Hello everyone, I’m James Rimmer, the CEO of St Margaret’s Hospice and I’d like to extend my warmest wishes to you all. I hope you all had a lovely, restful Christmas and have enjoyed spending some quality time with your families over the festive period.
First and foremost, I would like to say a massive thank you to everyone in our community who has supported St Margaret’s throughout 2023. I joined St Margaret’s as CEO in September and I have been bowled over by the commitment, dedication and innovation of our fantastic staff, volunteers and supporters, who work tirelessly to make St Margaret’s the compassionate and caring organisation that it is.
In the last four months I’ve had the opportunity to meet staff and volunteers from across the organisation in our shops, in the community and across both hospice sites and it is clear that everyone at St Margaret’s has a collective focus on ensuring those who are nearing the end of their lives, along with their families and carers, have the emotional and physical support they need and I’m proud to be part of an organisation that gives that to people.
As we approach the end of 2023, I am honoured to reflect on the incredible journey we have undertaken together at St Margaret’s. The achievements and milestones we’ve reached are a testament to the dedication, compassion, and resilience of our extraordinary team.
I am immensely proud of the stories of empathy and support that have emanated from St Margaret’s Hospice, echoing the profound impact we make on patients and their families. Our Sunflower Centres at both hospice hubs have emerged stronger in a post Covid era and are buzzing hives of activity where patients can take part in a wide range of activities tailored to their needs and what matters most to them.
Our Yeovil Sunflower Centre has piloted a new monthly drop-in group for patients to help them to manage their illness after they’ve returned home. The group has been praised by patients and the team hopes to make this a permanent fixture at the hospice so more patients can benefit from this in 2024.
Our clinical teams have worked around the clock to ensure we can provide a gold standard of care to patients and their families whenever they need it, whether they’re at home, in the community or in our specialist In-Patient Unit. They’ve helped patients receive the right medication to manage their pain and sourced equipment to help them to get up and about at home, as well as provide emotional support to families as their loved ones near the end of their life. Our recognition as finalists in the Somerset Business Awards Charity of the Year and the Markel 3rd Sector Awards for Community Engagement only reaffirms the outstanding contributions made every day and recognises the broader impact the hospice has in our community.
We have bid farewell to old friends, including Ann Lee, Joy Milliken, and Jonathan Langdon, and welcomed new faces into our hospice family; Clare Barton, Tom Samuel and I would all like to thank you for the warm welcome we have received into our new roles. This year, we’ve invested in developing the talent of the future, successfully rolling out Training Nurse Associate and apprenticeship programmes. A special mention to our volunteers, whose numbers have swelled to over 1000, bringing their unique strengths to support the hospice in a variety of ways. And of course, a warm welcome to Busy the Bee, our new community engagement mascot, spreading cheer across Somerset.
Like everyone, we continue to feel the impact of the cost-of-living crisis. The costs of delivering our care have continued to rise throughout 2023, while the pressure on our resources remains high, but our income generating teams have worked hard to sustain our income and as a result we are having to work twice as hard to generate a higher level of funds so we can provide the same high quality of care we always have.
Our 31 shops have been a key part of generating this vital income and have once again surpassed expectations, marking this the third consecutive year of growth in both sales and profits. Wonderful supporters in our community have also aided us by donating tonnes of quality pre-loved goods to us to make sure our shops are well stocked throughout the year which we are extremely grateful for. Scattered across all corners of the county, our retail staff and volunteers played a pivotal role in the success of our shops. They adorned windows with eye-catching displays, and provided real social value, helping combat isolation, and have very much been a hub for local people who are seeking companionship and a regular touch point within their immediate community.
This year, the success of our fundraising initiatives, including the Colour Run Remix, Great Somerset Cricket Bash, and Wear it Yellow, signifies a triumphant return to a full calendar of events and community activities. We know that families are feeling the pinch financially more now than ever before and we are extremely grateful to everyone in our community who has supported St Margaret’s and continues to support the hospice in whatever way they are able to do so, ensuring that these events continue to be successful. Our stories and achievements have reached new heights, featuring prominently in over 250 radio interviews, press coverage and online articles throughout the year.
Innovation has been our constant companion in 2023. The roll-out of cutting-edge IT systems, including EHR, Alex the Chatbot, and a streamlined Purchase Order system, paves the way for a more efficient and connected future. As we prepare for the integration of a new Customer Relation Management system and HR system, we are embracing change and progress at every turn. Our commitment to sustainability has seen the introduction of solar panels at both hospice hubs and the initiation of a green strategy that propels us towards our goal of being carbon neutral. This marks a significant step in our responsibility towards the environment and the communities we serve.
Looking ahead to 2024, we are thrilled to have new leadership team at the helm and are excited to make plans, innovate and be bold so we can be there to support more people in Somerset who need us.
Lastly, as we get ready for a new year, I’d like close where I began with a thank you. Thank you to our wonderful staff and volunteers for their unwavering support and dedication this year. St Margaret’s simply wouldn’t be the special organisation it is without them. Thank you to everyone who has supported St Margaret’s through what has been another busy year. We couldn’t provide the care we do without your generous support.
I hope you all enjoy celebrating the New Year and wish you a happy, loving, and successful 2024.
With very best wishes,
James