Our Royal President, Princess Michael of Kent will visit the Hospice on Thursday 9th June to officially open our new extension.

A successful grant application of nearly £1/2 million has enabled the Hospice to extend its facilities to include new counselling rooms, additional provision for children and young people, a family en-suite room plus new complementary therapy rooms for Day Care patients.

The grant is part of a Department of Health £40 million capital grant programme that has been awarded to 123 hospices in the UK.

Hospice Chair of Trustees, Stuart Nagler said ‘I am delighted that Princess Michael of Kent will be returning to the Peace Hospice to open our new extension, having previously opened our Inpatient Unit in 2001.

Our new facilities will help us to provide an even better service to people across South West Herts.’

He added ‘Although we are happy to have been awarded the grant, I would like to
stress that this doesn’t mean that we need to raise less money this year. The grant has covered the extension building, for which we are very grateful, but we are still faced with the same challenge of needing to raise over £3 million in charitable income once again this year. I would like to thank our supporters for helping us through the difficult economic climate over the last year – without their help we wouldn’t have been able to keep our services running.’

As part of the royal visit, Princess Michael of Kent will also attend a separate Hospice function at The Grove to celebrate the opening of the new extension.

Local people from across South West Herts are being encouraged to get active this Summer on behalf of the Peace Hospice.

The annual Pedal for Peace cycle ride is a family event offering cyclists the opportunity to undertake a 10, 20 or 30 mile cycle ride starting and ending in Cassiobury Park, Watford.

The event is aimed at both families wanting a gentle and fun day out and also the serious cyclist who might want to undertake the course a bit quicker.  Organisers are hoping that the event now in its third year, will raise important funds for the Hospice.

Hospice Fundraising Assistant, Victoria Epstein said ‘We’re hoping that this event really captures the imagination of our supporters.  There’s 3 great routes to choose from passing through some beautiful scenery.  The Hospice relies heavily on charitable income and I hope that people will feel motivated and energised to saddle up and support us’.

The Peace Hospice, based very close to Cassiobury Park, provides specialist palliative care for people and their families from across South West Hertfordshire who have a life limiting or terminal illness.  The Peace Hospice receives less than a quarter of their income from the NHS and therefore need to raise £3 million of charitable income alone this year to continue running and developing their services.

Registrants must be over 14 years of age.  Entry is £12 per person and this fee covers a T-shirt and tag-pack for your bike to record you at check-points.

To register online visit www.peacehospice.org.uk or call the Hospice’s Fundraising Team on 01923 330340.

New products have been entered on the Peace Hospice Online Shop. Check out the Gifts section for the latest updates.  Pick up a bargain whilst supporting the Hospice at the same time.

http://peacehospice.co.uk/store/

Local businesses have rallied to support the Peace Hospice after the charity recently announced an end of year shortfall of £1/2 million.

The Peace Hospice which provides care to patients living with a life limiting or terminal illness from across South West Hertfordshire, is reliant on raising over £3 million each year in charitable donations.

The Hospice has recently set up a Corporate Development Group chaired by Jenny Tomley MD of John Lewis Watford and comprising of key local businesses including the Watford and West Herts Chamber of Commerce, the Watford Observer, Tomlin Bean, U L Medicines Ltd, Penman Johnson LLP, My News, BT Global Services, Corona Energy, Watford Borough Council, Herts County Council, Royal Bank of Scotland, HW Fisher, Vinci, Moor Park Golf Club, The Clarendon, CBJ, Clock Limited, De Lage Landen and Cardif Pinnacle.

Hospice Director of Fundraising and Communications, Paul Gauntlett said ‘I am delighted that we have had such a great response from key businesses in the area.  The group will work closely with the Hospice to help extend our network of corporate supporters across South West Herts and provide top level business expertise to that which already exists here at the Hospice. The group will also look to identify ways that it can individually and collectively achieve a target in support of a major project for the Hospice – I’m delighted that the group are right behind us at this time.’

He added ‘We recently launched our Urgent Spring Appeal as a result of our shortfall in income.  We are determined to do everything we can so that we can continue providing a high quality of care to our patients and their families.  Our appeal has already raised £58,757 but we still have a long way to go.  I am confident that the way in which individuals and businesses have already begun to offer their support, will help us push forward towards our £3 million target for the year.’

Local company, Corona Energy are a member of the newly formed Corporate Development Group and are also regular supporters of the Hospice. They have been spurred on by the charities needs for additional funds; organising amongst other events, a ‘Masked Ball’ event for staff.  Head of Human Resources, Mark Waters said ‘We’ve encouraged our staff to support the Peace Hospice by holding an event that will see our staff don wigs, tights and associated finery at our Masked Ball.  For every pound that staff donate, we will match fund the final amount.  It’s a great way to support the Hospice and is a great way for us to have some fun at the same time.’

De Lage Landen on Croxley Business Park have chosen The Peace Hospice as their charity and plan to raise an impressive £30,000 through a Golf Day, auction, events and employee involvement including five staff taking part in the London Triathlon.

The hospice has also benefited recently from a £11,000 donation from the Herts & Middlesex Financial Services Annual Dinner which continues to be very well supported despite the recession.

To donate to the Urgent Spring Appeal, click here or call the Peace Hospice during office hours on 01923 335372.

The Peace Hospice has launched its revamped weekly lottery scheme, with players getting an opportunity to win a potential £10,000 rollover jackpot.

Also on offer in the reshaped scheme is a guaranteed weekly top prize of £1,000 along with many other smaller prizes.

Hospice Lottery Manager, Terence Smith, said ‘Our new lottery scheme is bigger and better than ever before. I hope more people will be tempted to join and win a prize. Our players still have the opportunity of winning a weekly guaranteed £1,000 cash prize but they now also have the potential of winning a big, big £10,000 rollover.

Not only do our players get the chance of a great cash prize, but also the knowledge that they’re helping to provide much needed funds for a local charity.’ All existing lottery members will automatically be transfered over to the new scheme.

The Peace Hospice, based in Watford, provides friendly and supportive palliative care to people across South West Hertfordshire with a life limiting or terminal illness.

To sign up for the new lottery scheme download an online form here or contact Terence Smith on 01923 330341 or email your details to him at tsmith@peacehospice.org.uk.

Don’t forget that every £1 spent gives you an extra chance of winning – YOU could be the first every £10,000 winner.

Hospice at Home nurses from the Peace Hospice added their support to the Starlight Walk this week by signing up to the charities biggest annual fundraising event. The newly formed 5 women ‘Hospice Angels Team’ will carry out the walk for the very first time.  In their role at the Hospice, the team provide daily home support to patients with a life limiting or terminal illness across South West Hertfordshire.

The all female walk takes place at midnight on Saturday 22nd May in Watford, starting at West Herts College’s Cassio Campus before passing  through Bushey, Rickmansworth and Croxley Green on a 13 mile (half marathon) circuit.  The walk which raised over £200,000 for the Hospice last year is aiming to attract a record 2,000 walkers.

Hospice at Home nurse, Anita Randall said ‘This is something that we’re all looking forward to doing as a team.  I’ve never done the walk before so it’s going to be a challenge.  I’ve not done much training so far, so I’m not expecting to complete the walk in less than 4 hours. I’m really looking forward to walking as part of a great team.’

She added ‘Before I joined the Hospice at Home team I was helped personally by the Hospice.  Now that I work here I realise just how much the Hospice relies on charitable donations to run its services.  Raising over £3 million each year is a huge challenge for the Hospice.  I’m hoping that I can do my bit to help the Hospice by raising a few hundred pounds.’

To sponsor the Hospice at Home nurses, visit www.justgiving.com/Hospice-Angels or to sign up to the walk visit www.starlightwalk.org.uk

Players model new t-shirts

Watford players got behind the Starlight Walk at their game with West Brom on Monday by modelling the new yellow t-shirts that walkers will be wearing on the night.

Around 2,000 women from across South West Hertfordshire are expected to walk a half marathon in aid of the Peace Hospice at midnight on Saturday 22^nd May.  The Starlight Walk raised over £200,000 for the Hospice last year and attracted a record 1,700 walkers.  The event starts outside the Cassio Campus at West Herts College, taking the walkers through the high street, Bushey, Rickmanworth, Croxley Green and back into Watford.

Hospice Community Fundraising Manager, Gill Crowson said ‘It’s just over a month to go until the event and walkers are signing up by the day.  It’s a great event and always an excellent atmosphere.  It’s fantastic watching a sea of yellow walkers setting out under the stars’.

She added ‘We’ve experienced a shortfall of £1/2 million this year and it’s vitally important that people sign up so that we can continue providing a high quality of care for our patients and their families’.

One walker, Abbey Johnson aged 16 from Leavesden carried out the walk last year ‘I did the walk with my Mum and it was the first time that we had done it and we managed to raise £750.  I’m really glad we signed up – it was brilliant.  It was hard work completing the walk but it was worth it for such a good cause’.

Another walker, Susan Bradly from Guildford said ‘I was doing the walk in memory of my Mum who passed away at the Hospice last July.  The Hospice treated my family so well during this time and I will never be able to thank them enough.  The walk also coincided with my Mum’s birthday.  The whole experience of the walk was something I will never forget and it was really moving seeing the many candles in Cassiobury Park.  I can’t wait for next year’.

The Peace Hospice, based in Watford, cares for people living with a life limiting or terminal illness and supports their families from across South West Hertfordshire. It provides inpatient care, day care, an outpatient service, a hospice at home service as well as bereavement support.

The Hospice needs to raise £3 million of charitable income this year in order to run and develop its services. All the care that the Hospice provides to its patients and their families is free.

To register for the walk visit www.starlightwalk.org.uk or call the Fundraising Team on 01923 330340.

Around 70 walkers and their dogs descended on Cassiobury Park last week for the Hospice’s annual Paws for Peace event.  30 dogs and their walkers undertook the 4 mile course through Cassiobury Park and Whipendell Woods raising funds for the Peace Hospice.

Hospice Community Fundraiser, Nicky Braithwaite-Maxwell said ‘It was a lovely sunny day and everyone enjoyed some fresh air and exercise.  There were lots of families and new people that we haven’t seen before enthusiastically supporting the Hospice.

It took 2 ½ hours for most of the dogs to complete the walk with an 11 year old Pyrenean mountain dog called Effie and his owner Mark Saxon from Rickmansworth who were the slowest finishers, but enjoyed every minute.

There were also people who borrowed dogs so that they could take part in the event.  They really were a determined bunch!’

The next Paws for Peace event to take place is at Rickmansworth Aquadrome on Sunday 28th March at 10am.  Participants can register online at www.peacehospice.org.uk or call the Fundraising Team on 01923 330340.

Staff and volunteers from the Peace Hospice’s South Oxhey shop have been in celebratory mood after raising over £1/2 million since it began trading just over 2 years ago.

The shop based in St Andrews Road, South Oxhey sells a wide range of products including furniture,toys and clothes.

Hospice Director of Fundraising and Communications, Paul Gauntlett said ‘It’s a tremendous achievement that the shop has managed to raise such a large amount of money in such a short space of time. The money raised helps to ensure our patients and their families receive a high quality of care, who live not only in South Oxhey but across South West Herts’.

Shop Manager Gary Couper said ‘This is quite a landmark for us. I have a great team, and our volunteers have been fantastic. I would like to thank everyone including our customers for supporting us’.

The Peace Hospice, based in Watford, cares for people living with a life limiting or terminal illness and supports their families from across South West Hertfordshire. It provides inpatient care, day care, an outpatient service, a hospice at home service as well as bereavement support.
The Hospice needs to raise £3 million of charitable income this year in order to run and develop its services. All the care that the Hospice provides to its patients and their families is free.

For further information on the work of the Peace Hospice visit www.peacehospice.org.uk

A partnership has been hailed a success after the Peace Hospice and members of the North Watford Jamia Mosque met last week for a tour of the Hospice for the first time.  4 senior members of the Mosque were shown around the Hospice by Chief Executive Sue Plummer.  Members of the Mosque visited the Inpatient Unit and Day Care service and spent time talking to staff.
Sue Plummer told us ‘I was delighted to be able to return the hospitality shown to us recently during a most informative and enjoyable visit to the Mosque.  It is our policy to be sensitive to the needs of different cultures and traditions.  We have open visiting hours in our Inpatient Unit and loved ones are always welcome.  Our Spiritual Co-ordinator, Lyne Bassett, has been working hard to expand our profile across many faiths.  We have a multi-faith Quiet Room available to all for reflection and prayer.  The Hospice has recently looked after several members of the local Muslim community and Rashid Choudhrey was very complimentary about the care both they and their families received.’

The North Watford Jamia Mosque runs regular seminars and has invited the Peace Hospice to talk about their work caring for people and their families from across South West Hertfordshire who have a life limiting or terminal illness.  The Hospice offers holistic care, looking after the whole person, helping with emotional and spiritual issues as well as physical symptoms.  The Peace Hospice relies on charitable donations as all the care they provide is free to patients and their families.