‘Secret Garden’ to be first North Mid Charity appeal
A project to revamp a ‘secret garden’ within the North Mid hospital is the first official fundraising appeal for the new North Mid Charity, which will create a safe haven for children, young people and their parents and carers during their stay at North Mid.
The existing children’s garden will be redesigned by children, young people and their parents/carers, and our children’s nurses and play therapists, to create a safe and fun space for our young patients and their parents/carers during their time in hospital to support their recovery and mental wellbeing.
This is the first project that our new charity will fund to improve the environment across our Trust for patients, visitors and staff and our local community – the group leading the ‘secret garden’ project have been presented with a cheque for £10,000 to kick-start the fundraising so the area can be redeveloped using a sustainable design for use in all weathers with new equipment to encourage active play.
Maria Kane, Chief Executive of North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust, said: “I am delighted that our children’s ‘secret garden’ will be the first project to be supported by our new North Mid Charity. Coming to hospital can be a stressful and scary experience at the best of times, and will be even more so for children and young people.
"We know that they and their families/carers will need respite and an environment in which they can relax during their stay in hospital and this project will help achieve this. I’m really looking forward to seeing what ideas and designs our young patients will come up with!
“We want to create a welcoming and friendly environment in which our patients receive the very best of care here at North Mid. Our new charity will aim to achieve this through raising funds for different projects so we can make improvements across the Trust for the benefit of everyone in our community – and we know we will have their support in making this happen.”
The ‘secret garden’ project is being led by Patricia Mecinska, head of patient experience and involvement. For more information about the fundraising appeal please contact Patricia by email: patricia.mecinska@nhs.net.
Or support the appeal here: www.justgiving.com/campaign/SecretGardenAppeal