East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) has secured £25,000 to refurbish its hydrotherapy pool in Milton, after winning a national award.

The charity was awarded the funding by financial mutual, OneFamily, through its Foundation Community Awards.

The hydrotherapy pool has been used since 1989 when EACH’s Milton site was opened by Diana Princess of Wales.

After 28 years, the boiler now needs replacing to enable staff to regulate water temperature and ensure they don’t have to cancel important therapy sessions. The pool also needs a dehumidifier to make sessions more comfortable for people with respiratory problems.

East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices was nominated for a Foundation Community Award by OneFamily customer Teresa Watkin-Child and her husband Andy.

Teresa and Andy’s eldest son, Alex, lives with a disability. As a child Alex has undergone operations, so he fully understands the benefits which hydrotherapy can bring.

Teresa said: “This project was Alex’s idea. Although facing challenges of his own, Alex wanted to demonstrate that he may be a little person but he can do something really big for children and their families, who are often facing an unimaginably difficult time.

“It just shows that even when life is that bit harder for yourself, you really can make a positive change in the world.”

Sophie Baker, EACH Cambridgeshire Community Fundraiser, said: “Hydrotherapy is an excellent way of allowing children greater freedom of movement and relaxation, but many EACH families are often unable to access public pools.”

Karl Elliott, marketing director at OneFamily, said: “Our Community Awards go right to the heart of what being part of a mutual society is all about, directly benefiting our customers and the causes closest to their hearts.

“Our next round of Community Awards is set to launch in the autumn and we’d encourage our East Anglia-based customers to get involved and nominate a cause that’s important to them.”

For more information please visit: https://www.onefamily.com/your-foundation/