Poole BID (Business Improvement District) has chosen Julia’s House children’s hospice as its new charity of the year.

Jacqui Rock, Poole BID Lead, said: “We are committed to supporting the local community and making a positive impact.

“Our Board of Directors felt that partnering with Julia’s House allows us to contribute to their important work and help make a difference in the lives of children and families facing incredibly tough challenges.

“Spreading the word and raising awareness about Julia’s House and the incredible work they do can make a real difference in the lives of these deserving children and families in our community to help make every moment count.”

The partnership will help create opportunities to fundraise including initiatives organised by Poole BID.

The BID will support the effort in making donations or volunteering time to support Julia’s House.

Laura Maidment, Julia’s House Public Fundraising Manager, said: “We’re delighted to have been chosen as Poole BID’s charity of the year in 2024.

“It comes at a time when raising awareness and funding for our life-changing care in the local community couldn’t be more vital, with an increasing need for our specialist support alongside rising costs.

“The support of Poole BID is hugely appreciated in helping us ensure we can care for seriously ill children and their families, not just today but in the future too.

“Thank you to the whole Poole BID team and everyone from the local community who steps forward to help and support Julia’s House this year.”

For any Poole BID levy paying charity who wishes to apply to become their charity of the year in 2025, the process begins this December when the team send out applications to the relevant businesses across their district.

The successful candidate is then chosen by the Poole BID Directors in time to begin their tenure the following April.

Julia’s House will be Poole BID’s charity of the year until March 2025.

Any charity that qualifies and who hasn’t been part of the process to date should email [email protected] in order to be included next time.