St Clare Hospice has launched an ‘urgent fundraising appeal’ to help prevent an estimated £100,000 loss in fundraising donations due to the coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak.
The Hastingwood-based hospice charity is already experiencing a downturn in voluntary income as fundraising events are cancelled or postponed and footfall into their charity shops declines.
Precautionary measures were introduced on Monday, March 16, which included reducing services on offer and minimise movement around the site to protect patients.
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The hospice is continuing to offer an Inpatient Unit service, as well as Hospice at Home and Community Nursing service, with additional precautions being taken to ensure the safety of patients, volunteers and staff.
St Clare Hospice director of income generation, Rosie Knowles, commented: “The impact of the Coronavirus pandemic is still only just beginning to unfold, but already our fundraising and retail teams are reporting a worrying downturn.
“As an independent charity, St Clare is heavily reliant on the ongoing support of our local community.
“At St Clare, the worst-case scenario is that we are down £100,000 on our fundraising targets within three months. That is the equivalent of not being able to fund our Hospice at Home nursing service for over seven weeks."
The Income Generation team have also been diversifying their fundraising activities and have launched a number of new digitally-based fundraisers to engage supporters online, including the charity’s first ever Virtual 5K run.
Ms Knowles continued, “The Hospice is prepared for challenges to our income such as this, and we have reserves to call on.
“But this is an unprecedented situation which no one could have predicted and we know that in the coming months our income generation team will be pushed to the limit to ensure we can continue to keep the Hospice running.
“We need our supporters’ help more than ever at this difficult time.”
St Clare Challenges and events fundraiser, Emma Broadbent, commented: “Lots of running events have been cancelled and postponed due to coronavirus – including our annual St Clare 10K which is now taking place on September 6.
“However, in the meantime, if you want to stay active and keep up with your training, we bring you our first ever Virtual 5K.”
“This is the perfect way to make the training miles count whilst also supporting St Clare Hospice.
“You can run it or walk it, in your own time, and in a place of your choice – be it at home or in a local park. Just be sure to do it safely, and in line with the latest government advice.”
Find out more and sign up to the Virtual 5K here: stclarehospice.org.uk/virtual5k
To find out more about how you can support St Clare digitally, and to support their Urgent Fundraising Appeal, visit: stclarehospice.org.uk/urgent-fundraising-appeal
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