Friday 25 October 2024

Today I am delighted to attend the launch of Merseyrail’s 'a pound for Zoe's Place' scheme at Liverpool Central Station, which will encourage passengers to donate to the baby hospice. This scheme is fantastic and it's great to see Merseyrail stepping up to the plate. We are all working hard to make this happen for the incredible children, families and staff of this very special place in our city.

Thursday 24 October 2024

At a meeting with our region's business community at the ACC I am able to announce that 'Zoe's Place Liverpool' is being created as a standalone charity to replace the existing charitable organisation running Zoe’s Place Liverpool which is based in Warwickshire.

I am delighted that the new charity will be operated by and funded by an organisation based in Liverpool and run by people from Liverpool and that any money raised locally or nationally for the project will be paid into the new Liverpool-based charity. New Liverpool-based trustees have been appointed, and the group are in the process of registering the organisation with the Charity Commission and Companies House. They expect it to be established within a week and to be fully independent by February.

Wednesday 23 October 2024
Today I took the campaign to save Zoe's Place to Westminster.

I wrote to Chancellor Rachel Reeves in advance of the Autumn Budget next week and I also tabled a Parliamentary motion praising Liverpool's ‘phenomenal response’ to the campaign and calling on the Labour Government to increase funding for children’s hospices.

Seriously ill children and their families should not have to rely on charity to get the support they need.

In my letter, I highlighted that children’s hospices across the country are facing severe funding pressures, with research showing that 72% are forecasting a deficit by the end of the financial year, as stated in a Hospice UK report. I asked the Chancellor to “urgently provide funding for children’s hospices, ensuring that Zoe’s Place and children’s hospices across the country can continue to provide care into the future.”

Monday 21 October 2024

Today in Parliament I tabled an Early Day Motion (EDM) on the importance of Zoe’s Place Liverpool to our community and the wider issue of funding for children’s hospices. You can find the full wording of the motion here on Parliament’s website.

Tuesday 15 October 2024

Zoe's Place Liverpool says it is "really confident" it will be able to find a way of saving its Liverpool site following a “really positive” meeting between myself and trustees to discuss options.

Monday 14 October 2024:

I met once more with the trustees of Zoe’s Place Liverpool, and with the architects commissioned by Zoe’s Place to design the new building on the site at Hayman’s Green.

Following this meeting, Joan Stainsby, executive trustee, said: “Ian Byrne MP is doing a wonderful job spearheading the campaign to raise the £5m needed for a new home for Zoe’s Place in Liverpool. The generous people of Liverpool can be reassured that every penny they raise will be used solely for the benefit of Zoe’s Place Liverpool. We will continue to work closely together to achieve the best outcome possible for the families and children of Liverpool.’”

Thursday 10 October 2024:

I met with Trustees of Zoe’s Place about its future and put forward a plan to lead on a £5 million fundraising drive to help keep our hospice open.

Following this meeting Joan Stainsby, Executive Trustee, said:

“We’ve been profoundly struck, and deeply grateful, for the outpouring of support from the people of Liverpool for our work at Zoe’s Place.

We’re particularly thankful that Ian Byrne MP has confirmed his unequivocal support to help us realise our dream of a new home. We look forward to working closely with him and all our supporters in the hope we can secure a future for Zoe’s Place Liverpool in 2025.

We are so grateful to have the backing of Ian Byrne MP and the Liverpool community, who are committed to helping us raise the funds needed to prevent the closure of our hospice.”

Monday 7 October 2024:

Zoe’s Place Liverpool announces it will close by end of the year with the following announcement:

“Zoe’s Place Liverpool had been hoping to build a new hospice near to its current location. However, the time taken to get planning permission has left insufficient time to construct the building.

“In addition, a significant rise in the projected costs and the challenge of raising funding in the current economic climate means there are insufficient funds available.

“It is therefore with great sadness that Zoe’s Place trustees have to announce that their Liverpool hospice will close at the end of 2024. With only nine months before the charity’s lease for Yew Tree Lane ends, there is insufficient time and money to relocate to a new home elsewhere.”