CHILDREN’S Hospice South West (CHSW) is in need of your vote this week as the charity has been shortlisted to win a pot of funding to pay for its project: ‘Time to Play’.

The People’s Projects gives the public the chance to have a say in how lottery funding is spent in their community through an online vote.

CHSW is hoping to get support for its ‘Time to Play’ project which is to support play activities at their Little Harbour hospice in Cornwall and Little Bridge House in Devon.

When your lives are overtaken with administering medication, feeding, appointments and sleepless nights, there can be little time left over to play. ‘Time to Play’ gives families staying with CHSW the opportunity to simply have fun and play together.

Creating precious memories for families is a priority for the charity.

Jacqui Sweet, activities co-ordinator at CHSW said: “Life-limited children need so much care and can be in so much pain that any chance to smile and laugh or to be immersed in play can create a treasured memory for that child and their parents.“

Jacqui works alongside the Sibling Team and assists in organising trips out of the hospice for siblings so that they can still enjoy days out which can be difficult for parents to organise when caring for their poorly sibling.

Whether in the hospice’s ball pool, hydrotherapy pool, garden or with arts and crafts, play is such an important part of a family’s stay at CHSW and this funding will make such a difference to the activities we can offer, not only for life-limited children but also siblings, teenagers and bereaved siblings.’

CHSW is up against four other charities to win funding for the ‘Time to Play’ project and really needs the support of the local community.

Details of the project will be broadcast on ITV Westcountry News tomorrow (Friday) at 6pm, and you can vote online at www.thepeoplesprojects.org.uk, choosing Time for Play until midday on Sunday, March 13.