Hospice makes two million pound appeal (From Gazette Series)

Hospice makes two million pound appeal

COTSWOLD Care Hospice is asking Gloucestershire people to dig deep to help raise £2 million.

The charity, which cares for people with cancer and other life limiting illnesses, wants to redevelop its hospice building in Minchinhampton which it believes is hindering the quality of care it can provide its patients and their families.

Cotswold Care Hospice was established 16 years ago and Bob Lessels, head of fundraising for the charity, said the old building had served them well but it was time for a change.

He said: "The hospice at the moment is a house. It was opened in 1990 by the Prince of Wales, 15 years later and it's getting a bit tired.

"The hospice needs to be changed to something which is purpose built."

At the appeal launch on Monday, Mr Lessels told a gathering of local dignitaries including Stroud MP David Drew that the existing hospice was impractical for disabled visitors and did not provide the seclusion needed for counselling sessions.

Mr Lessels said: "Some of our wheel chair users have to perform six-point turns to get into some parts of the building."

In its redevelopment plan Cotswold Care Trust hopes to double the number of therapy rooms, increase the amount of counselling space and improve disabled access.

The charity has already raised £1,266,000 since its initial launch of its capital appeal in January of last year. However, after a successful 12 months of lottery grant applications and charitable trust donations organisers are now turning their attention to local groups and societies to ask for their help.

Cotswold Care Hospice already raises £800,000 a year to cover the day-to-day running costs of the hospice which enables the charity to offer its services free of charge.

Mr Lessels said that this new appeal could not infringe on the charity's normal fundraising.

He said: "It is important that the fundraising for this additional campaign does not detract from the normal fundraising."

To help the campaign Cotswold Care Hospice has already arranged a number of ways to encourage people to donate money. The charity plans to conduct a leaflet drop to 120,000 house in southern Gloucestershire area, a special account has been set up at Stroud and Swindon Building Society for people to make donations and badges and wristbands designed for the campaign are available in the Cotswold Care shops in Wotton-under-Edge and Dursley.

Chairman Matthew Butler said the work the hospice does is essential and the new development will help it continue.

He said: "This work matters enormously. Those of us who work in the hospice have met the people and heard their stories and we have heard the difference the hospice is making to people's lives."

For more information about Cotswold Care Hospice or the appeal visit www.cotswoldcare.org.uk or call 01453 886868.