Zoe’s Place Middlesbrough, a baby hospice celebrating its 20th anniversary, is confronting financial challenges as its sister branch in Liverpool faces closure.
Despite these difficulties, the Middlesbrough location assures the community that it will continue to operate “business as usual.” The Liverpool branch is set to close because its building lease was not renewed. Meanwhile, the Middlesbrough site currently cares for 40 babies and has seven more on its waiting list. Fortunately, it has six years left on its current lease, providing some stability for now.
Both branches share the same building leaseholder. The Middlesbrough hospice, one of only three such facilities in the UK, relies heavily on charitable donations, which account for approximately 80 percent of its funding. Public contributions, community fundraising efforts, and events like The Great North Run are crucial for maintaining its services.
However, the financial pressures are increasing. A spokesperson for the hospice expressed concerns about the need for a future capital appeal to secure long-term funding and prevent a situation similar to Liverpool’s, where the branch has just 30 days to raise £5 million to avoid closure.
“We don’t want to worry anyone, but we will soon launch a capital appeal to ensure we don’t face a similar fate as Liverpool,” the spokesperson stated. “Zoe’s Place provides essential respite care for families caring for terminally ill children, allowing parents time to rest while their children receive expert care. We are asking people not to forget us and to keep fundraising and supporting our efforts.”
For many families, the hospice is a vital “home away from home,” offering necessary support for children who might not have access to care otherwise. Over the past two decades, the Middlesbrough hospice has been a lifeline for families, providing care for children from birth until age five.
As it approaches its 20th anniversary, the need for ongoing financial support remains urgent. Donations help cover daily care for the children and ensure that the hospice can continue its mission in the future, supporting families across the North East and beyond.
Zoe’s Place is calling on the local community to help sustain its services. Contributions can come in many forms, including donations, volunteering, or simply sharing their social media accounts to raise awareness.
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