Hospice raises over £1million in first two months of appeal

Prospect Hospice has been overwhelmed by the support local people have shown it over the last few months while it continues to look after some of the most vulnerable members of our community.

Prospect Hospice launched its ‘help us to support you appeal’ on 12 May following the Covid-19 outbreak and the beginning of a nationwide lockdown. In her open letter to supporters chief executive Irene Watkins said: “The hospice you know and love is still supporting your community, but to respond to the current needs for Covid-19 we have had to dramatically change and increase the size and scope of our services. This means we are supporting people in their homes on a scale of operation we have never attempted before, at a time when income is all but drying up now that all community activities and events have been cancelled/postponed and all our shops closed.”

The hospice changed the way it worked almost overnight to ensure their patients got what they needed. Which meant taking more of its specialist care out into the community, following this change in service operation and seeing a sharp decline in donations at the same time, meant the charity identified there would be a gap of £2million in their funds this year due to the pandemic.

Just over two months later, the local charity is delighted to announce that it has already raised £1,019,000 towards the £2million predicted shortfall following appeals to local people, applications to receive emergency government funding and applications to trusts and foundations for additional support.

Sheryl Crouch, head of income at Prospect Hospice, said: “We couldn’t have predicted the response we’ve had from our supporters and to know that we’ve raised over half of the funds we so desperately need in the space of just ten weeks is incredible. We know that the hospice has had a great impact on many local people and it’s heart-warming that they’re supporting us at this time so that we can be there for others who need us now and in the future. Support from local authorities and money from national government recognising the importance of hospice care has also been gratefully received.

“We’re not out of the woods yet though. £1million is brilliant but we need to raise the same again in additional income over the next few months to ensure our services continue and adapt to what our patients need in these changing and testing times.

“With our shops re-opening teamed with the thousands of donations of pre-loved goods we’ve received, this is certainly positive news for the hospice but our events remain postponed/cancelled for 2020 so we really need the support of local people to help us raise these funds in any way they can.”

People are choosing to support the hospice in a number of ways including joining the hospice’s own lottery, buying from their shops, creating their own sponsored activity, holding online fundraising events with their friends and family and choosing to leave the hospice a gift in their will.

Those wishing to donate directly to the hospice can do so at click here.