Celebrate Hospice Care Week with Primrose Hospice
Hospice Care Week (7th-13th October) is celebrated by many of our fellow hospices and is an opportunity to shine a spotlight on our brilliant hospices and our amazing staff and volunteers.
This year’s theme is all about hospice retail, and the role it plays in funding hospice services. Did you know Primrose Hospice has to raise £1.95 million every year to keep providing our vital care and support services for free for our community?
We asked Ian McRoy our Head of Retail why supporting our shops is so important, he said: “Our six shops across Bromsgrove, Redditch, Rubery and Droitwich are not only vital in ensuring we can continue to support patients living with life-limiting illnesses and families facing bereavement, but they also provide our community an opportunity to shop for a bargain and donate their pre-loved items, which go on to support more people in our community.
Our charity shops provide over 27% of the income needed every year to keep our hospice doors open, so it’s really important we continue to develop our shops and our community continues to support us.”
Did you know it is estimated that around £140 million worth of clothing goes to landfill in the UK every year? In 12 months, our Primrose Hospice shops have prevented over 70 tonnes of items going to landfill and saved 948 tonnes of CO2 by recycling.
Landfill savings are equivalent to the weight of around 4 double decker buses and CO2 savings are equivalent to annual emissions from 729 cars per year!
David Burrell Primrose Hospice Chief Executive Officer said: “We fund the majority of our services from fundraising and trading in our shops, so they play a hugely important role in ensuring we can continue to provide our care and support for free. Every donation and every purchase to our shops, and every volunteer in our shops, is directly helping people and supporting your local Hospice and Family Support Centre.
By donating to us, or shopping in our shops you can be assured that: your donations are put to excellent use, your purchases are directly funding our services, you are helping to protect the environment by recycling, and you are supporting your community. It’s not just a shopping trip, it’s so much more than that!”
Have you ever been having a rummage in our charity shops and found that perfect dress or your next pair of winter boots, paid for your purchase but not really known where your donation is going?
Frank, one of Day Hospice patients, is here to tell you the positive impact coming to our Day Hospice has had on his life since being diagnosed with cancer.
Listen or read words below:
“I was very doubtful to attend. I must admit the word ‘hospice’ has a wrong meaning with a lot of people. When I came for my assessment and spoke to Mel and realised what’s going on here with the rest of the chaps, the word C seemed to change completely. It was now caring and comfort. Although I was still suffering from what I’ve got, I found that the people here are understanding.
They care about every individual that comes in and talking to the rest of the chaps, they all seem to think it’s a wonderful place to be. It’s not the end of the world by any means. In fact, they reckon it’s the start of life, not the end of life, which is brilliant.
But coming here really has opened my eyes to what’s going on. You say ‘hospice’ to people and they look at you strange, but it’s not like that at all. It’s absolutely wonderful.
The nurses are fabulous, no doubt about that. You come here and your hope is built up. You’re not here to die. You are here to live.”
Help us support more people in your community today by donating or shopping in across our charity shops, find out more here.
If you’d like to find out more about our support services visit this page.
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