A children's charity has discovered an innovative way to use architectural 3D building modelling technology, an essential tool of the property industry, on the internet to improve its services.

CHASE hospice care for children is launching a 'Virtual Tour' of its children's hospice at: www.chasetour.org.uk on September 21 to coincide with Children's Hospice Week 2009. This allows people to zoom in and out of a 3D model of the hospice to watch videos and discover facts about the activities that take place in each of the rooms.

CHASE supports children with serious life-threatening of life-limiting conditions and their families throughout south west London, Surrey and Sussex. The tour was created because families often find it difficult to take the first step towards contacting or visiting CHASE, due to the daunting misconception that children's hospices are frightening places that primarily exist to provide end-of-life care.

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Juilette Gillard, the charity's Head of Marketing, said: "Many people think of a children's hospice as a sad place, but it's not like that at all. We support many families for a number of years, and throughout this time the focus is on enjoying every day and creating the very best memories for the future.

"The aim of the tour is to let families explore our children's hospice from the security of their own home, so they can discover that it's really a friendly, homely place where they can benefit from a well-earned rest and enjoy some quality time."

The Virtual Tour has been created by Handshake Productions, who strive to raise awareness of charities and not-for-profit organisations through the production of award-winning digital media. Each of the 17 rooms includes a short video and the tour is introduced by celebrity actress Keeley Hawes from Spooks and Ashes to Ashes, who also provided voice-overs. The videos were filmed and edited with generous support from a local company called Kipper Tie, which specialises in producing tailor-made creative media in video, in print and online.

(KMcA/GK)