Voice’s chosen charity of the V Awards is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. A lot is known about its amazing charity events throughout the year, but less is known about the actual work that they do and what the money raised from these events are used for. Michael Lloyd Williams caught up with Business & Community Fundraiser Tania Ansell from St David’s Hospice Care to find out a little more. Here’s what she had to say:

M: What is the charity doing to celebrate its 40th anniversary?

T: We will be marking our 40th Birthday with a whole host of activities.  What we would love is for the community to “Go Pink” with us on Friday 20th September,

Whether its wearing an item of pink, spray painting your hair pink, holding a bake sale with pink cakes or a pink bring and buy sale there is something for everyone, big or small, everything helps. Request your fundraising pack today to find out more call us on 01633 851051 or email Fundraising@stdavidshospicecare.org

We also have a unique opportunity on September 18th where you could be celebrating with us and driving away with a brand new Ford KA, kindly supported by Mon Motors, or you could win one of a range of other great prizes. Tickets are available online here; https://stdavidshospicecare.org/event-details/car-raffle/

For looking for something a little more adrenaline fueled we also have our 40th Birthday Tandem Skydive! St David’s Hospice Care has spaces booked for a tandem skydive in Swansea to celebrate our 40th birthday. On Saturday 21st September 2019 you could have the experience of a lifetime while raising sponsorship for a great cause. Get in touch with Fundraising on 01633 851051 to secure your spot.

If you’re reading this and think you may like to hold your own birthday event for St David’s Hospice Care then we are ready and waiting to give you all the help and support you need. Get in touch with our friendly folk here in fundraising today!

M: How did the hospice first come into being?

T: There ought to be a place like St. Christopher’s Hospice here in Gwent’.  Comment by student nurses, Symposium on the Care of Dying Patients, 1977

In 1979, Heulwen Egerton MBE, a nurse tutor at Newport’s Royal Gwent Hospital set up the ‘Gwent Hospice Project Group.’ The group was made up of like-minded individuals who were concerned at the lack of palliative care available to the people of Gwent.

From our first year of operation, when St David’s cared for six patients, St David’s has grown to become the UK’s largest provider of hospice at home care, caring for over 3,200 patients and families every year, at a cost of over £7.9 million.

M: What do you think are the most important milestones for SDHC over the past four decades?

T: 1. Becoming one of the largest Hospice at Home providers in the UK.

2. The development of 4-day hospices at Panteg, Ystrad Mynach, South Powys and the most recent being the day hospice in Newport which was opened in 2013.

3. The amalgamation of all of the St David’s Hospice services and the addition of a 10 bedded Inpatient Unit, St Anne’s Hospice in 2013.

4. The completion of the St David’s Hospice Inpatient Unit in 2016 featuring 15 en-suite bedrooms and view of Twmbarlum.

M: What are SDHC’s plans for the future?

T: To be able to provide this incredible FREE service for the next 40 years and beyond.  We believe that everyone, no matter who they are, where they are or why they are ill, should receive the best possible care at the end of their life. No one should die in avoidable pain or suffering

M: You are well known for your charitable events throughout the year, such as the Newport Half Marathon and Portstock, but less is known about what the money raised is actually used for, what does SDHC do?

T: St David’s Hospice Care is committed to providing bespoke, individual care for all our patients and their families. We work alongside patients and hope to support them at the most difficult times of their lives. We aim to ensure that patients have choice about the care they receive and maintaining dignity throughout their journey is paramount to us.

The Family Support Team help family members by offering support and advice, taking away the awful uncertainty and fears that loved ones have to cope with.

‘Unicorn’ was established thanks to by funding from BBC Children In Need.  This service provides specialist bereavement support to children and young people.

M: What is the average running cost per day for the hospice service?

T: We are currently running at a cost for all services of £25,000 on average per day

M: How many people do you currently care for?

T: At any one time we can be caring for 1,053 patients in the hospice setting and out in the community through our Hospice at Home service.

M: What is your mission for St David’s Hospice Care?

T: Our mission is to provide and continue to develop a free and comprehensive palliative care service of excellence throughout Caerphilly, Monmouthshire, Newport, Torfaen and within South and Mid Powys for people, their families and carers facing a progressive life-limiting illness which is no longer curable. This service recognizes the need of the whole person and is given in co-operation with other agencies.

M: How much money is needed to be raised this year to cover the costs of caring?

T: We need to raise over £8 million a year. It is always scary when we quote that figure, but the reality is every year it is a financial growing strain. However, hospice care will remain FREE to all who need it and we would not have it any other way. As a hospice we are so thankful for our supporters and volunteers that continue to give in whatever way they can to make it happen.

M: Apart from going to one of your amazing fund-raising events, how else can people donate or become a sponsor to your very worthy cause?

T: We have so many ways people can support us –  the list is long! But some quick easy ways are through our weekly lottery, donating to our retail shops, becoming a regular giver or maybe having a donation box in your home or business. But give us a call on 01633 851051 and we can help you make the right decision on how best to support as we really do have so many options. You can also visit our website www.stdavidshospicecare.org/

M: You’ve been a main sponsor of the V Awards since 2013, and each year (thanks to our wonderful V Award winners and attendees to the event) we’ve managed to beat the amount raised from the previous year. How much has been raised in total since being a part of the V Awards, what was the amount raised last year and what’s the target for this year?

T: The V Awards raised a fantastic £5216.75 last year which is our best year yet. We are so grateful to The Voice Awards and South Wales Next Top Model for helping us raise over £15,000 for hospice care since 2013. Our target for this year is to make it another great night for the local businesses to remember whilst digging deep for St David’s.

M: What are your thoughts of holding the V Awards at The Neon, Clarence Place, again this year?

T: We are extremely grateful to The Neon for hosting us again this year. The venue is a superb space for any event and they really do look after everyone that comes through their doors.  It has a fantastic layout, well stocked bars and helpful staff ready to make any event a success. It’s so important to support these local entertainment venues for Newport to flourish.

M: Finally, where can people buy tickets to this year’s V Awards ceremony or make a donation?

T: Tickets will be going on sale very soon and you can secure your space or make a donation via our website www.stdavidshospicecare.org/events/

 

St David’s Hospice Care - Blackett Avenue, Newport NP20 6NH

01633 851051

www.stdavidshospicecare.org