Grange Farm Donation helps Lifelites benefit Haven House children with state-of-the-art technology

The Grange Farm Centre Trust are pleased to of helped Lifelites develop the Eyegaze Technology....

Manager of the Grange Farm, Rob Draper was pleased to be invited to the launch of the new technology. "I was very impressed seeing the new eyegaze technology in action. It was also the first time i had visited Haven House, what an amazing place and great job all the staff and voulnteers do."

Eyegaze technology embraces children's creativity

Haven House children are set to benefit from specialist computers and iPads, thanks to a generous donation from Lifelites - a national children’s charity that supplies magical technology for children with disabilities and life-limiting conditions. The new equipment, which features Eyegaze technology, will empower children and young people at the hospice to communicate effectively and embrace their creativity. The revolutionary Eyegaze system makes a computer accessible for disabled young people. Through a sensor, the screen can track eye movements enabling the children to move the cursor around the screen to touch objects or create sound or artwork. Children with limited verbal communication or mobility can now ‘speak’ with this technology. They can tell their carers what they would like to eat or drink and maybe for the first time tell their parents that they love them. This technology will help them to be much more involved in the world around them for as long as it is possible. Mike Palfreman, Chief Executive of Haven House said: “We want every child and young person who uses our hospice to have the best possible life. With this new equipment, our children will be able to communicate in a way that they’ve never been able to before. A very big thank you to Lifelites for making this happen.” Simone Enefer-Doy, Chief Executive of Lifelites, said: “We’re absolutely delighted to be able to come back here for the third time to give Haven House another magical package of technology for the children. As well as more laughter and smiles, we’re well on the way to providing Eyegaze at over a quarter of children’s hospices in the British Isles.” Specially designed for children with disabilities the package includes adapted iPad packages with grip cases, smoothie switches, a portable touch screen computer and an Eyegaze package. As part of the donation, Lifelites also provided staff training for nurses at Haven House to learn how to use the technology. There is a Lifelites project in all 50 baby and children’s hospices across the British Isles. Hospices do not pay anything towards their Lifelites project and all of Lifelites’ work is funded by donations: the equipment, ongoing technical support and training at each hospice costs Lifelites around £50,000 over four years. Support for the package at Haven House came from The Provincial Grand Lodge of Essex, a number of Essex Freemason’s Lodges and Grange Farm Centre Trust.