Local Charity Jessie May Launching In Bath To Help More Termninally Sick Children

A local charity which offers hospice care for terminally ill children within their own homes will launch for the first time in Bath.

For almost 20 years Jessie May has been providing expert nursing care to children with life-limiting illnesses in Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset.

Now, for the first time, a small number of families in Bath and North East Somerset shall benefit from the charity’s services when launched in the city at Thrings Solicitors on Queen Square on Thursday 25 September.

At present, due to a shortage in funding, the charity can only provide respite services to eight families in need in the area. Other services such as end-of-life care, bereavement support, social occasions and emotional support for parents sadly cannot be provided at this present time.

Therefore Jessie May fundraisers are appealing to Bath businesses to fundraise through their Caring @ Work campaign. Each company can support a Jessie May Nurse, allowing them to provide a full end-of-life service for these families and eventually help even more children.

Roger Harper, Chair of Jessie May trustees, said: “At the moment there is no service for terminally ill children in Bath and North East Somerset. When Jessie May was asked to establish a service for these children in Bath and North east Somerset we grabbed the chance and we’re looking forward to providing such a vital service to families going through the worst possible time.

“At present funding is only available for eight children and just for the respite service only. We know that there are 3 times as many children in Bath and North East Somerset who could benefit from the service provided by Jessie May Nurses.

“Respite care is vital but is only a small part of what is needed. In addition we would love to provide emotional Support, social opportunities to both the children and their families including brothers and sisters who often take on the role of young carers, end-of-life care and bereavement support.

“The solution to this is, quite simply, more Jessie May nurses. Our nurses are professional, dedicated and experienced and can provide these vital services to Bath children.

“This year we are hoping to raise at least £40,000 to be able to provide one extra nurse who will provide full support to these eight children and their families.

“We are asking Bath businesses to join our Caring @ Work scheme which involves them pledging to fundraise £1000 for us in a year. If just 40 Bath businesses sign up these eight children will be fully cared for by a Jessie May nurse.”

Jessie May Trust was founded in 1994 by Chris and Philippa Purrington after the saddening death of their baby daughter Jessica May who suffered from a genetic condition and passed away aged just 4 ½ months.

The family, originally from High Wycombe, found that whilst visiting relatives in Bristol there were no provisions to care for Jessica at home and had to be admitted to the local hospital.

After Jessica’s death, Chris and Philippa were determined to do whatever they could to enable other families with terminally ill children in the area to have the support in their own homes that they didn't have and the choice of where their child will die when that time comes.

Since then Jessie May has cared for over 220 children within their own homes, costing around £820,000 every year.

Roger continued: “Being able to care for children within their own homes makes all the difference to parents, siblings and the children themselves. We are so pleased to be extending our services to Bath and look forward to meeting new supporters there.”

More information about Jessie May can be found at www.jessiemay.org.uk