Hadrian Healthcare

The final stages of work at April Cottage in Henshaw are moving nearer to completion, with exterior landscaping work progressing well.

Jessica Robson sadly lost her battle with Sarcoma Cancer at the age of 18 in 2014. Her dream was to raise enough money to build a respite lodge for other families with children with cancer to make lasting happy memories. Use of the lodge and its facilities are free of charge.

Jessica’s parents Julie and Trevor have dedicated their lives to creating a holiday home for children from across the country, and their families. They acquired a small bungalow with three acres of land in Henshaw, Northumberland and built a three-bedroomed holiday lodge, which is fully adapted for various disabilities.

They have invested their life savings into the project and are now finishing the exterior landscaping. With a grant of £25,000 from The Watson Family Charitable Trust, significant work has already been undertaken including:

• Flattening and seeding land
• New trees planted around the pond areas
• Completing a play park, storage shed and BBQ hut
• Installing a pergola with bar table over the hot tub to offer privacy for guests
• Constructing a small building on the patio to house laundry facilities
• Creating a wall, gates, and rockery at the entrance.

Ian Watson, who established the Trust, his son Craig and charity trustee Hugh Welch visited April Cottage to meet Julie to see how the grant is making a tangible difference to the project.

Julie Robson said: “We have put our heart and soul into this project, in Jess’s memory.

“The donation from the Family Trust is just amazing. The wonderful outside area is really coming together, and we were delighted to show it off to Ian, Craig and Hugh.”

Ian Watson said: “Julie and Trevor have put everything into creating this fantastic facility to help families during the most challenging times.

“Craig, Hugh and I were delighted to visit April Cottage once again. The progress that has been made since we last came is excellent and it is a real pleasure to see that families are able to enjoy special times and make lasting memories in this amazing place.

ENDS

NEWS RELEASE: ISSUED ON BEHALF OF THE WATSON FAMILY CHARITABLE TRUST

CONTACT: Caroline Walker on 01325 363436

Notes to editors:

The Watson Family Charitable Trust was officially registered with the Charity Commission in January 2015. It was established by North East businessman Ian Watson, chairman & founder of The Hadrian Healthcare Group.

The Trust is a family affair with Chairman Ian Watson, his wife Claire and their three sons and family friend and lawyer Hugh Welch, senior partner at Muckle LLP making up the trustee body.

Ian, a former corporate banker, is the owner and founder of the Hadrian Healthcare group of companies. Hadrian Healthcare Ltd is considered to be one of the country’s leading providers of elderly care, being a niche provider of quality care with exceptionally high-quality care homes throughout the North of England.

Ian has sold several generations of the Hadrian Group of Homes over the past 15 years, with the most recent sale in 2019 at a value in excess of £100 million – bringing the total value of Hadrian Homes sold to £230 million.