Buying own house is aim of charity

Its three-year campaign, known as The Burrow, aims to raise enough money to buy somewhere for the use of families with children admitted to Southampton General Hospital.

Those with children suffering from illness as well as those who have had a premature birth could make use of the property.

The charity already leases a flat for this purpose but Jo Priaulx, trustee and founder of the foundation, said that more accommodation was needed for families.

'The flat that is currently leased to us in Southampton can be occupied by just one family at a time,' she said.

'The challenge we face daily is that the flat is permanently occupied, but there will always be more than one poorly little one needing to go to Southampton at the same time.

'We want to be able to help more families because the need is there and we can't do that unless we purchase a property of our own.'

Mrs Priaulx said that the property they want to buy is very close to the hospital and that this will help the families to cope.