CHILDREN at a hospice near Oswestry have received a donation of technology to help them do things they previously could only dream of.

Hope House in Morda has received package of equipment from the Lifelites children’s charity, which allows them to play games with their friends, be creative with art and music, control gadgets for themselves and communicate with their family, perhaps for the very first time.

It can also help them create and record precious memories which will be treasured by their loved ones forever.

A Lifelites package, which includes training and technical support services, costs around £50,000 over its four year lifespan, and is donated completely free of charge, with the charity replacing the technology every four years.

The young people at Hope House are one of the first hospices in the country to receive a donation of Virtual Reality (VR) technology from Lifelites.

This technology can, via a special headset, immerse them in make believe worlds, or to take them to the other side of the planet, all from the comfort of the hospice.

They can fly in space, go on safari, sit under the Northern Lights or even climb Mount Everest.

Another of the piece of equipment donated was a Magic Carpet. This is a portable box which projects an image on to the floor, a wheelchair or a bed, which children can interact with. This technology gives them the chance to escape the confines of their condition and play one of the many games or animations, such as football or splashing in the sea.

Hope House chief executive Andy Goldsmith said the true value of the gift to children and young people was priceless because it enabled them to take control of their everyday environment and enjoy doing things, such as foreign travel, that they may otherwise only be able to dream of.

Simone Enefer-Doy, chief executive of Lifelites, said: “We are delighted to be able to provide this magical technology. We couldn’t have provided this package if it wasn’t for the generosity of our donors, so for this we are incredibly grateful.

“On this occasion we would particularly like to thank the Provincial Grand Lodge of Shropshire, the Lady Forester Trust, the Millichope Foundation, GamesAid and Children with Cancer UK.”

Shropshire Provincial Grand Master Roger Pemberton said he was delighted to be invited to Hope House for the handover.

“We have had a long association with Hope House and are determined to continue to support its hugely important work in providing amazingly devoted care and help to children suffering life-limiting and disabling illnesses. The equipment we saw demonstrated will clearly be of great benefit to the hospice in its work and Shropshire Freemasons are pleased to have been able to contribute funds to help with its provision,” he added.