'Liverpool is a city of kindness': Tears, hugs and relief as Zoe's Place is saved

There were tears of joy, hugs and outpourings of relief at Zoe's Place today as it was confirmed that the hospice has been saved from closure following a stunning city-wide campaign.

Staff members, families and others who have supported the hospice's campaign to remain open in the city gathered at the site in Yew Tree Lane in West Derby as news filtered through that an enormous £5m fundraising target had been reached. It means Zoe's Place had been saved and that a new state-of-the-art facility can now be built.

Zoe's Place has been providing end-of-life and palliative care to babies and young children since 1995, but was facing closure as the lease on its current site ends next year and the charity had failed to secure the funding for a new facility. But in just 30 days the city of Liverpool has managed to raise the £5 million needed to keep Zoe's Place going.

READ MORE: Zoe's Place baby hospice is SAVED after incredible Liverpool-wide campaign

READ MORE: Zoe's Place fundraiser has 8% left to go until it reaches target

Speaking at the hospice today, Stephanie Perry, whose three-year-old daughter Robyn is supported by the hospice, said: "We are buzzing, so happy, lost for words and overwhelmed. I knew Liverpool would do it because it is a fighting city. I knew we would all fight to the end, we always stayed positive. I am just made up that Robyn and all the kids have got somewhere to carry on coming.

"We know we have got somewhere to take our children and that we are safe leaving them here. We are just one big happy family. It is just amazing, I am just so happy."

Robyn suffers with spina bifida and is paralysed from the waist down and has been supported at Zoe's Place for 18 months. Stephanie added: "We have made loads of memories here and wouldn't have made them if we weren't at Zoe's Place. Everywhere I turned, someone was doing something for Zoe's, it was very emotional. The babies and children didn't deserve to lose Zoe's and neither did the staff because they are just amazing. I am lost for words but so happy."

For staff member Laura Knight, who along with 40 others was told she would be losing her job just a month ago, the relief and joy at being able to continue caring for children in Liverpool was palpable today.

She told the ECHO: "It is so emotional, we hoped that this would happen but it is a dream come true. We've got our Christmas miracle early.

"We felt angry (when the closure was announced), it is a much needed service and this couldn't happen and the city of Liverpool have proved it. We've all rallied together and we've just not let it happen. I am proud to be from the city anyway but to see it rally round and do anything they can. Little kids selling bracelets, every little helped - everyone got involved and it is so incredible.

"The future of Zoe's Place is going to be amazing, we are going to be the best children's hospice in the north west if not the world, we have got so much vision to increase the service."

Zoe's Place head of marketing, Summa Gill said: "This is well deserved not just for Zoe's Place but for the whole of Liverpool. This result is so important for the staff, the families and most importantly those babies that we support. Looking around knowing that this is going to stay to support these children, it is a phenomenal result and is everything we needed.

She added: "Liverpool is a city of kindness. I was a student here and I think you wouldn't get this anywhere else except Liverpool. You don't know what it is like until you have been here. I am not surprised by the support of Liverpool. They always stand together, they are an absolute inspiration to the rest of the UK and they have proved it today."

"Zoe's Place has got such a strong future, we are going to build a state-of-the-art future, we cannot wait to do more to support the children of Liverpool. Everyone is blown away by the support."