As part of the month-long thank you initiative, patients have taken centre stage in a short film recognising the volunteers, supporters, retail customers and employees who make hospice care in Somerset possible.
The campaign shines a light on the many different ways people support St Margaret’s Hospice Care – from volunteering their time and donating to charity shops, to fundraising, making regular donations, working in hospice teams, and helping behind the scenes.
Paul Povey who attends the hospice’s day service, the Sunflower Centre, opens the film by saying:
“Because of you, I’m one of the 5,680 people across Somerset who’s felt the care St Margaret’s provides.”
The first week of the campaign coincided with National Volunteers’ Week, celebrating the contribution of more than 1,000 volunteers who collectively give over 4,352 hours every week across 66 different roles.
In the film, patients thank volunteers directly, saying:
“When you give your time, it means someone like me isn’t alone.
Across the hospice, people like you give over 4,000 hours every week, in so many different roles.
And it shows.
Thank you.”
The campaign continued throughout June, with dedicated messages of thanks to retail customers, supporters, and employees.
Last year, St Margaret’s charity shops generated £2.1 million to support hospice care across Somerset. Supporters also continued to fund vital services through donations, fundraising events, gifts in Wills, lottery participation and community initiatives.
Patients featured in the films describe the impact of that support in simple terms:
“When you donate something or buy something in a shop, it helps fund care for people like me.
Last year, that raised over £2 million.
I didn’t see that part, but I felt the difference.”
Kirsty and Sarah, whose brother and husband Ben was cared for by St Margaret’s Hospice, also recognise the contribution of hospice staff across both clinical and non-clinical teams:
“When you answer the call, offer therapy, administer medicine, prepare the meals, clean the rooms, fundraise, organise events, or keep everything working – it all comes together for people like me.
Thank you.”
Hayley Milne, Head of Communications at St Margaret’s Hospice, said:
“Our fundraising team wanted to create campaign about recognising the people behind hospice care.
We often talk about the services we provide, but behind every visit, every phone call, every therapy session and every moment of support are people who have chosen to give their time, their skills, their donations, their kindness and their care.
It felt right to give patients the opportunity to thank those people directly, because they are the ones who experience the impact of that support every day.”
The films conclude with a simple message from patients:
“You might not always see what you do.
But people like me do.
Thank you.”
To watch the video visit www.st-margarets-hospice.org.uk/update/thank-you/
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St Margaret’s Hospice
St Margaret’s Hospice Care has been at the heart of Somerset’s community for over 45 years, delivering high quality, responsive and compassionate care to patients facing a life-limiting illness and their families. In that time, we have become a household name, firmly rooted in local communities delivering care and support for people living in in the East to Wincanton on the West, and every town, village and neighbourhood in between.
What do we do?
St Margaret’s is a community funded charity, caring across Somerset. We support people of all ages with life-limiting illness; not just cancer. Our care embraces an individualised, holistic care plan including physical, emotional and spiritual care which is available to our patients, their families, and carers.
Last year, St Margaret’s supported 5,680 people across Somerset. The majority of these were cared for in their own homes by one of our five community nursing teams. Our 24-hour Adviceline managed close to 26,000 calls, and our specialist In-Patient Unit in Taunton continues to provide 24-hour complex symptom control.
St Margaret’s Hospice started in 1980 as a nurse-led initiative funded by an event raising just £400. Today, it is a £15m turnover operation, employing 350 staff and supported by over 1,000 volunteers!
How to get involved
With only £3mil provided by government funding, the hospice continues to fundraise year-round to fund the cost of our care.
Funds from events, alongside sponsors, donations, and gifts in Wills are vital to the success of St Margaret’s. There are plenty of ways to support the hospice, from donating and shopping in one of our 31 charity shops through to opening your garden or getting your Christmas tree collected. 1 in 3 of our patients receive care thanks to gifts kindly left to us in Wills. However you help, we’re grateful you’re taking the time to care.
How do your donations support families?*
- Your £30 could mean a family can stay overnight in our Sunflower Suite to remain close to their loved one
- Your £75 could pay for a treatment from one of our Complementary Therapists
- Your £90 could pay for a counselling session with our Bereavement team
- Your £200 could mean someone with a life-limiting illness receives vital practical and emotional assistance with finance, housing or other social issues
- Your £500 could pay for 3 patients and their families to receive expert advice and support through our 24-hour Advice Line whilst under our care
- Your £1,000 could fund every community nurse visit a patient needs in their final months, providing around seven visits of compassionate, specialist care.
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