Author: John

Jean’s House, Anglesea Road, Southampton

CLIC Sargent, the UK’s leading cancer charity for children and young people, has launched a fundraising appeal to transform a former Southampton bed and breakfast into a haven for young cancer patients and their families. The charity is planning to open a new ‘Home from Home’, called Jean’s House on Anglesea Road Southampton this autumn , providing vital free accommodation for young patients and their families during cancer treatment at  nearby specialist Southampton Hospital. Jean’s House will have seven en-suite family bedrooms (sleeping up to four people), two open plan kitchen/diners, two lounges and a teenagers’ space, helping families spend more time together and avoid often debilitating travel and accommodation costs.

Planning permission for the transformation was granted by Southampton City Council in October and the charity has launched a fundraising appeal to cover the £1.6million cost for buying and fully adapting the building.  

Over £1.2million pounds has already been raised thanks to generous support from donors including: Children with Cancer UK, Signet and Sir Jules Thorne Charitable Trust and now CLIC Sargent are seeking to raise the remaining £400,000 to fully renovate and furnish the house.

The new home will replace the charity’s existing Home from Home at CLIC Haven which opened in the grounds of Southampton Hospital in 1991. CLIC Sargent’s lease of the property from the hospital has come to an end and the charity is taking the opportunity to create a ‘bigger and better’ home at Jean’s House to meet growing demand for accommodation from desperate families.

Occupancy for the house has been over 90% in recent months and as the charity grows they support more young people which also creates higher demand.

Matt Le Tissier, said: “I can’t imagine what it must be like for families many miles from home stuck on the hospital ward with a desperately ill child.  

“I think it’s something to be really proud of that this building in Southampton will be a vital lifeline for so many families for years to come. This house will give them home comforts and most importantly keep families together during a really difficult time. I really hope that everyone gets behind CLIC Sargent for this campaign and gives what they can.”

CLIC Sargent’s UK Home from Home Manager, Cecilia Milburn, said: “With the public’s support, we will transform the property into a welcoming haven for families going through a really tough time. Jean’s House has been specially-designed to be bigger and better than before, offering more space and comfort for families. We are asking for the public’s help to house even more families in desperate need, saving them hundreds of pounds and bringing crucial home comforts in a time of great turmoil”