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Wilton Centre community comes together to support Zoe ’ s Place
The Wilton Centre community has come together to help a much-loved local charity which , like many others , was devastated by the pandemic .
The centre has supported the local branch of Zoë ’ s Place – the UK ’ s only baby hospice – for most of the 18 years since it opened in nearby Normanby .
This summer its occupiers took part in a number of fundraising activities , culminating in a barbeque and a collection of more than £ 1,700 - and more donations are planned .
The Wilton Centre ’ s accommodation manager , Claire Morton , has coordinated the fundraising activities over a number of years . “ The impact of the pandemic on fantastic charities like Zoë ’ s Place has perhaps been overlooked ,” she said . “ The Wilton Centre staff – as well as the community of businesses based here – are determined to do all we can to help .
“ It was great to see everybody come together . There is a real sense of community here and that ’ s one of the reasons why more businesses than ever want to join us .
“ Companies like being here . Many of the occupiers provide complementary services and employ people – engineers and scientists – who share similar backgrounds and outlooks on life . As a result , there ’ s a real sense of togetherness and that ’ s evident when we all come together to support Zoë ’ s Place .”
When fundraising stopped because of lockdown , the charity closed for five months and cut its number of clinical staff from 20 to 12 . It reduced opening hours from 24 / 7 and could care for fewer babies and under-fives .
Alison Taylor , the community and events fundraiser at Zoë ’ s Place , said : “ We had to make massive changes and revamp the charity because we just didn ’ t know what was going to happen .
“ After Covid , it ’ s almost like we ’ re a new charity , even though we ’ ve been going a long time .”
Zoë ’ s Place initially reopened for three days a week and has slowly built up . It is hoped that full opening will return by the end of the year . But the challenge remains to raise £ 1m a year towards the charity ’ s £ 1.4m annual running costs , which are likely to increase with the steep rise in the price of energy .
Zoë ’ s Place was launched in Liverpool in 1995 , opened in Middlesbrough in 2004 and Coventry in 2011 . Before Covid , the team on Teesside would support around 37 families during any 12-month period , providing short breaks , end-of-life care and a resting place .
“ Although it ’ s a clinical setting , it ’ s not like a hospital ,” said Alison . “ It ’ s a home from home . As sad as it is – and we all get tearful at times – it ’ s very happy as well . When the weather ’ s lovely , the little ones are outside in our gorgeous garden with our nursing team making every moment matter – and that ’ s what it ’ s all about .”
There are now more than 60 businesses based 10 minutes away from Zoë ’ s Place ’ s Normanby base at the Wilton Centre and the level of enquiries from companies interested in moving there remains high . As they grow , many of the established businesses are also discussing plans to extend their space and leases .
Claire Morton said there are a number of reasons why a presence at the Wilton Centre is so sought after : “ It ’ s the quality of the space , our ability to provide flexible accommodation and the support we and our owner , Pioneer Group , provide – particularly for start-up companies – allowing them to concentrate on developing their businesses .”
She added : “ Over the past year we have invested around £ 2m in a major refurbishment . That ’ s also coincided with the opening of the Teesside Freeport . It ’ s on our doorstep , so several businesses working on projects within the freeport see us as the ideal base for their operations .” Despite all the developments at the Wilton Centre , its strong connection with Zoë ’ s Place is set to remain .
Businesses that would like to find out more about the charity can contact Tommy Harrington , corporate and major donor fundraiser , at tommy . harrington @ zoes-place . org . uk to arrange a visit .
74 | Tees Business