Howard has been a wonderful supporter of the Hospice since 2023, when a friend of his needed the care and support of our services. Howard has always been a keen gardener in his spare time and raised money for the Hospice by selling his plants in the local community in Four Marks.
Explaining his fundraising to his colleagues at Haskins, the company’s charity representative told Howard about the staff-nominated scheme: the Haskins Charitable Fund. The fund allows employees to nominate a local cause within 20 miles of their store, inviting that charity to apply for a grant for support.
“I’m a keen gardener and always end up with excess plants, fruit and vegetables. We started our plant sale fundraiser in the Triple FFF brewery taproom and chose St. Michael’s Hospice to support as they’re a local charity that cared for some of our friends. When I found out about the Haskins Charitable Fund, I knew St. Michael’s Hospice was the charity I wanted to nominate.” – Howard
Thanks to Howard’s support, we applied to the Haskins Charitable Fund. Within a few days, we received a positive response from the Haskins Giving Team confirming that our application had been successful and were awarded funding of £5,463.03!
This funding paid for two time-sensitive projects we needed – therapy equipment and the implementation of a security system.
Our Therapy Lead, Emma Green, explained the importance of the new therapy equipment: “A mo-lift enables patients to use their power without relying on heavy equipment to get from A to B. This promotes dignity and allows patients to maintain some strength whilst staying safe. Specialist cushions play a crucial role in providing comfort to cancer-related pain when sitting. These are not easily accessible through the NHS. Our cushions have made a significant difference in the lives of patients, as evidenced by the positive feedback we have received.”
Another urgent need was to install a security system in certain areas of our hospice to ensure a safe and peaceful environment for our patients and their loved ones during visits.
Our Operations Director, Chris Griffiths, expressed the impact and security the new system has had within the Hospice: “With the installation of security devices on our premises, our hospice is now a safer, more secure place for patients, families, and staff members. The Haskins Charitable Fund has provided more than just security cameras-it has given peace of mind, protection, and the reassurance that our hospice remains a compassionate environment ensuring dignity, comfort, and security for all who enter our doors.”
We are incredibly grateful for this support, which has enabled us to undertake such important projects.
In January, we were fortunate to receive a visit from the Haskins Charitable Fund team, who presented us with a cheque.
This was a great opportunity for us to showcase the therapy equipment and security system we purchased with their grant, as well as to demonstrate the positive impact their support has made.
“The Haskins Charitable Fund is delighted to support St. Michael’s Hospice with a grant for vital security equipment and specialist cushions. Our recent visit highlighted the exceptional care and facilities provided by the hospice, and we’re pleased to contribute to enhancing the comfort and safety of patients and their families.” – Jamie Haskins
The support we receive from charitable trusts and foundations, such as the Haskins Charitable Fund, is extremely important to our hospice. This year, we are anticipating our costs to be more than £600,000 which means every little support we receive is immensely helpful for us to keep on doing what we do.
Thanks to the generous contributions, we can undertake many vital projects that help us continue providing the highest quality care and support to the North Hampshire community.
Last year, contributions from various charitable organisations helped us raise over £200,000 for important initiatives, including the renovation of our patient rooms and an energy efficiency project. We thank you for your generosity and support of St. Michael’s Hospice.