Chair's round up! July 2008
Collections/deliveries
We are in full swing collecting on the streets of Hexham and Corbridge, and delivering our new colour postcards as far as possible throughout the area we cover. The postcards include standing order details for monthly giving which are being returned.
If anyone wants to get fit and help the hospice at the same time, there are a few bundles of leaflets in the office labelled for the streets where they need delivering.
Its too early to say how much money we will have raised throughout July, but we certainly have attracted a lot of interest from residents, and some potential new volunteers as well. So thank you to everyone for this splendid effort.
Funding issues
Christine, Miles Joyce and I went to see Peter Atkinson, MP on 4 July, to enlist his help in trying to obtain a more realistic level of funding from the Northumbria Health Care Trust. He was most interested in our service, which he has often supported, and promised to write on our behalf to the Trust, to encourage them to look at our request.
We have now heard that we are on the Agenda for the Trust meeting at the end of July, so we are keeping our fingers crossed.
Meanwhile, on 16 July the government published its ‘End of Life Care Strategy’ and promised to create ‘rapid response teams’ to assist people stay in their own homes. We have taken the opportunity to write to the Health Minister and opposition spokespersons to tell them that in Tynedale there already is a ‘rapid response team’ in place, providing a much valued service, which is in need of a stable funding base.
Legacy
We are to receive a legacy in August, for which we are most grateful. There is a leaflet on Legacies, called ‘A Will to Care’ which is available in the office or as a download from the web site, and we are planning to promote this further with local solicitors. We know that many people would like to leave money to a local charity in their will, and this leaflet is to help them do that.
Wildlife film show
Ann Thicknes, one of our nursing staff has organised a film show of Northumbrian wildlife on Friday 25th July, at the Queens Hall in Hexham, 6.30pm. Tickets are £5, and there are some fantastic raffle prizes and we will a holding a cakes and book stall in the foyer. One of our £5 entry tickets is a lucky ticket which will be drawn on the night and we will also be selling raffle tickets on the night and have some great prizes. Tickets are available from the Hospice office.
A big thank you
Alison Ross one of our volunteers, recently completed a sponsored swim to raise funds for the Hospice. A huge achievement for an extremely busy lady and she has raised over £2000 including gift aid. Well done Alison.
United Reform Church Flower Festival
The URC in Hexham is holding a flower festival during the weekend of 25-27 July and is donating half the profit to us. This follows a talk from Liz to the Church about our work.
If anyone knows of other organisation which would appreciate a talk, then please let Liz know.
Management Committee meeting
We met on 1 July to discuss funding issues, and decided then that the date of our AGM will be on 9th September at 7 pm in the Hospice office. All are welcome to attend.
Care in July
The level of care is remaining steady in July with 8 new patients to date being assisted.
And finally...
On 25th July 2008 Christine will have completed 10 years with us! I am sure everyone who has worked with Christine, and everyone who has used the Service, will want to say a big thank you to Christine for how well she has managed the service. Nothing has been too much trouble, and she always has a smile and a sympathetic word.
Well done, and here’s to the next 10 years!
Thank you for reading this, I hope you have found it useful.
Jane Hastings