Colchester Hospital new sensory room honours Background Bob

Dedham's Noah Jones, who was under the care of Colchester Hospital, had hydrocephalus, epilepsy, cerebral palsy.

Before he died he helped raise funds for the Colchester and Ipswich Hospitals charity.

The money was raised thanks to the artworks he started to paint on cardboard to pass the time during the Covid pandemic in May 2020.

Prior to his death in November 2023, Noah had helped raise £250,000 for the charity.

The money has been used to open The Background Bob Children’s Sensory Room and Garden on Friday.

Gone but not forgotten - Noah with one of his artworks (Image: Background Bob)

His father, Nathan Jones, said: “It’s such a big space, and to see it transformed like this is really emotional for us.

“It’s bright, welcoming and full of life, a place where children can play, make friends and just be themselves for a little while.

“When your child is in hospital, it’s such an overwhelming and emotional time, so having somewhere safe and calm to step away from the ward and the hospital bed means everything.

“It gives families a moment to breathe, and that’s so important.”

The Background Bob Children’s Sensory Room and Garden - the ribbon being cut (Image: East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust)

The Background Bob Children’s Sensory Room and Garden - One of the apparatus at the facility (Image: East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust)

The newly opened space has been carefully designed to support children’s wellbeing during their time in hospital.

The sensory room offers an indoor retreat, while the garden provides an interactive outdoor area where children can relax, play and engage their senses away from the hospital setting.

Chief nurse, Catherine Morgan, said: “Noah’s story has touched so many people across our hospitals and the wider community.

“It is incredibly special to see this project come to life and to officially open a space that will bring comfort, calm and moments of joy to so many children and families.

“This is a truly lasting legacy.”

The Background Bob Children’s Sensory Room and Garden - Noah’s parents, Nathan and Laura (Image: East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust)

The Background Bob Children’s Sensory Room and Garden - A young child and dad try out the sensory room (Image: East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust)

The Background Bob Children’s Sensory Room and Garden - Buns with Background Bob’s image on them (Image: East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust)

After Noah started painting, Nathan appealed on social media for artists to finish Noah’s pictures, which sparked a worldwide reaction. 

It resulted in 240 unique images co-created by Noah being exhibited at Firstsite in 2020, followed by more than 700 artists coming forward for the returning exhibition in 2021.

This was followed by three exhibitions at Colchester's Firstsite gallery, with celebrities such as Ed Sheeran, Joy Lycett and Grayson Perry becoming involved.