A new start for Zoe’s Place Liverpool baby hospice

Following the incredible support from the people and organisations of Liverpool, Zoe’s Place Liverpool baby hospice today (1 May 2025) transfers from being part of Zoe’s Place Trust to the new independent charity, Liverpool Zoe’s Place.

Liverpool Zoe’s Place has as its patron, Ian Byrne MP, and has six trustees, who bring clinical, charity and business expertise to the charity. With the support of the people, charities and businesses in Liverpool and around the country, Liverpool Zoe’s Place has finalised plans to build the hospice’s new home at Hayman’s Green in West Derby, Liverpool.

Zoe’s Place Trust will continue to run baby hospices in Coventry and Middlesbrough. Its Executive Trustee, Joan Stainsby, said:

“Our former Chairman, Professor Jack Scarisbrick, came up with the idea of a hospice for babies in Liverpool thirty years ago. There were few options in those days and Jack was determined to change that. With the support of the people of Liverpool, Zoe’s Place was born.

“Thirty years later, there was once again a risk that babies in Liverpool would be without specialist care. Thankfully, once again, the people of Liverpool stepped forward, raising the money needed to secure the hospice’s future.

“We know, therefore, that the children and families we have supported, and our local staff team, will be in good hands.”

Quote from Ian Byrne:

“We have come so far from the threat of Zoe’s Place closing in October to where we are now. This is the start of an exciting future for the hospice under the stewardship of Liverpool Zoe’s Place. I have no doubt that we will create a centre of excellence to support the most vulnerable children in our city. This is a great day and I am so proud of the people in our wonderful and generous city.”

Quote from Karen Livesey, Chair of Liverpool Zoe’s Place

“I am thrilled that Liverpool Zoe’s Place has taken on ownership of this wonderful children’s hospice in Liverpool. We are working closely with the staff and plan a family day later in the month to mark the transition. We could not have done any of this without the support and generosity of the people of Liverpool. The next step is to put a spade in the ground for the state-of-the-art new centre.”

Notes for the editor:

· Zoe’s Place Baby Hospice opened in Liverpool in February 1995 and was the first hospice that Zoe’s Place Trust, a charity, opened.

· Liverpool Zoe’s Place was established as a Charitably Incorporated Organisation on 11 December 2024.

· The trustees of Zoe’s Place Trust took the decision to transfer ownership of the Liverpool baby hospice to those behind the successful campaign to fund a new home for the hospice in autumn 2024.

Joan Stainsby, Executive Trustee Zoe’s Place Trust

Karen Livesey (Chair of Trustees) Liverpool Zoes Place