Lifelites, A charity that provides assistive and sensory technology to every children’s hospice in the UK and Ireland is to mark its 25th year by launching a new £1.6 million campaign.
Lifelites is embarking on an ambitious three-year programme to deliver new assistive technology packages and transformative grants to children’s palliative care services to reach more children and families.
Whether its creating art using their eyes with the innovative Eyegaze, experiencing the immersive and exciting world of virtual reality or playing side by side with brothers and sisters on the Magic Carpet, the assistive and sensory technology empowers children to play, communicate with the people they love, explore the world around them and express themselves in ways that may otherwise be impossible.
Every year, 13,500 children and young people access Lifelites technology. However, there are an estimated 99,000 children and young people who could benefit from Lifelites’ support.
The charity has been a vital part of the children’s hospice services in Britain and Ireland after delivering its first technology package to Demelza Kent Children’s Hospice in September 1999.
They passionately believe that every child and young person with a life-limiting condition or complex disability should be able to enjoy a childhood of inclusion, meaningful connection and fun.
Under the Lifelites 25 project, the charity, will provide packages of technology worth up to £25,000 each to 21 new organisations they currently do not support, along with technical help and training.
Lifelites is inviting applications from 4thNovember 2024 to 10th January 2025 and will fund seven projects per year for three years.
They will also support four new transformational projects which harness the power of technology to improve the health and wellbeing of children and young people with life-limiting conditions.
Each grant will be worth up to £250,000 and applicants must demonstrate direct and measurable positive outcomes for children, young people and their families.
Stage 1 applications are invited until 10th January 2025.
Both grants programme are open to regulated organisations or registered charities delivering services to children and young people with life-limiting conditions.
Lifelites has welcomed celebrity chef, Jean-Christophe Novelli and wife Michelle, whose son Valentino is autistic, as Patrons of the charity. They said: “It’s amazing, to see the connection and happiness from children using the technology.
“Our son Valentino is a big fan of the safari Pods Sensory Tent and the Magic Carpet. It’s so vital that youngsters get to play like other children and Lifelites makes that happen.”
Rob Lightfoot, Chief Executive of Lifelites, said: “We are delighted to be working with Jean-Christophe and Michelle as Patrons of Lifelites, their family story illustrates some of the challenges faced by thousands of families across the country.
“However, at the heart is the universal desire every parent has to enable their children to live the best lives that they can, to play together and to create cherished family memories.
At Lifelites we are determined to increase access to our life-changing technology through Lifelites 25.”
To apply see www.lifelites.org/lifelites-25
