St Giles Hospice in Whittington has received a boost to its fundraising efforts from a scheme which ploughs the proceeds of carrier bag sales into supporting local good causes.
The £1,000 donation from Tamworth Co-op’s Cash in the Bag initiative will go towards the cost of providing care for patients with terminal or incurable illnesses.
St Giles corporate partnerships officer Michael Dowse was delighted to receive the money and said it would be put to good use.
“I’d like to give a massive thanks to the Tamworth Co-op because contributions like this make a difference to patients and their families. Without this kind of help we wouldn’t be able to continue our vital work.”
Sheila Villers (left), manager of Whittington Co-op, presents the cheque to St Giles corporate partnerships officer Michael Dowse, with store supervisor Lorraine Brown looking on.
Sheila Villers, manager of the Whittington Co-op, who presented the cheque, said:
“Our shop is just a short stroll away from the hospice and we are well aware of the wonderful support it offers to patients and their families. They are helping people at a time when they need it most. It gives me great pleasure to hand over this cheque to such an incredible organisation.”
The hospice delivers specialist palliative and end of life care to people in Tamworth and across the wider region, covering Staffordshire, Birmingham and the West Midlands.
Rated as ‘outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission, services include a 23-bed inpatient care unit, a 24/7 advice line, a Lymphoedema Clinic and bereavement support.
St Giles Hospice also employs a community team of clinical nurse specialists, with more than 450 patients given care and support each month in their own homes.
The annual running costs amount to £10m, with only around a third of that coming from NHS funding. The shortfall is met by the hospice lottery and shops, as well as legacies and fundraising.
A total of £12,500 is being handed to 16 community groups in Tamworth Co-op’s trading area this year as part of the Cash in the Bag scheme.