Region’s Mark Master Masons help fund sensory room at the nook

East Anglia’s new children’s hospice, the nook, features many rooms that will help children and young people with life-threatening conditions live their lives, no matter how short, to the fullest potential.

The nook is being fitted out at the moment as East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) prepares to move there, from its existing Norfolk hospice, in Quidenham, next month. The move will follow almost two years of building work at the site in Framingham Earl.

Among people to get an early look have been members of a trust that gave £52,893 to fund a large state-of-the-art sensory room.

For children whose conditions only give them limited ability to see, hear, move and touch, the vibrant colours and music of the sensory room will be perfect for them to relax and have fun.

The room was recently seen by representatives of the East Anglia Mark Master Masons and the Mark Benevolent Fund (MBF).

Keith Emmerson, Trustee, said: “The Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons and the MBF are delighted to be part of this amazing facility, and our visit to the nook has been nothing but humbling. The dedicated team of staff and volunteers of EACH will be tirelessly helping those in the wider community for many years to come and this is more than enough reward to know that our grant has been very well spent, indeed.”

Fundraising for the new hospice began back in November 2014, with EACH seeking to raise £10 million. It recently hit the £9.2 million mark and is still encouraging support to help ensure the fitting out process is completed as planned.

Hannah Bloom, Capital Appeal Project Lead for the nook, said: “Support from individuals, communities, businesses and trusts such as the MBF have helped us get to a point where our vision to transform children’s palliative care for Norfolk has almost become a reality. It was great to show members of the Mark Master Masons round recently and we’d obviously like to thank them for their generosity. Care and support is being phased across from Quidenham, but we expect a full service to be implemented from 23 September.”

For more information and to show your support go to EACH’s website. For more information about the East Anglia Mark Master Masons go to www.eastangliamark.org.uk.

Photo: Keith Emmerson (Trustee of MBF), Graham Butland (Chief Executive of EACH), David Boswell (Assistant Provincial Grand Master of East Anglia Mark Master Masons) and Darren Coleman-Heald (Charities Manager of Mark Masons’ Hall, London).