Hospice Benefits From New Community Fund
February 28, 2011
Thanks to a popular vote, Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice has been awarded £1,000 in a special charity funding scheme by NatWest.
The Selly Park-based hospice, which cares for families coping with life-limiting illness from Birmingham and Sandwell, was one of three local organisations to benefit from the bank’s £5,000 Community Fund.
The initiative, which was launched in August last year, offered people the chance to vote for a charity they would most like to see receive the money. Acorns Children’s Hospice, which received £3,000, and Islamic Relief, were the other two organisations nominated.
The £5,000 fund - part of the bank’s charter – aims to support charities and good causes in communities served by NatWest and RBS branches.
A panel comprising representatives from the local community reviewed the original applications and shortlisted the three good causes, before a month-long public voting process opened. Nationally, 380 individual funds were created meaning that over 1,100 organisations will receive a donation.
Representatives of Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice were presented with their award by NatWest Senior Bank Manager Shefiq Rahman.
He said: “The NatWest Community Fund which was set up as part of our banking charter has really captured the imagination of the public and we have been overwhelmed by the volume of votes received for the good causes. Although Acorns Children’s Hospice received the most votes, there were three winners, and so many local people will benefit from this great initiative.”
Hospice Head of Fundraising and Marketing Caroline Taylor said the NatWest Community Fund was a great initiative.
“I think it’s a wonderful idea of NatWest’s to make this money available and give the public a choice in how they would like it spent. We are truly grateful and would like to thank everyone who voted for Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice, the money will go directly to caring for local people with life-limiting illnesses.”
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 fundraising. The remainder comes from the NHS.
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