Paultons Park raises £70,000 for hospital sensory retreat

PAULTONS Park raised more than £70,000 to help equip a specialist sensory retreat for seriously ill youngsters at Southampton Children’s Hospital.

The funding has come partway through the Ower-based theme park’s three-year partnership launched in 2019 with the hospital’s charity.

Although the pandemic forced Paultons to close earlier in 2020, it reopened in July and invited guests purchasing tickets online to make a voluntary donation.

A Paultons Park spokesperson said: “Such generosity proves that even during the hardest of times, guests remain keen to make a difference to those who need it most.”

Restrictions on capacity meant season ticket holders had to pay a booking fee which also went to the charity.

Jeneen Thomsen, joint interim director and head of major gifts at Southampton Hospitals Charity, said: “We are so thrilled that Paultons Park and their fantastic guests have continued to be so generous in light of an extremely difficult year.”

Sara Mancey, HR director at Paultons Park, added: “As a family business we were pleased to welcome guests to the park after a significant period of closure.

“We continue to be amazed by guests and staff who support the hospital so generously and are so delighted to have already reached our original fundraising target.”

Planning of the hospital retreat, which will involve the transformation of an old playroom, is already under way and it is hoped building will start this year.

To donate visit www.justgiving.com/team/paultonspark