LATCH Accommodation Refresh Project

At LATCH we are always looking at how we can make what we offer even better for our patients and their families. The purpose of this appeal is to ask for donations to support our work to refresh and upgrade our parents accommodation, which is situated on the University Hospital of Wales site in Cardiff.

Due to the large catchment area of the Childrens Oncology Unit (Rainbow Ward), some of our families have to make round trips of up to 200 miles to receive treatment. The idea of the LATCH accommodation is to provide a home from home for these families to reduce the burden of travelling during what is already a stressful time. The accommodation is offered to our families free of charge and helps keep families together during their childs stay in hospital.

LATCHs accommodation consists of eight hotel-standard bedrooms (six of which are en-suite) as well as a communal kitchen, bathroom, laundry room, dining room and lounge so families can make themselves at home. While we are very proud that we are able to offer this accommodation, it has been a number of years since the accommodation was last given a refresh, and due to the wear and tear of their use, we are now in a position where we are keen to start planning ahead and giving the accommodation a full refresh.

We are hoping to start working on the project over the coming months, doing it in stages to avoid disrupting the use of the accommodation. Below is a (non-exhaustive) list of some of the things we are looking to purchase as part of our refresh and upgrade;

Bedding/ Linen/ Towels

Chairs

Towel Rails

Bathroom Storage

Lamps

Coat Hooks

New Clothes Cupboards

New Bedside Tables

New Televisions

Diffusers

Prints/ Pictures/ Canvases

Wall Paint

We will look to prioritise from this list based on the amount we are able to raise aiming to ensure we get the must-have items first and ensuring your donations are spent wisely and responsibly as always - we are expecting the whole project (including everything we'd like to do) will cost around £6,000 pounds. Once we reach the point where we are able to start investing, we will put regular updates on our website as and when work is taking place or completed. If you do choose to support this project and if you'd like to hear more from us then please just get in touch by e-mailing Natalie - Natalie.Ward@wales.nhs.uk

All donations are welcome and very much appreciated thank you for your ongoing support.

Thank you!

Team LATCH