Shooting Star Children’s Hospices is calling on the local community to help raise £15,000 towards the refurbishment of its much-loved hydrotherapy pool at Shooting Star House in Hampton. The pool has been forced to close after suffering multiple leaks.
Pool Closure and Refurbishment Appeal
For two decades, the hydrotherapy pool has allowed families a safe, supportive space to receive incredible therapeutic support and enjoy special moments together. Now with the facility currently closed and in need of vital modernisation, the charity is asking supporters to come together and 'pool' their donations during Children’s Hospice Week (June 15 to 21) to bring this vital resource back for families to enjoy once more.
Benefits of Hydrotherapy
Hydrotherapy plays an important role for the families Shooting Star supports. For some children, being in the water helps ease pain, improve movement and build muscle strength that is only possible in the water. Having access to the hydrotherapy pool also offers families an opportunity to spend time together, make memories and enjoy time away from the stresses of day-to-day life.
With their Hampton pool currently closed, demand has increased further for the charity’s hydrotherapy pool at their Guildford-based hospice, Christopher’s. Shooting Star’s physiotherapy team uses the pool to support children with a wide range of complex medical needs, as well as running group sessions that help families connect and socialise.
Physiotherapist's Perspective
Ginny Hancock, physiotherapist at Shooting Star, said: "Hydrotherapy can make a huge difference to the children and young people we support. In the water, they can move more freely, stretch muscles and joints, relax and build strength. "Being in the water offers a sense of independence that can be difficult to replicate elsewhere. The group sessions we run, Tadpoles and Ducklings, offer more than just swim sessions – they are a supportive community for both children and parents. "Seeing the pool closed is very hard, especially as some families are not able to travel to our hospice in Guildford and children and young people are missing out; we would love to be able to welcome back families as soon as possible – so I encourage our supporters to please donate what they can towards our appeal."
Family's Experience
Soph and her family have been supported by Shooting Star since she was eight months old. Now a 14-year-old, her mum, Ellen, commented on the importance of the hydrotherapy pool to the family. She said: "She wasn’t meant to be carried to full term, so she’s already smashing boundaries and expectations, but the reality is that her condition is life-limiting, so we like to make the most of every moment and Shooting Star has been a huge part of making that happen. "With Soph’s condition, it means her circulation is very poor. Her oxygen levels are always very low, so we can’t use public swimming pools, she will literally turn blue, and the circulation will get worse, so when we were invited to use the hydro pool, it was just brilliant. "What Soph loves most about being in the water is her physios, Ginny and Helena, she’s got such a positive relationship with them, and they make it so wonderful and fun, so she’s exercising without realising it and they give her time to respond and to talk. "With the pool being out of action, that’s affected us quite a lot, as it’s one space she can access without any difficulty whatsoever, there isn’t anything nearby that suits our needs. "When you have a child with a life-limiting condition and neurodiversity, your options become very narrowed very quickly. Although it’s a pool, it's part of something much bigger, it just makes for a really whole experience rather than just a hydrotherapy experience."
Impact and Support
More than 300 hydrotherapy sessions take place in the charity’s Hampton pool each year, including weekly bookable family sessions, Saturday Splash! sessions, baby swim groups and siblings holiday club sessions. Shooting Star supports families across south-west London, north-west London and Surrey, who have a baby, child or young person with a life-limiting condition, or who have been bereaved. By donating to the appeal, supporters can help ensure that future families can continue to experience the therapeutic benefits and connection the pool has provided for the past 20 years.
To donate and support the appeal, visit the charity website, where you can also watch a video from Ellen sharing the importance of the hydrotherapy pool to her daughter Soph and the family.
