A drive to build a new children's hospice has been given a £500,000 boost.
East Anglia's Children's Hospices (EACH) has been given the funds by Norfolk County Council to help the charity reach its goal of £10m.
The nook appeal, launched in November 2014 and since supported by hundreds of individuals, businesses and community organisations, now stands at £7,808,203.
Councillor Cliff Jordan, leader of the council, visited the site of the new nook hospice today to see what progress has been made since work got underway in November last year.
Mr Jordan said: 'I said I would care for the county and that's why I thought we should invest in this valuable hospice, which supports the most vulnerable children. I look forward to visiting it when it is completed.'
The council's policy and resources committee's proposal to allocate the funds was rubber-stamped at a meeting last week.
The nook is being built on a five-acre site in Framingham Earl, with R G Carter leading construction.
It will be spread across a single floor, have more areas for clinical care than EACH's current hospice in Quidenham, a hydrotherapy pool, a state-of-the-art sensory room, larger and better equipped en-suite bedrooms, dedicated therapy rooms and much more.
The improved facilities will mean EACH can help even more families than it currently does.
Tracy Rennie, EACH director of care, said: 'We welcome Norfolk County Council's allocation of £500,000 towards the nook appeal, enabling EACH to develop children's hospice care services in Norfolk, including a new purpose-built hospice consistent with other counties across the UK.
'This level of giving and commitment from the council recognises the high volume of specialist care and support we currently provide as a voluntary-funded organisation to hundreds of children, young people and family members across Norfolk, and will help secure even better care to thousands more children and families for many years to come.'
Simon Hempsall, head of marketing and communications for EACH, is asking for support from the public to help raise the remaining money to have the nook operational by summer 2019.
To find out more visit www.each.org.uk/the-nook, call 01953 666767 or email norfolk@each.org.uk
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