Julia's House aims to expand respite care county-wide

The hospice now aims to bring community-based respite care to families with life-limited children within two years

A children's charity has set a target to roll out respite care to families across Wiltshire within two years.

Julia's House's hospice service builds on its pilot that has been running in south Wiltshire for the past two years.

Fundraising manager Ian Wadley said the frequent respite care would remove logistical problems families face.

Julia's House has also been fundraising for its £3m hospice in Devizes, with help from the likes of Robert Downey Jr and Guy Ritchie and David Beckham.

'Large chunk'

Mr Wadley said: "The plan now is to expand that care in the whole of the county, so it will be the countywide frequent respite for children and their families.

"By the time the hospice opens in 2017 it's for that community service to be countywide."

The charity also recently bought two disused council buildings where its new hospice will be based in Devizes.

It hopes to secure planning consent over the coming months.

Mr Wadley added: "Even when the hospice opens, a large chunk of our care and support for these families will be in the community and in their own homes.

"That is what the families need and what takes away all the logistical problems for them."

The charity already offers community-based respite care for families in Dorset and also has a hospice in Poole, Dorset.