A YORK hospice has received a helping hand from a builders merchant in the city to continue creating a “home from home” for its younger visitors.

St Leonard’s Hospice has been donated dozens of toys from staff and customers at Selco Builders Warehouse in York, which has recently celebrated its first anniversary.

The hospice, based on Tadcaster Road, provides specialist palliative care and support for local residents with life-limiting illnesses.

Many of the hospice’s visitors are children coming to see their relatives, and the toys will be situated in family-friendly areas of the hospice

Annie Keogh, corporate and community fundraiser at St Leonard’s, said: “While we are an adult hospice and care for patients over the age of 18, we have a lot of families and children visiting relatives in the hospice.

“Books and toys are situated in the family and children’s rooms and it helps bring some normality to their visit.

“We are extremely grateful for the Selco donation. The toys will be used to help us continue to create a home from home for youngsters visiting the hospice and will also be used in children’s bereavement sessions.”

Selco York, based on Osbaldwick Link Road, has been a supplier of building materials and products for trade professionals in the city over the last 12 months.

To mark its anniversary, Selco held a day of celebration for customers which included collecting donations of toys to give to a local charity.

Ainsley Murray, from Selco York, said: “We have had close links to St Leonard’s since we opened a year ago and they were one of three local charities we gifted £1,000 to mark our opening.

“It’s fantastic that we are able to continue that support. While the primary purpose of the hospice is to provide specialist support to those with life-limiting illnesses, the support network around it is also a crucial aspect.

“Hopefully, the toys we have donated will provide some comfort to those visiting loved ones going through a tough period.”