Published on: Monday 07 Sep 2020 at 13:17
We are delighted to announce that our partnership with local property development company Weston Homes has won the prestigious Charity Times’ Corporate Community Local Involvement award.
The awards, which recognise, celebrate and promote best practice within the charity sector, were announced on Thursday 3rd September at a virtual event organised by the Charity Times.
Sarah Thompson, Chief Executive at St Clare, said: “We’re over the moon to win this award, recognising the strength in our partnership with Weston Homes. It’s fitting that as we celebrate our 30th year, we are able to share our celebrations with the company which has supported us for almost as long as we’ve been delivering expert, compassionate palliative care in West Essex and East Herts.”
When announcing the award, the judges’ reflections on the ‘outstanding partnership which has brought successful results over the long term, with clear and impressive impact on the local community.’
Each year, the Hospice needs to raise around 60% of its annual running costs (which totalled £4.8m last year) from voluntary donations; the rest is funded by the NHS. The support of local companies and individuals helps ensure that the Hospice’s care is completely free to all who need it in the local community.
Sarah added: “I’m so proud of the partnerships we have developed with local organisations and businesses, bringing in around £300,000 each year to help fund our vital services. It brings me great pleasure to see one of our longest-running partnerships, with Weston Homes, being recognised in this way; without them we would not be where we are today.”
Weston Homes has been supporting St Clare Hospice since 1994; over the last three decades, the company has raised over £2m for the Hospice. However their support isn’t purely financial; the company has been dedicated to helping the Hospice through volunteering, by hosting its Spring Ball and joining its business ambassador program.
Bob Weston, Chairman and Managing Director of Weston Homes, said: “We are delighted for St Clare Hospice that they have won, in association with Weston Homes, the Charity Times award for Corporate Community Local Involvement. St Clare Hospice is one of Weston Homes’ main charity partners and provides outstanding expert and compassionate care, both at the Hospice and within the local community.
“Given the pandemic, this has been one of the most challenging years that the charity has faced – yet the team have worked so hard and risen to the challenges and winning this award is a fitting reward. Weston Homes has supported the Hospice for three decades with donations and getting our staff involved in St Clare fundraisers. Weston Homes is honoured to be involved with such a worthwhile and caring charity.”
St Clare Hospice has corporate partnerships with a wide variety of organisations; from sole-traders and SMEs to national companies. Every partnership is unique as the Hospice works with each partner to help identify and develop the type of partnership that is right for the individual business. An engagement partnership with St Clare Hospice can motivate and mobilise employees to make a difference whilst meeting key business and sustainability objectives.
For more information on how organisations can partner with St Clare Hospice, visit our corporate partnerships page, or contact Amy Winehouse, Corporate Partnerships Manager, on 01279 773758 or email: amy.winehouse@stclarehospice.org.uk