Coffee Morning 1st Year anniversary
Join us for a coffee and a cake to celebrate the 1st year anniversary of the coffee morning’s at Blythe House Hospice!
One year after the much-anticipated return of Blythe House Hospice’s monthly coffee mornings, the events have raised over an impressive £4,800. This remarkable achievement has brought great joy to the four dedicated volunteer organizers: Pauline O’Brien, Brenda Edge, Alex Clark, and Hilary Hadfield.
Blythe House Hospice’s coffee morning made a return after the much-loved morning was put on hold due to Covid. A team of our wonderful, dedicated volunteers took on the challenge to bring the coffee morning back, a year on they have helped raise over an incredible £4800 for Blythe House Hospice.
The monthly coffee morning takes place on the first Friday of every month, from 10am – 12 noon where our wonderful volunteers welcome people from our local communities into the hospice to enjoy a hot drink and a cake.
Pauline O’Brien was a hairdresser for 50 years, after she retired “a friend asked me to join them at the Blythe House Hospice charity shop in Buxton, as I had just retired and had time on my hands.” Pauline explained, “I said yes of course, why not give it a go, 9 years later I’m still there and I absolutely love it. From pricing up, sorting through the donated stock at the shops, to meeting, greeting, and making people a cuppa at the coffee mornings, I love it all.’
Pauline explained “Last October I helped start the first coffee morning at the hospice, with friends and family, Brenda, Alex, and Hilary, who also volunteered at the Buxton and Chapel charity shops. It went down a treat and the coffee mornings have been extremely successful since.”
Alex Clark, who has volunteered for 13 years alongside her mum Brenda Edge at the Buxton charity shop, shared: “When we were asked to run the coffee mornings we were over the moon, and couldn’t wait to get started.”
“The team at the hospice helped support us in getting the coffee mornings up and running again! The coffee mornings have been a huge success and helped us raise needed funds to support the hospice,” explained Brenda.
From left to right: Alex Clark, Pauline O’Brien, Hilary Hadfield and Brenda Edge.
Since then, the coffee mornings have grown month on month, welcoming more and more people and new faces into the hospice. “The support the hospice’s coffee mornings have received has been amazing. It’s a great way to get the community involved in supporting their local hospice.” Hilary added.
Pauline said: “Over the past year we have had some amazing cake donators, which help us raise money at the coffee mornings, and it allows people to enjoy a cake and have a catch-up with friends.”
Alex added “There is always such a great atmosphere and it’s so lovely to see the hospice full of people of all ages attending, even babies, my new grandson Matthew included. The coffee mornings are a great way for people to come together in such a relaxed setting, to enjoy homemade cakes, coffee, and support their local hospice. It’s also a great way to get people through the doors to see the hospice isn’t a scary place, it’s a place here to support people in the time they need it most. It allows us to also signpost people to hospice services if needed.”
Brenda said: ‘I thoroughly enjoy my time whilst I am there. My role at the coffee mornings usually involves running a tombola with donations from the Buxton shop as prizes and I also take a selection of jewellery too. Everyone loves the tombolas as there is always something different for everyone and a range of prizes to enjoy! I spend a lot of time sorting through the donation to make sure there is something for everyone.”
Pauline adds: “The coffee mornings at the hospice are wonderful and it’s great to see everyone happy chatting and making friends. We feel we make a real difference.”
“I would recommend volunteering at the hospice to everyone. If you think you can help in any way, what are you waiting for!”
Sophie Wheeldon, Senior Community Fundraiser, shares: “Our incredible coffee morning volunteers are simply outstanding. They arrive, set up, and ensure everything runs seamlessly. We are beyond grateful for their unwavering support over the past year and look forward to welcoming even more people to join us at our hospice coffee mornings each month”
If you are interested in coming along to enjoy our hospice coffee mornings then please join us on the first Friday of the month from 10am to 12noon at Blythe House Hospice in Chapel-en-le-Frith, SK23 9TJ.
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