Over the past year, Princess Alice Hospice has been marking 40 years of delivering compassionate care to local people, through a series of events and fundraising activities.
Last week, staff and volunteers heard more about the Hospice’s plans for the coming years, which involve extending its reach to more local people; evolving its role to work more closely with the wider healthcare system, and engaging with communities to ensure care is local, inclusive and shaped by real life experience.
Celebrations culminated with a Moment of Unity for staff and volunteers at 3.30pm on Friday 20 March, to commemorate the exact time in 1986 the Hospice building was opened by HRH The Queen Mother.
Jane Formby, Monica Harding and Nigel Seymour.
Ahead of a tree planting on Friday 20 March, Princess Alice Hospice Chair, Sally Harris, and Nigel Seymour, CEO, spoke of their pride in being joined by founding trustee, Peter Munday, his former Vice Chair, Roger Wyatt, and Honorary President, Jane Formby MBE. Afterwards, Peter spoke about how the idea for a local Hospice had been born, before passing to Monica Harding MP, who spoke about what the charity means to her, as a former trustee and now as the Hospice’s local MP.
Monica Harding MP and Nigel Seymour CEO.
After the tree planting, guests moved back inside to share stories and reminisce over tea and a beautifully themed cake, which had been made by Jo Lambert, a community nurse at the Hospice.
Nigel Seymour, Chief Executive of Princess Alice Hospice, said:
‘Princess Alice Hospice began as a community response charity over 40 years ago. Today, the need remains urgent and we have a huge responsibility to reach as many local people as we can. Our work is only made possible by over 1,400 volunteers who support us in over 80 different roles. Each year, we receive just 20% of the £12.3m it costs to deliver our free care from NHS funding. For the rest, we rely on the amazing generosity of our wonderful community, full of people who continue to fundraise and support us so brilliantly.
I’d like to thank every single person, past and present, who has contributed to the success of the Hospice, for everything that it has been and all it will continue to be, now and in the future.’
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Lead Photo: L-R Sally Harris, Nigel Seymour, Peter Munday and Monica Harding
Princess Alice Hospice: For Excellence. For Compassion. For People. For Living.
For 40 years, Princess Alice Hospice has provided free, high-quality, specialist end-of-life care to tens of thousands of people across the London Boroughs of Kingston and Richmond and large parts of Surrey. Today, Hospice nurses, doctors and other specialist staff are looking after over 1000 patients at any one time, in their homes or on the In-Patient Unit.
The Hospice’s vision is that everyone in our communities should have the best possible care and support before, during and after death. With care and support that is right for them, more people can live well, die well and grieve well.
Each year, it costs £12.3 million to provide our free, vital services. With just 20% of NHS funding provided, the remaining 80% is raised through legacies, fundraising, selling pre-loved items in our shops, and investments. It is the amazing support of our generous supporters and dedicated volunteers that allows our work to continue.
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