24 September 2024
Southampton Hospitals Charity Light the South!
Over the summer of 2024 Southampton Hospitals Charity hosted Light the South, a large-scale public art event that brought businesses, residents and visitors together to celebrate art and raise funds for Southampton Children’s Hospital.
Donations received from the trail will go towards supporting the much-needed transformation of the wellbeing garden used by our child psychology services.
This space, currently neglected and inaccessible, holds incredible potential. Your generous donations will allow us to design, construct, and landscape the garden into a vibrant, multi-functional area where healing and growth can flourish.
One of the most critical aspects of this project is ensuring the garden is accessible to everyone. We will be adding two new disabled access pathways, creating an inclusive environment where all children, regardless of mobility, can benefit from the garden’s therapeutic qualities. To support these pathways, we will also revamp the adjacent waiting room, bringing in natural light through large windows. This change is especially crucial for autistic children and others who may find the current dark and unwelcoming space challenging.
Your support will also fund the installation of a specialist garden pod—an outdoor therapy room where young patients can engage in therapy sessions in a calm, non-clinical environment. This will provide a safe and peaceful space that encourages a sense of comfort and wellbeing, essential for effective treatment.
Designed with the needs and imaginations of children in mind, the garden will feature a sensory area, water feature, bug hotel, and mud kitchen. These elements will not only create enjoyable experiences but also serve as valuable tools in the therapeutic process, offering much-needed distractions and sensory engagement that can greatly enhance therapy outcomes.
By creating this special garden, we’re not just improving a space—we’re transforming the therapeutic experience for young patients and their families. We’re also enhancing the work environment for our dedicated staff, enabling them to continue providing world-class care in a setting that supports their wellbeing.
Your donation is more than a gift—it’s an investment in a brighter, healthier future for children and young people. Together, we can make this vital project a reality.