Sue Ryder is asking Gloucestershire locals to support its urgent fundraising campaign – with donations helping the county’s only palliative care unit, Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice, to continue giving specialist end-of-life-care this winter.
Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice is playing a vital part in the Coronavirus effort, delivering its expert services to an increasing number of people that need end-of-life care in Gloucestershire, as Covid-19 cases continue to rise.
The staff are using their skills and experience to support patients and their families at this difficult time, as well as alleviating pressure on the NHS. However, to keep their services running throughout winter and beyond, Sue Ryder urgently needs to secure more funding.
As a national healthcare charity, Sue Ryder has been hit hard by the Coronavirus crisis, which has forced it to cancel its fundraising events for the year – and meant that its high street charity shops have had to close twice, during both national lockdowns.
Sadly, the charity is currently experiencing a shortfall of £2m a month – all while its dedicated doctors and nurses continue to play a frontline role in the fight against Coronavirus.
Elise Hoadley, hospice director for Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice, said: ‘We received a wonderful response from our supporters to our emergency appeal earlier in the year. This, paired with the emergency funding that we received from the government, covered our funding shortfall until the end of June 2020.
‘None of us expected this pandemic to go on for so long and clearly a monthly shortfall of £2m is unsustainable for any charity – which is why we need to ask the public to help us.’
As little as £3 a month over one year could fund a visit from a community nurse delivering personalised care; £10 a month could pay for essential bereavement counselling; and £21 could pay for one hour of Sue Ryder’s expert palliative care each month.
Funding will also help Sue Ryder to increase the capacity of its Online Bereavement Support service, which experienced an enormous 84 per cent increase in demand at the height of lockdown. The free service now has a waiting list that grows each week.
Elise continued: ‘We know that times are tough for everybody at the moment, so please be reassured that every bit really does help, and thank you very much from all of us.’
For more information, and to support Sue Ryder, visit sueryder.org/winter-appeal.
