This month, our patients are taking the opportunity to thank the thousands of people who help ensure hospice care is there for local families when it is needed most.
As part of a new month-long thank you initiative, patients have taken centre stage in a short film recognising the volunteers, supporters, retail customers, and employees who contribute to hospice care across Somerset.
The campaign has been designed to shine a light on the many different ways people support the hospice – from volunteering your time and donating to charity shops, to fundraising, making regular donations, working in hospice teams, and helping behind the scenes.
Volunteers
The first week of the campaign coincides with National Volunteers’ Week and recognises the contribution of more than 1,000 volunteers who collectively give over 4,352 hours every week across 66 different roles.
Volunteers are at the heart of St Margaret’s. Through your time, skills and compassion, you help us provide outstanding care and support to patients and families across Somerset. From welcoming visitors and supporting patients on our In-Patient Unit, to helping in our charity shops, supporting fundraising events, and assisting teams across the organisation, volunteers make an invaluable contribution to every part of hospice life.
As well as helping us deliver vital services, volunteers strengthen connections within local communities, bringing people together around a shared commitment to supporting those facing life-limiting illness. Your dedication enables us to reach more people, provide more support, and ensure that no one faces the challenges of a life-limiting illness alone.
Retail shoppers
Every purchase made in a St Margaret’s charity shop helps make compassionate hospice care possible for people across Somerset. Last year, our 31 charity shops generated an incredible £2.1 million to support our care, demonstrating the vital role our shoppers play in funding our services.
By choosing to shop second-hand, our customers are also helping to create a more sustainable future. Each year, you helped prevent around 1,500 tonnes of items from going to landfill, saving an estimated 20,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions. Every pre-loved item purchased is given a new lease of life, reducing waste and supporting a circular economy.
Whether finding a bargain, furnishing a home, or discovering a unique treasure, our shoppers are helping to strengthen communities while turning unwanted items into outstanding care.
Supporters
Whether attending an event, playing our lottery, sponsoring a nurse, making a donation, opening a garden, taking on a challenge, or pledging to leave a gift in a Will, our supporters enable everything we do.
Every year, thousands of people help to raise the vital funds that allow us to provide expert care and support to patients and families when they needed it most. It could be a big donation. It could be simply dropping some change in a bucket. Every contribution – large or small – made a difference.
Together, our supporters are creating a lasting impact, ensuring that compassion, dignity and expert care are there for everyone who needs them, now and in the future.
Employees
Our employees work together across a range of teams to provide and facilitate St Margaret’s care.
Every day, colleagues go above and beyond to ensure patients receive the support they need, while also helping families create precious moments and lasting memories.
Our employees embody the values of St Margaret’s Hospice in everything they do. Whether providing specialist clinical care, welcoming customers into our shops, supporting fundraising events, maintaining our buildings, or working behind the scenes, each person contributes to our shared mission.
To everyone who contributes to make St Margaret’s possible – thank you. We couldn’t do it without you.