We recently welcomed a number of funders to our hospice to see for themselves the impact of their donations.
Representatives from companies including Principality Building Society and V12 Retail Finance were the first visitors to explore significant upgrades to three key areas of the hospice: the Sanctuary, our play and therapies space and our hydrotherapy pool.
Mr Jephson had received the money from the BBC as compensation for ‘serious harm’ he had suffered as a result of Martin Bashir’s now discredited interview of the Princess for Panorama in 1995. This interview was later found by an enquiry to have been obtained through deceitful methods.
In honour of the Princess’s legacy, Mr Jephson chose to donate all £100,000 of the compensation he had received from the BBC to our charity and thanks to his generosity, our Sanctuary has undergone a major upgrade, including more windows and improved accessibility with the new doors and access points.
Unfortunately, due to ill health, Mr Jephson was unable to travel from his home in the US to Tŷ Hafan for the official unveiling of the refurbished space on October 16, however he was represented on the day by his agent, Sue Ayton.
“I know when Patrick is well enough to cross the Atlantic he will want to visit the Sanctuary to see in person all you have achieved and accomplished,” said Sue, pictured in the Sanctuary with former Tŷ Hafan Chief Executive Maria Timon Samra, who was in post when Mr Jephson made his donation, and Play and Therapies Lead Heather Roberts .
Other attendees included Nicola Sumner-Smith and Megan Thomas from the Vale of Glamorgan Council Shared Prosperity Fund, James Ablett and Carolyn Martinson of V12 Retail Finance, James Harper and Tony Smith from Principality Building Society and Steve Knapton.
Other funders who were unable to attend on the day included Unite Manufacturing, Celsa UK, Hutchinson Thomas, Irving Memorial Trust and Moondance Foundation.
The combined donations from all of the above, totalling £500,000, have funded the refurbishment of Tŷ Hafan’s hydrotherapy suite, including the addition of a new accessible changing space, the redevelopment of the play and therapies space, as well as the refurbishment of the Sanctuary.
Rachel Ritter, Head of Fundraising for Tŷ Hafan, said: “Too many families in Wales are struggling alone through the fear, exhaustion and uncertainty that comes with caring for a child whose life will be short and at the moment we are only able to reach 1 in 10 families who need us.
“When every day could be their child’s last, families should be making memories together instead of facing each one with dread.
“On behalf of everyone at Tŷ Hafan I’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has given so generously to enable these upgrades to key areas of our hospice in Sully. Together, we are making sure that when a child’s life will be short, no family should have to live it on their own.”
Nicola Sumner-Smith, Team Leader at the Vale of Glamorgan Council, told us: “It was both a pleasure and a humbling experience to visit Tŷ Hafan and to see all the great work they do to support families at such a difficult time in their lives.
“The Vale of Glamorgan Council are pleased to have been able to support the centre in the re-development of their play therapy areas and hope that many families and their children will benefit from these facilities for years to come.”
Below, Physical Therapies Technician Hilary Thurlow helps Steve Knapton to try out the new accessible swing in Ty Hafan’s new play and therapies space.
Below, Senior Play Therapist Anna Bowyer and Grants and Trusts Manager Susie Mowat with Nicola Sumner-Smith and Megan Thomas from the Vale of Glamorgan Council.
Below, founder Suzanne Goodall with the late Diana, Princess of Wales, first Patron of Tŷ Hafan Children’s Hospice, together in Cardiff for the fundraising Concert of Hope in 1995.
