GLASGOW'S schoolchildren have taken the campaign to build a brand new hospice in the south side of the city to their heart.

After setting a target of raising £60,000 to fund a young person's bedroom in the new build planned at Bellahouston Park for the Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice, they have smashed through it and collected more than £70,000 – and still counting.

It is an amazing effort over the past 18 months from children as young as nursery age to primary and secondary school pupils to support the Brick by Brick Appeal, backed by the Evening Times.

They have now set themselves a new target of £100,000, which will also fund a den and meeting space for youngsters in the new hospice.

Loretta Scott, former quality improvement officer with a responsibility for pastoral care in Glasgow's schools before she retired, has worked with the hospice on staff training for teachers to help support children who have suffered from loss and bereavement.

She says after children found out about the hospice appeal, they pledged to give it their support.

A onesie day at Hillhead Secondary School in the West End got the ball rolling, followed the next year by a Fantastic Fundraising Friday that spread to schools across the city.

"The biggest hook in for schools is the fact that the new hospice will help to support young people aged 15 and over, this was a recognised gap in provision," says Loretta.

"So young people in Glasgow are helping other young people in Glasgow who may need the support of the hospice.

"The one thing young people know is what other young people want. Up until now, they may have found themselves in a children's hospice or an adult hospice. That will change when the new building opens in Bellahouston Park."

Loretta, whose late husband George was cared for at home by the hospice's community nurses specialists, says children responded so compassionately to the appeal because many had experience of a relative they had lost, or who had been given care in a hospice.

She adds: "We're helping children build a resilience because the one certainty is they will meet loss and bereavement. We go in partly to educate and to build on the knowledge that children already have and it helps them develop a greater understanding.

"We're not that good about talking about death, it is important for them to recognise that there is a peaceful way.

"I like to say palliative care is a gift that keeps on giving because it provides peaceful and tranquil end-of-life care but those are the memories you leave the families that are left behind.

"Until it happens nobody ever understands how important that is. I think that's why loss can be traumatic.

"When you are able to prepare for it you can do it in such a way that people can look back and realise just how important palliative care is. To be part of that is wonderful for children and young people."

Some of the fundraising included £2000 collected by pupils at St Ninian's Primary School in Knightswood after a series of events, from a danceathon to face painting, nail bars and henna hand decorating workshops.

St Francis of Assisi Primary School in Baillieston raised just over £200 by wearing onesies to school for the day.

Meanwhile, a Fantastic Fundraising Friday in schools and nurseries across the city raised nearly £15,000.

"Loads of schools have taken us up as their charity, whether it's cake sales or more quirky ideas such as bringing in their old toys and other families buying them for younger kids, they have been amazing," says Debbi Limond, fundraiser at the Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice.

"A lot of the head teachers have taken on board what we've said and put their own stamp on it. It has certainly been a lot more fun than hard work.

"Often when we visit a school someone will speak about their loss. I found it amazing when I started going out to schools just how much they understood. I was nervous at first. I thought, 'How do you explain these things to young kids?' They are incredible."

The brand new, purpose-built hospice in Bellahouston Park will bring 21st century care to the people of Glasgow who will benefit from support at the most difficult times of their lives. It will be able to offer the privacy, choice and compassionate care that all with a life-limiting illness should have.

Visit www.ppwh.org.uk.