne, which was opened in 1998.
Project manager Tim Blair said: "We've learnt a lot from Sittingbourne."
And the little details are mind- boggling.
If entering the building in the underground car park, there is a lift available so, if a funeral is held at the hospice, a hearse can drive into the car park and take the body straight up to the multi-faith room discreetly.
There is also an area with its own separate kitchen upstairs where families can stay.
This is near to the bereavement suites, so families can visit as much as they need to in the run up to a funeral.
But don't be mistaken it will be a miserable place to visit.
Much work has been done to make it as happy as possible.
A mural is being designed for the entrance and other facilities in Wensley Close include a music room, a sensory room, a day room, a computer room, an art room and a wet room.
I found the visit particularly moving as earlier in the year I had done a sponsored skydive from 10,000ft in aid of the charity, successfully raising £1,083.12, as part of News Shopper's campaign to support Demelza.
The £6.5m project relies on fundraising and donations.
But the hard work will all be worth it when the building is completed and opened -
hopefully by the end of the year.
To quote Mr Blair again, it's going to be a "smashing building."
And, despite my damp visit, I'm inclined to agree.
To donate to the project send cheques payable to Demelza Capital Appeal, c/o News Shopper, Mega House, Crest View Drive, Petts Wood, BR5 1BT.
KEY DATES
June 2002: Work on the project starts.
October 2006: Planning permission is granted.
January 2007: Building work starts.
March 2007: The Capital
Appeal, which raises funds for the project, is launched.
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