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Hospice Warning over Bogus Collectors

 

August 3, 2010

Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice is urging city residents to be on their guard against suspected bogus collectors claiming to be raising funds on behalf of the charity. 

The warning follows reports from Solihull Police of a boy aged between 13 and 14 years old knocking on doors in the Oxhill Road area of Solihull and asking for sponsorship money for a fundraising walk.  

The alarm was raised after the youngster, who was carrying what appeared to be a made-up sponsorship form, walked off when he was challenged by a resident.  

According to police, the boy was unable to answer basic questions about the Hospice, which provides vital palliative care to people with life-limiting illnesses across Birmingham and Sandwell. 

Birmingham St Mary’s Head of Fundraising Caroline Taylor was almost certain the teenager was not an authorised collector. 

“As far as we are aware we have not authorised anyone in the Solihull area to collect on our behalf in this way. For sponsored events we issue official forms to participants and we don’t encourage anybody to go knocking on doors, rather they should ask family and friends to support them in their efforts on behalf of the Hospice,” she said. 

Since its launch in 1979, Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice has cared for tens of thousands of people with life-limiting illnesses, such as cancer, motor neurone disease and MS.  

With around 52 percent of the Hospice’s budget reliant on public goodwill, community fundraising is crucial to ensuring its highly specialised services can continue to be offered to the people of Birmingham and Sandwell. 

In addition to a 25-bed Inpatient Unit, Birmingham St Mary’s boasts a 20-place Day Hospice and provides community care to people who wish to stay in their own homes.  

The Hospice also supports relatives with bereavement preparation, physiotherapy tuition and counselling in addition to many other services.  

Annual running costs stand at £6.3 million, with around £1 million being raised in the Hospice’s shops and £2.7 million via community fundraising events. The remainder comes from the NHS. 

Birmingham St Mary’s nurses, often referred to by patients and relatives as ‘angels’, are renowned for going that extra mile to ensure people with terminal illnesses enjoy the best possible quality of life.