For 17 year old Imogen and her family, Little Bridge House offers so much more than care; it’s a place of new experiences, where her sisters are supported and understood, and where her mum can take a moment to rest and feel cared for too.
Living in Newton Abbot with her mum Zoe and sisters Jasmine and Mia, the family make the 1hr 30 minute journey to the hospice whenever they stay. Since being referred in 2024 it has become a place they return to again and again, not just for the expert care but for the support and friendships that have developed.
Zoe describes it as something that’s hard to fully capture in words;
Little Bridge House is a place of no judgement; everyone just gets it. It truly is a safe haven when you feel at your most vulnerable.
For Zoe, the stays offer something rare, the chance to step out of her role as a full-time carer and simply be a mum:
“Without people supporting Little Bridge House families like mine wouldn’t have the safe haven just to ease the pressure of day to day life with a child with complex medical needs. A full night's sleep, meals cooked, a place where I feel cared for rather than being the carer, so thank you.”
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For Imogen, the hospice is filled with the things she loves most, loads of fun activities, a wheelchair accessible Narnia themed garden and chocolate cake!
“The Care Team are so nice and helpful. I love the meals that are all freshly prepared on site by the kitchen team. They make lovely cakes that are so enticing that you come back for more.”
Music plays a big part in her time there too: “I love the singing activities with Ceridwen, the Music Therapist, especially the group ones. I love singing any Christmas songs!”
And it’s not just about relaxing, there’s plenty of adventure too. On her first teenage weekend at the hospice, Imogen threw herself into every activity: “It was so much fun. My favourite activity was ‘I’m a teenager get me out of here’ where I ate different bugs like chilli and lime crickets!”
Imogen has lots of favourite things she enjoys at Little Bridge House: “I love the Narnia garden as it’s wheelchair accessible and I love baking chocolate cake. It’s hard to narrow it down as I love everything!”
While Imogen enjoys time with other young people her age, especially during dedicated teenage weekends, her sisters benefit just as much from the hospice. Zoe says the sibling support is invaluable: “Imogen’s siblings get to be around other siblings who just understand without explanation. The sibling team there just let them be them and have fun.”
For Mia, the hospice has become so special that she wanted to celebrate an important milestone there for the second time. After spending time with the Sibling Support Team Mia asked if she could have her 10th birthday celebrations at Little Bridge House. The Care Team organised a special party for her, including a sensory story with Ceridwen, playing a superheroes game, karaoke, face painting and lots of singing and dancing making it a celebration the whole family could enjoy together.
Moments like this show just how much the hospice means, not only to Imogen, but to her whole family. Together, they are able to do something that everyday life doesn’t always allow, simply spend time together, making memories:
“Our family gets to make memories together, it’s truly special in a way you can’t put into words,” Zoe adds.
Imogen’s experiences at Little Bridge House have also inspired her beyond the hospice. Passionate about making a difference, she has started a campaign to improve accessibility on buses in Devon.
“I don’t think that’s very fair,” she says, explaining that while buses in Manchester have 2 wheelchair spaces, many in Devon only have 1. “So, I started this campaign and my aim is to get it to parliament and get some famous people involved.” Her favourite celebrity being TV presenter Holly Willoughby.
Imogen’s determination doesn’t stop there. Alongside her mum, she has taken part in CHSW fundraising challenges, helping to raise vital funds and awareness. Together, Imogen and Zoe have also shared their story with supporters, speaking about what the charity means to their family.
Back at Little Bridge House, there are always new memories to be made such as a recent prom themed teenage weekend at Little Bridge House with a pamper session, live band, dinner and mocktails, Imogen continues to make the most of every visit.
And for Zoe, the reason these moments matter so much is simple: “It’s a place where we can just be a family.”
