Businesses urged to give a birthday gift to St Catherine’s

Businesses across Central Lancashire are being urged to think about what skills they could give to St Catherine’s Hospice as a 30th birthday gift.

During 2015, St Catherine’s have been running the Give A Gift campaign in partnership with the Lancashire Evening Post – a list of 30 different things we would like local businesses, schools and individuals to help us achieve during our milestone 30th anniversary year.

Included within it are several items which local companies could help with by providing their services ‘in kind’.

Projects include re-painting corridors on the in-patient unit, providing new flooring for patient areas, and fitting new windows inside the in-patient unit conservatory, which also needs new furniture.

Jimmy Brash, Director of Care at St Catherine’s, said all would have a huge impact on patients, families and visitors who are using the hospice’s services – now and in the future.

Jimmy said: “We are very proud of the facilities we offer here at St Catherine’s and work hard to provide as much of a ‘home from home’ environment as possible for people during their stays with us.

“But as a local charity which depends on our supporters, we are committed to spending the funds which are so generously donated on delivering the front-line care which local people need and expect.

“With limited funds available, it means that projects like this are further down the list of priorities. However, with the support of businesses who do this kind of work for a living, we could see some fantastic improvements to our patient areas – making them brighter and even more welcoming for those who use them. Our conservatory on the in-patient unit is a particularly valued space here at St Catherine’s, which is used by patients and families alike. It gives people back a sense of normality which is so important and offers a change of scene away from patient bedrooms. It has even been the venue for special occasions such as a child’s birthday party.

“We’d be delighted to hear from businesses who could spare some of their time, expertise and resources to really make a difference.”

For businesses interested in fundraising rather than giving their services in kind, there are other items on the list that colleagues could come together and raise money for.

They include two specialist beds and mattresses, a ‘moisture meter’ – a piece of equipment which measures the effectiveness of lymphoedema treatments – and a service delivering complementary therapies to patients in the comfort of their own homes, rather than having to come into the hospice.

Will your workplace help St Catherine’s with a birthday gift? Your story will be featured in the LEP as part of the Give A Gift campaign. To get involved email giveagift@stcatherines.co.uk or call 01772 695290.

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