A NEW hospice dedicated to providing respite and end-of -life care for young adults hopes to plug the gap in provision in the region.

The Life Now charity, formed by former Blackburn church leader, the Rev George Thomas, is looking at sites in East Lancashire to provide day and longer term care for people aged between 18 and 35 who have life-limiting illnesses.

Currently, over 25s in East Lancashire must go to adult centres.

However, the Rev Thomas and trustees behind the project, believe a centre that works alongside the other hospices would be more appropriate to their age.

They aim to raise £9 million for the centre which will feature specialist rooms for music and activities and several bedrooms, close to a town centre to allow residents to carry on with their day-to-day living.

The Government provides 24 per cent of funding for children’s hospices, but that figure is currently being reviewed and the amount per patient is expected to be increased in 2015.

The status of funding for young adult centres is unclear and subject to variation between centres.

The Rev Thomas, who lives in Walton-le-Dale, hopes that the centre will open its doors by 2018.

He came up with the idea after visiting a similar site in Oxfordshire. He said: “When the hospice organisers told me that it was the only one of its kind in the country that really stuck with me. What the children’s and adult hospices already do in the area is wonderful, but because of their good work and medical advances children with life-limiting illnesses are living longer.

“The problem is that once people reach their mid-20s they must use adult centres which aren’t always appropriate because many of the people are older.”

Jay Lynchehaun, 27, who founded the In Between Ears charity after being diagnosed with a terminal brain tumour, said: “It sounds fantastic. There aren’t many places like this so I think it would be really beneficial. One of our group is in a hospice and having to hang around with old people which isn’t ideal.”

Stephen Greenhalgh, Chief Executive of St Catherine’s Hospice, near Chorley, said: "St Catherine's wants to see all people in the North West facing serious illness have the specialised care that they need.  Our own provision is for those aged 18 and over living in Central Lancashire.  There are currently 30 hospices in the NW that provide a tremendous service to children and adults of all ages at a time when they need it most. 

"We know that the founders of this new charity Life NoW believe that the needs of some young people experiencing serious illness are not being met appropriately, so they have been trying to draw together sound research evidence to determine the best way to meet those needs.  We look forward to seeing the results of this research."

For more info or to donate http://lifenow.org.uk/donate