ellenor and Bright Horizons Launch Therapy Space for Local Children

The new summerhouse at the hospice in Northfleet was fitted out on June 10 by volunteers from Bright Horizons children’s nurseries. They came laden with books, sensory toys, creative arts supplies, soft furnishings, and therapeutic materials to create a welcoming and comforting environment for children.

The £8,000 cost was met by Bright Spaces, a charitable programme run by the Bright Horizons Foundation for Children.

Bright Spaces Nursery Manager Stacey Dowsett said: “Our relationship with ellenor began from a deeply personal place. In 2015, we lost a valued colleague to cancer. It was during visits to the hospice that we noticed a lack of dedicated child-friendly spaces where young visitors or affected siblings could find comfort. That experience sparked our commitment to fund and help create a Bright Space.”

In 2018, the Foundation helped provide a creative therapies room at the hospice and when they heard ellenor had a new summerhouse as part of its recently completed rebuild they offered their support again -- keen to create a new Bright Space.

Stacey said: “We’ve continued to stay connected with ellenor over the years and are proud to be supporting them again through this new project. We want to provide a sense of normality, emotional safety, and play-based healing.

“The intention is to create a space that encourages play, creativity, and emotional expression – complementing the work already being done at ellenor to support families during incredibly difficult times.”

ellenor’s Play Therapist Suzi Hill has been working closely with Bright Horizons. She said: “The summerhouse will give children a quiet place, somewhere they can grow in confidence, where they can just be themselves and feel like they belong. At ellenor we have a holistic approach and the difference spaces like this make to children is just amazing.

“We want to create somewhere at the hospice which is more child friendly, somewhere that is quiet and calm. Play is how a child communicates. They put their emotions into a sand tray or into making something. Play is their way of learning, problem solving and making connections.”

Suzi, an accredited Play Therapist and filial play coach, joined the charity in February. She is trained to work with children who have been bereaved, those who have a family member with a life

a life-limiting illness, or who are themselves very poorly. Each child is offered 12 sessions of therapy, and it often takes the first three or four for them to relax in a new environment learning to trust in a relationship with a new adult.

“Some children put their whole story into a sand tray and don’t even realise they are doing it,” said Suzi. “Play Therapy helps children express what they are feeling to another adult, especially if their parent isn’t available emotionally to them. They need somewhere they can relax, where it’s fun and there are no expectations.”

The summerhouse will also be used by the children’s team for respite sessions, group activities and family events.

Emma Sheehan, who works with the children at ellenor as a Nursing Associate, said: “With support from Bright Horizons, we have been able to choose the appropriate equipment to support all the children under our services.

“The summerhouse will have far reaching benefits and our children will be able to enjoy sensory Play Therapeutic activities, music and play therapy in a calm and relaxing environment.”

Bright Horizons is keen to stay in close communication with ellenor once the summerhouse is up and running.

Stacey Dowsett, who has led the project, said: “Our support goes beyond fundraising; we are hands-on in bringing each Bright Space to life. Our volunteers will help set up furniture, install play materials, and put finishing touches on the design, all to ensure the space is ready to provide comfort and joy to families. Ongoing involvement is also key, as we aim to keep the space fresh, relevant, and responsive to the needs of the families who use it.

 “Through Bright Spaces, we offer much more than a physical environment – we aim to provide emotional and social support during a time of uncertainty and distress. For children, these spaces support wellbeing, encourage emotional development, and offer a sense of routine through play. For families, they provide a moment of respite, a space to bond, and a reminder that they are not alone.

“Creating environments like these is a crucial part of our wider commitment to caring for the whole family during life’s most challenging moments.”