Charity close to Princess Beatrice's heart announces plans to close
Princess Beatrice has received some sad news this week, with a charity of which she is patron announcing plans to close.
Grace's Place in Bury, a children's hospice, was due to open on Friday. Sadly, the charity was unable to raise enough funds to continue.
The organisation needed £1.2m (AUD $2,149,320.00) and only a small fraction has been raised.
Grace's Place was taken over by Huddersfield-based charity Forget Me Not in July 2017, and opened in January for three days a week and alternate Saturdays for daycare.
The charity announced its closure earlier this week on Twitter.
"It is with deep regret that we have to announce that we have begun a consultation with our staff on a proposal to cease offering services from our children's hospice facility at Grace's Place in Bury."
Princess Beatrice poses for photographs with children and families at the end of her visit. PA Images via Getty Images
Forget Me Not later released the following statement:
"Despite the tremendous goodwill and support Grace's Place has received from the local community, the costs of providing high-quality care are rising and exceed the funds we are able to raise.
"Combined with insufficient funding from the NHS, we have had a shortfall from depleting reserves - a position which is not sustainable long term," the message continued.
A charity of which Princess Beatrice is patron closes. WireImage
"We do not underestimate the distress that the proposed closure will cause to families and deeply regret causing them any uncertainty and upset. We are creating a transport fund to enable families on our current caseload to access care and support either at our hospice, Russell House in Huddersfield, or at other children's hospices in the Greater Manchester area."
The hospice supports more than 50 children and families with life-limiting conditions in West Yorkshire.
Princess Beatrice was announced as royal patron in July, 2013.
Princess Beatrice during her visit to the Forget Me Not Children Hospice in Huddersfield. PA Images via Getty Images
She attended the opening of the hospice's new building just a month before and was given the chance to meet the children and families that Forget Me Not work with.
"It is an incredible honour to be here today to see this dream become a reality," she said at the time.
"With all of your support I know this place can really be the pinnacle of child care, it's a huge honour to be here today."
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