Football boss Harry Redknapp held his hands up to help Julia's House mark Children's Hospice Week with a special poster.

Callum Nardone, eight, and Harry, Julia's House patron, placed their handprints on a poster which will become part of a national exhibition.

The Help is at Hand campaign has been co-ordinated by the Association of Children's Hospices and the manager of Portsmouth Football Club was delighted to help the youngster take part - along with his brother Guarin, six.

"It's important to raise awareness about the work of children's hospices," he said. "Julia's House is currently looking after local children and helping to make the families' lives a lot easier.

"There are a lot of families out there that are still unaware of the life-changing respite service that is freely available to them from Julia's House.

"It's essential that we get the 'Help is at hand' message out there to inform all the families that could benefit," he added.

Callum's mum, Asher, is one who is grateful for the knowledgeable respite care available to her for Callum, who has cerebral palsy and epilepsy and is visually impaired due to a flu virus she contracted during her pregnancy.

"I can't have a normal babysitter coming in who is going to be freaked out by Callum," she said.

"I have a couple of hours of respite care a week at the moment which allows us to go out and do things with Guarin."

Dorset's Julia's House is one of 35 children's hospice services in the country.

It currently cares for children in their own homes and in 2005 will open its own respite centre in Corfe Mullen.

First published: September 24