Give your backing to our hospice campaign
WE are asking Journal readers to join our new campaign for Grantham Hospice - to raise £40,000 for a refurbishment and brand new extension.
The Journal and Grantham Hospice Brick-in-the-Wall Appeal was launched as part of a £1.3 million project to totally transform the building.
Tina Dingley, senior community fundraiser at the hospice, hopes Journal readers can help raise the £40,000 in nine months.
She said: “Currently the building is not fit for purpose. It’s going to be totally different from what it is now but it will retain the charm and warmth of the hospice.
“This place means such a lot to people, it’s so good to retain the building and the fantastic place.”
Once the new extension is complete the hospice will be able to provide an extended day care facility, designated therapy rooms, an outpatient service and house the Hospice at Home team as well as fundraising and a small administration support team. They are also hopeful of extending the Hospice at Home service to seven days a week.
Tina added: “The quality of our work will remain as will the top notch home from home atmosphere.”
Planning permission for the extension has already been approved and it is hoped the work will start in the late summer. The building is set to be re-opened in April next year.
While the work is going on some of the hospice workers are going to be based at Springfield House in Grantham. Transport will be provided for day hospice users to be cared for at Sleaford Hospice, which has been recently refurbished. And the Hospice at Home care will continue as normal.
Tina said: “Carers will be going out to people at home, they will be having the same quality of care, which gives respite to the people caring for them.”
The hospice, which cares for people with terminal illnesses from the age of 18 upwards, provides its services for free. They also offer counselling and bereavement services and welfare benefit advice.
Tina said: “We are continuing to have bereavement groups, which include any bereaved person over the age of 18. The counselling hasn’t stopped it’s just in a different form. The level of care we give is a high level of care.”
GIFTS Hospice in Grantham joined with St Barnabas Lincolnshire recently to form the Grantham Hospice. Even though this means the hospice is now linked to Sleaford Hospice all of the money raised in the town will be going directly to the Grantham Hospice.
Tina said: “Services have been expanded and improved. There is more training for the nurses and the volunteers.”
The hospice celebrated it’s 20th birthday on Tuesday, with a service at St John the Evanglist Church in Manthorpe followed by a garden party at the hospice.
Following refreshments, there was a balloon launch, which gave everybody the opportunity to send a message to a loved one.
The co-founder and chairman of the hospice, Noel Baumber, hopes that the new building will bring something extra to the community. He said: “The plans are very nice and I’m looking forward to the new project. It’s going to take a little bit of the garden but it’s going to change the whole hospice. The new building’s going to be a tremendous resource for the future.”
There are loads of ways you can help raise money for the hospice revamp.
Why not arrange your own fundraising event and donate the money? If you’re planning an event let us know, so we can publicise it and take photos.
The money raised can be handed in at the Grantham Hospice, on Barrowby Road, or cheques can be given in at the Journal offices on the High Street. Please make cheques payable to St Barnabas Hospice.
If organising an event isn’t your thing you can take part in any of the fantastic events arranged by the hospice.
• Bangers and Cash - Turn your summer party into a hospice fundraiser.
• Hospice to Hospice cycle ride on September 5.
• Lipstick and Champagne on September 18.
• Walk of Life on October 3. Sponsored challenging Grantham walk.
• Celebratory Ball at Belton Woods Hotel on October 15.
• Quiz at The King’s School on November 12.
• Santa Saunter on December 5.
• Ladies Luncheon in March next year.
More events will be added over the nine months so watch this space.
To find out more about any of these events call the fundraising team at the hospice on 01476 59100.
• If you want to get involved in the fundraising effort e-mail suzanne.pike@granthamjournal.co.uk
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Thursday 09 February 2012
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