In our last communication, I said we’d be back to you in the new year, with an update on how we are getting on with the next stages of making Kids Village a reality, and I’m now really excited to FINALLY reveal to you some more details of our proposed Kids Village site in the Midlands, with views across Cannock Chase!
Planning permission now submitted
The very good news is that we submitted our planning permission in February and I can now reveal the planned location which sits centrally in the UK, allowing great access for many families across many parts of the country, from north to south and everywhere in between. With rolling views of Cannock Chase on the horizon, we aim for Kids Village to sit between the villages of Barton-Under-Needwood and Alrewas, within the hamlet of Wychnor Staffordshire, just 20 miles north of Birmingham and close to many useful connecting routes.
We thank all the experts, consultants and local residents who have supported us on our journey to planning submission … and we thank you, too, for your support so far, and for your belief in Kids Village for the future.
Unique UK facility to meet families’ needs
If the planning permission is approved, our Kids Village will have ten lodges each with four bedrooms as well as an important central facility that we are naming the Hive. The key thing is that the village would provide a safe countryside haven for families, surrounded by people who understand. Our aim, as you know, is to provide breaks filled with magic surprises, to create special memories: for the entire family and away from the trauma of hospitals.
We would be the first holiday village in the UK, focused exclusively on children with critical illnesses. And in these times when overseas travel is trickier, we know that Kids Village is now ever more needed in the UK.
Our next steps
We will let you know the outcome of our planning application in due course, but we did want to keep you posted and to share with you some of the exciting visual plans for Kids Village. We are sure you will be as buoyed by them as we are.
For now, we remain optimistic for a positive outcome, but, of course, recognise that the final decision now rests with the local authority and local politicians. In the meantime, we will continue on our mission to raise awareness of our project and to raise more and more funds, as we hope to prepare for the actual build phase of Kids Village, and as we make our steps closer and closer to welcoming families for the very first stays. We will of course keep you all posted on progress.
These are exciting times!
Soon we will be back in touch with information about our 2022 Big Ball of Courage and other events and challenges that might interest you.
Thanks again – sincerely – for your support in our journey so far and with very best wishes
Sam