Throughout this year, we have overcome snowstorms, won awards and launched a brand-new service – keeping our patients at the very heart of everything we’ve done. It is hard not to smile as I think back on 2023 and everything that we have achieved together.
Thanks to unwavering dedication from you – our staff, volunteers, patrons, fundraisers and supporters – we have helped more local patients and families this year than ever before.
Our Hospice at Home, Community Hub and Counselling teams have worked meticulously together to provide the highest level of joined-up care to our patients, ensuring that everyone who needs our care, is able to access it and at the earliest opportunity from diagnosis, right through to bereavement.
I am sure you will enjoy reading about the true impact of our care and what it has meant to local people and their families by visiting the ‘Our stories’ area of our website (link below), where people have been kind enough to share their words and explain what a difference hospice care made to them at the toughest of times.
I am incredibly proud that we launched our brand-new Roaming Car service in June, providing urgent nursing care through the night, seven days a week, 365 days a year, to patients with a life-limiting illness across North Derbyshire. Many of these visits are for people needing urgent medications in the night and will have avoided the need for ambulance transfers, A&E department input, or hospital admission; keeping patients where they wish to be: in the comfort of their own home.
We are committed to ensuring patients across North Derbyshire receive equity of high-quality, palliative and end of life care. For many families, nighttime can be a lonely and scary place; and this is where the idea for the Roaming Car service came from. Our winter appeal in 2022 was dedicated to raising funds for the service. At that time, I don’t think anyone realised that six months later we’d have the car and be running operationally. It’s all thanks to the appeal and the generosity of our local community.
Alongside a special event at Matlock FC to launch the new Roaming Car service, we have also celebrated national hospice awareness initiatives throughout the year including Dying Matters, Carers Week, Volunteers’ Week and Hospice Care Week, with open days, marketplaces, and education and training events for healthcare professionals.
Our high street shops and eBay online store have continued to thrive, with support from donors and shoppers as positive and kind as ever. Our shops have been a part of the local community for 28 years, and they have received incredible support ever since. This year saw the refurbishment of the much-loved toy and children’s department at our Whaley Bridge store, to a flurry of positive feedback from our community. If you’ve taken the time to pop into one of our shops, or visit our eBay site this year, I thank you sincerely for your support. Next year, we look forward to the opening of our brand-new shop in Matlock, and a larger eBay and ecommerce unit in Bridgemont – please keep your eyes peeled for further information on this!
A special thanks goes as always to our legion of dedicated and hugely respected volunteers who support us every single day of the year in clinical, retail and fundraising roles. It has been said before, but we quite simply would not be able to do what we do without you – we are indebted to your service.
Support from local residents and businesses has never wavered throughout 2023; we’ve had walks, runs, balls, coffee mornings, celebrations, galas and everything in-between, helping to raise hundreds of thousands of pounds to support hospice care across our communities. This year also saw the launch of our Business Club, with over 30 local businesses already signed up to support the hospice in many different ways.
We were proud to start our journey alongside Derbyshire LGBT+ earlier this year towards Rainbow Accreditation, ensuring inclusive practices to support all staff members, patients, supporters and visitors. This is an ongoing project with valuable input coming from members of the LGBT+ community, and we look forward to sharing continued updates with you.
I’d like to send my congratulations and best wishes to staff members who have accomplished some fantastic results and qualifications this year. Jessica Wood, finance administrator, achieved a merit and a distinction in her AAT Foundation Diploma accounting courses. Becca Gregory, fundraising manager, achieved a distinction in her fundraising diploma from the Chartered Institute of Fundraising. Poppie Staden, digital marketing apprentice turned full-time marketing and communications officer, received a distinction in her level 3 digital marketer apprenticeship qualification, and won the Health and Public Service Apprentice of the Year accolade at the Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Apprenticeship Awards.
Finally, I’d like to round off by saying a genuine and heartfelt thank you to everyone who has supported the hospice throughout 2023. Your commitment to the cause and steadfast devotion is plain to see; in everything that we have achieved together throughout this very special year.
Next year, we look forward to commemorating the hospice’s 35th anniversary with a number of unique events and fundraising opportunities.
For up to date news, information and events from the hospice, and for an opportunity to read our poignant patient and family stories, explore our website.
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I’d like to wish a wonderful Christmas alongside those who mean the most to you, and all the best for 2024. It’s going to be an exciting year, and I am proud and delighted to lead the team into the New Year with enthusiasm and admiration,
Tim
Tim Mourne, chairman of the board of trustees
