Network Rail and Balfour Beatty build new wheelchair ramp at Demelza Kent
29th June 2021
During Children’s Hospice Week Network Rail and Balfour Beatty unveiled the new wheelchair ramp at Demelza Kent, giving children who use wheelchairs direct access to our beautiful gardens. Network Rail and its suppliers also gave a generous donation of £3,500. Network Rail and Beatty Balfour were keen to give something back to our Kent hospice following the major construction project in Bobbing to get to grips with a landslip on the line to London.
Tim Richardson, Demelza’s Operation Manager said: “It’s fantastic that we’ve now got a ramp for those children who are wheelchair-users to directly access the gardens. This is something we’ve wanted to do for a couple of years and it’s not something we’ve been able to put the pennies towards in recent times. To get this opportunity has been absolutely fantastic for us.”
Fiona Taylor, Network Rail’s route director for Kent, said: “I’m so grateful for Demelza’s understanding and support of our teams this winter. We had to do a great deal of work at very short notice, with colleagues and machinery all descending on Bobbing, and it meant a lot to have the backing of the hospice. It means even more to be able to help them back.”
Chris Ottley, from Balfour Beatty, said: “This is brilliant opportunity for us and we’re really pleased to be involved in the communities near where we work. Lots of the people who work for us are local to Kent and this charity has a place in many of their hearts. The company has a volunteering policy so it’s easy for us to do and we were delighted that some of our supply chain, such as Seva rail contributed as well.”
To find out more about corporate volunteering opportunities please get in touch with our corporate partnership team.
Other news
30th August 2025
Find out more
Our bereavement support: no grief is the same
When dealing with bereavement, families need a supportive environment where they can share their experiences and emotions without fear of judgment. People grieve in different ways, informed by their culture, community and personalities, and we tailor our care to meet families where they are.
28th August 2025
Find out more
Demelza joins campaign calling on PM to secure children’s hospice funding
Demelza has joined a campaign calling on the Prime Minister to secure sustainable funding for the children’s hospice sector so children with serious or life-limiting conditions are guaranteed palliative and end of life care when they need it.
26th August 2025
Find out more
Therapy dogs: providing extra-pawdinary support
At Demelza, we are lucky to have therapy dogs who regularly visit our hospice to see the children and families we support. Waggy tails, puppy cuddles and endless games of fetch means they never fail to brighten our day! But what actually is a therapy dog?