Children’s charity Jessie May hosts Virtual Reality Day for teenagers

Jessie May, the Bristol-based children’s hospice at home charity, recently held a special virtual reality (VR) themed Respite Day for some of the teenagers supported by its nurses.

Three teenage boys currently cared for by Jessie May Nurses were treated to an afternoon of VR fun at AirHop in Bristol.

The teenagers and their families were invited to step in to another dimension in one of AirHop’s ‘AirVR’ booths during one of the Respite Days organised by Jessie May, whose nurses support terminally ill children across Bath and North East Somerset, and beyond.

The boys enjoyed exploring another world with Jessie May Nurses, becoming immersed in interactive VR games in AirHop’s gaming area.

Gemma Warren, one of the Jessie May Nurses who attended the Respite Day, added: "We had such an amazing time at AirHop and can’t thank them enough for being so accommodating.

“For many of the children Jessie May supports, organising fun days out can be a real struggle, especially at busy Half Term. They can have extremely complex medical needs, and there are so many barriers they have to face – with things like wheelchair access, disabled toilets and changing room facilities.

“We organised this Respite Day to offer the teenagers a really unique, fun experience, and time to spend with others their age. AirHop’s VR area was the perfect environment and they had so much fun! Due to their medical conditions, the boys are unlikely to experience a deep-sea dive, or roller-coaster ride – but the VR headsets let them do just that!

“It was wonderful to watch them get involved, and because of the room’s large screens, they could watch each other experience VR too – and their parents when they couldn’t resist trying the games out!

“The room we were given was perfect for the boys – with easy access and privacy. It was a brilliant afternoon and we are so grateful to the team at AirHop who were incredibly generous, kind and talkative with the boys too!”

The charity, whose nurses currently support 140 children and 49 bereaved families, hosts special days like this throughout the year to offer parents some respite – a few hours to spend as they wish – but to also give the children some time away from home, and to spend with children their age, accompanied by their specialist nurses.

Ian Perrett, General Manager at AirHop, said: "AirHop was delighted to welcome Jessie May staff and 3 wonderful teenagers for an afternoon of VR. Sam Newman, our VR Expert, put together a series of VR games and experiences that were specifically chosen to allow the boys the opportunity to experience new worlds in VR.

"Watching them experience being alongside a blue whale on 'Into the Blue' and their reaction to being swallowed by a T-Rex in our dinosaur-themed VR rollercoaster ride will live long in my memory.

"On a personal note I have nothing but huge admiration for the Jessie May Nurses and most importantly the children that Jessie May supports. We would love to have them all back for a visit soon."

The charity’s nurses provide vital respite care and emotional support to local families caring for a terminally ill child, as well as end of life care and bereavement support for up to five years after a child has died.

To find out more about what Jessie May does to support local families caring for a child with a life limiting condition, visit www.jessiemay.org.uk.