Tech charity Lifelites and Jersey Freemasons have renewed their Platinum Partnership for the next five years to support children using hospice service in Jersey to access assistive and inclusive technologies.
Graham Spence using Lifelites VR technology.
Since 2016 Jersey Freemasons have raised over £100,000 for Lifelites to ensure that they can provide the latest assistive and inclusive technology to their children’s hospice partner on the island, Jersey Hospice Care. Lifelites are now intending to donate a package of brand new technologies, including staff training on how to use it, and technical support to the hospice at a value of around £52,000.
Graham Spence, Provincial Grand Master and Head of Jersey Freemasons said:
'Freemasons in Jersey are very keen to continue supporting Lifelites work here. The combination of providing valuable experiences to children using hospice services and the educational and experiential possibilities offered by the technology that Lifelites provides is second to none. We are delighted to commit to our continuing support for Lifelites technology packages.'
Lifelites’ CEO, Rob Lightfoot said:
'We are incredibly grateful to Graham Spence and his brethren. Jersey Freemasons are second to none in the incredible support that they provide us. Their support is crucial in allowing us to continue to support children with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions in Jersey. We are living at a particularly difficult time with the cost of living crisis hitting families with seriously ill and disabled children harder than most. The technology we donate can help children to create unforgettable moments of connection and joy with their families and the hospice staff who support them. In these difficult times, it is absolutely crucial that we continue to work with our children’s hospice partners to help provide the best respite and end of life experiences for these children.'
Lifelites has been donating their equipment and services for children using every children’s hospice across the British Isles for the past 23 years and is the only charity that does this. Lifelites continues to provide new technology, maintenance and training to hospice staff on how to use it, to ensure that as many of these children as possible will have the chance to enjoy the benefits of this technology during their short lives.
About The Charity
Lifelites is the only charity working with children’s palliative care services across the British Isles to enrich the lives of children and young people with life-limiting conditions and disabilities. We work by donating the latest assistive and inclusive technology and help 10,000 children each year.
Harnessing the power of technology allows Lifelites to help these children to escape isolation, giving them the means to keep in contact with their friends and schools. It gives them a chance to play and express themselves, to bring the outside world in and to live life as fully as possible.
They donate different packages of technology to each of our projects depending on a tailored assessment of their needs. Each of our packages is worth around £52,000 and has a four year lifespan. This includes the cost of the equipment, installation, staff training, technical support and equipment maintenance. Every four years, they aim to return to each palliative care service with a brand new package of the latest technology.