People are being given the chance to take a virtual tour of a new £710,000 centre which will bring essential help closer to home for patients with life-limiting illnesses and their families.

Eastern Daily Press: An artist's impression of how the new Information and Support Centre will look. Picture: LSI Architects.An artist's impression of how the new Information and Support Centre will look. Picture: LSI Architects. (Image: Archant)

Work on Halesworth's information and support centre (ISC), which will be built by Halesworth Community Nursing Care Fund (HCNCF), is due to begin later this year.

Now people are being given the chance to have a sneak preview of the building before construction has begun by watching a short film put together by LSI Architects.

The film begins in the car park before moving into a light atrium area, complete with comfortable seating and large glass doors leading onto the landscaped garden. Individual rooms where people can receive counselling, bereavement support, complementary therapies or help understanding a diagnosis are available on either side of the main space.

Once building work is complete next year, the ISC will be open to anyone with cancer and other life-limiting illnesses who live within a 15-mile radius of Halesworth.

Ted Edwards, ISC chairman, said: 'This fantastic short video has been put together by our architects to give people a glimpse inside the building so that they can get a better idea of how it will look once work is complete. It will also show everyone who fundraised so generously for us exactly how their money will be spent.

'We are delighted that we will soon be in a position to begin building work, and look forward to watching the centre develop over the coming year for the benefit of local people.'

Louise Knights, of LSI Architects, said: 'We feel very fortunate to be involved in such an important project for the local community. The support which HCNCF currently provide will be able to reach further with the new centre.'

Although HCNCF has met its £710,000 target to fund the construction, the charity is continuing to fundraise towards the £140,000 annual running costs of the ISC, which will be built on land next to Cutlers Hill Surgery in Halesworth.

Anyone who would like to find out more about how they can help should visit www.halesworthhealth.org/information-and-support-centre

The film is available at http://www.halesworthhealth.org/information-and-support-centre/isc-building-plans/