CHILDREN at Acorns Children's Hospice have benefited from 'magical' specialist technology which allows them to interact and communicate.

Lifelites, a children’s technology charity, has spread its magic by delivering a brand new package of specialist technology for the children at the hospice on Bath Road for the third time.

At the on-site training day, the care team were amazed by the cutting edge equipment that will enable the young people to play, to be creative, control something for themselves and communicate.

The technology is specially designed with children with disabilities in mind and the package includes a number of items such as touchscreen PCs, assistive mice, and games.

Susan Hayward, head of care at Acorns for the Three Counties, said: “The equipment provided by Lifelites gives children who come for short stays at the hospice an important chance to interact with and communicate through technology.

"The capability of the kit is second to none and we’re very grateful to Lifelites and all those who have donated to them for making this possible."

Support for the package at Acorns for the Three Counties came from Freemasons’ Lodges in Worcestershire, GamesAid, Khoo Teck Puat UK Foundation and Microsoft.

The hospices do not pay anything towards their Lifelites project and all of Lifelites’ work is funded by donations - the equipment, ongoing technical support and training at each hospice costing Lifelites around £50,000 over four years.

Simone Enefer-Doy, chief executive of Lifelites, said: “We’re so pleased to turn our technological expertise to providing these children with new opportunities.

"The magical Lifelites package will be used for play, but it will also help them to communicate and join in with the world around them.

"What’s really important is that we’re giving the children a chance to laugh and smile and there’s nothing more powerful than that.”

There is a Lifelites project in every baby and children’s hospices across Britain.