A safer way to help a local hospice 

A children’s hospice in Somerset is the latest charity to benefit from a scheme at Hinkley Point C that encourages team members to look after the safety of themselves and others.

Children’s Hospice South West (CHSW) will get £50 for every day safety targets are met and £3,000 for every month the goals are achieved. The donations are part of a safety scheme called the HPC Way Safe Day Initiative, which promotes safer ways of working at the site. One of the safety targets encourages Hinkley Point C team members to be good neighbours when out and about in the community.

Laura Roberston, Area Fundraiser at CHSW, said: “We are extremely grateful to staff at Hinkley Point C for nominating CHSW. This is a wonderful donation to receive in the charity’s 30th anniversary year.

“Our care teams – including at our Charlton Farm hospice in Somerset – have continued to provide vital lifeline support to local families facing unimaginable challenges throughout the pandemic.

“They have only been able to do this thanks to the generosity of the local community, and this donation will help ensure they can continue to be there for families and help them to make the most of short and precious lives.”

Giving back

CHSW were nominated as the chosen charity by several team members at Hinkey Point C whose families have been supported by the organisation.

Earlier this year, St Margaret’s Hospice Care in Taunton also received a donation of more than £5,000 as part of the HPC Way Safe Day initiative.

The money was earmarked to buy four urgently needed syringe-powered pumps that deliver medication intravenously to patients at home.

All about CHSW

  • The charity was founded in 1991 and celebrates its 30th birthday this year. 
  • The founders were Eddie and Jill Farwell, who experienced for themselves the urgent need for hospice care in the South West when their two eldest children, Katie and Tom, had life-limiting illnesses.
  • CHSW has three hospices in the South West: Little Bridge House in Barnstaple (opened 1995); Charlton Farm in Bristol (opened 2007); and Little Harbour in St Austell (opened 2011).
  • CHSW provides care for more than 500 families annually – and its services are free to every family that needs them.
  • CHSW is the only children’s hospice in the South West. It costs around £11 million to run the three hospices each year and they rely almost entirely on voluntary contributions.

 

For more information and to make your own donation, visit chsw.org.uk.

Relief for patients

St Margaret’s Hospice Care in Taunton were the previous recipients of a donation from the HPC Way Safe Day initiative.

They received more than £5,000 to buy four urgently needed syringe-powered pumps.

The pumps deliver medication intravenously to patients even if they struggle to swallow or absorb it and can be operated over a 24-hour period at home by the patient or family members. 

Joanna Hall, the Hospice’s Director of Fundraising, said: “This means a patient can control their own symptoms, so they’re free to focus on what matters to them most during the time they have left with their loved ones. 

“Thanks to this generous gift we were able to purchase this vital equipment.”

All about St Margaret’s Hospice Care

  • St Margaret’s Hospice Care has been helping patients, families and carers across Somerset for more than 40 years.
  • Services range from a specialist inpatient unit and daycare centre to a community nursing team and therapy services. 
  • The Hospice relies on the work of more 1200 volunteers.
  • A 24-hour advice line is run by the Hospice for palliative patients, carers and healthcare professionals in Somerset.
  • The Hospice raises funds through five furniture shops and 28 High Street shops in towns and villages across Somerset.

 

For more information and to make your own donation, visit st-margarets-hospice.org.uk.