A £75,000 cinema has opened a Chorley children’s hospice, to bring the joy of film to seriously ill children.
Children and young people who are confined to wheelchairs or hospital beds can enjoy a comfortable full cinema experience with their family and friends within the hospice.
On Thursday 29th August, the ribbon was cut and the cinema was declared open by Ben Batt, an actor from Wigan who appeared in Channel 4’s comedy drama, Shameless, and Marvel blockbuster, Captain America: The First Avenger.
The first to experience the cinema was Francesca, 15, and 14-year-old Amelie, who both enjoy a respite at Derian House.
Amelie’s father, Darren said: “Having a facility like this is going to make a family trip to the cinema something we can now do. Being in busy crowded places can cause Amelie to have a meltdown so going to the cinema isn’t something she would cope with. Knowing that this is in an environment where Amelie is happy will be a big benefit for us.”
The £75,000 cinema has been donated to the hospice by AV charity, Together for Cinema, brining cinema to children with life-limiting conditions.
The cinema, which is part of the hospice’s £1.2m “Fit for the Future” refurbishment, features a 120-in screen to give families a great viewing experience.
Stephen Nevison, director of Intuitive Homes, donated his time and expertise to lead this project, while his six-year-old daughter, Aria, raised £1,500 to buy little extras including beanbags, a popcorn machine, a light-up sign and film posters for the room by designing and selling compact mirrors.