Annual Review 2019 - 2020

impact

in our community 2019-2020

being there for all the family

northdevonhospice.org.uk

You have helped the hospice care for local people for over 35 years. Your support means that those facing an incurable illness do not have to face it alone. Because of you, all hospice care is provided completely free of charge, and we can wrap an arm around the whole family during their darkest hours.

A year ago, who could’ve predicted the situation we all find ourselves in? Coronavirus has changed life for me and for you, and certainly for North Devon Hospice.

It meant a rise in demand for our care, and you can be very proud of how your hospice team adapted so quickly, in order to make sure that no patient or family member felt isolated during these uncertain times.

Obviously our ability to raise funds, to provide such care for you and your community, stopped almost overnight. The loss equates to about £5,000 per day, and it goes without saying that we will need your support more than ever as we all face an uncertain future.

Thank you for everything you are doing, it means the world to the people we are privileged to care for. I hope you enjoy reading about the impact that your support has had in the last year. After all, we are here for you and only because of you.

Warmest regards to you and your family, Sharon Bates Chair of Trustees

“

Nothing could improve the wonderful care, compassion and empathy shown to both mum and the rest of the family, making our dark days a little more bearable.”

highlights

of the year

2019 marked the 35th anniversary of North Devon Hospice providing care to our community, all thanks to your ongoing support. You also helped to realise many other wonderful moments throughout the year…

April 2019 Thanks to grants from five charitable trusts, high-tech pressure-relieving mattresses brought extra comfort and pain relief to patients on our Bedded Unit

May 2019 Ladies of North Devon lit up the Tarka Trail at Nightwalk. More than 1,000 of you marched in support of our night-nursing teams, raising £100,000

“

If we’d been left to our own devices, I wouldn’t have had a clue which way to turn. But because we had the hospice we could manage at home. It made everything calm and peaceful.”

June 2019 You ran a collective 13,000 miles at the North Devon AONB Marathon in aid of the hospice.

The event now attracts runners from across the country and beyond

July 2019 Our care model was reviewed to ensure we adapt to meet the needs of our community and ensure we can continue to be there for everyone within our community

August 2019 Sharon Bates became Chair of Trustees. This voluntary role helps shape the hospice’s future, and she brings over 20 years of healthcare experience to benefit the charity

September 2019 Andy and Jane Weir took on the James Bond Fireball Rally in memory of Andy’s friend who was cared for by the hospice. They drove 2,500 miles through 8 countries in 4 days, raising £4,498

January 2020 Thanks to a generous grant a new care record system was introduced, enabling GPs to refer patients for hospice care more easily and allowing nurses to spend more time visiting patients

February 2020 300 local men walked in aid of the hospice at the first ever Rugby Ramble, which included a pit-stop at the hospice, where patients came to say thank you to those taking part

March 2020

October 2019 Hospice patient Myles (29) proposed to his girlfriend Liz on our Bedded Unit balcony, with help from our nurses who arranged flowers and a cake. When the hospice shared the happy news the North Devon community rallied to organise their dream wedding, held just weeks before Myles sadly passed away

November 2019 Thanks to the support of local company Applegate, patients and families were able to share their experience of the hospice with the local community via a cinema advert. It helped raise awareness of the care on offer to all who may need it

December 2019 Work on our 5 year strategy commenced and will be ready to roll out in 2021. Our focus continues to be on care provision to our North Devon community

Your support helps the hospice care teams adapt quickly to the challenge of coronavirus, providing unrivalled care in difficult circumstances. Meanwhile, lockdown measures meant all 2020 events were cancelled or postponed, and our shops had to close too

Hospice arranged helicopter ride as part of Vicky’s Bucket List As a fun-loving bubbly Bideford girl, Vicky was stunned when she was diagnosed with cancer, aged just 21.

your support =

Vicky pictured in the helicopter just before takeoff

102

8,641

people given 24-7 specialist care on our Bedded Unit

visits to patient homes

926 hospital admissions avoided, reducing the strain on the NHS and allowing patients to remain at home in comfort

12,887 support calls to patients and their loved ones

2,762 patients and their loved ones cared for across North Devon

1,502 bereavement support sessions

After a series of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and a period of remission, Vicky’s cancer sadly returned last year and her diagnosis was terminal. She spent time on the hospice’s Bedded Unit and she showed an incredible zest for life, determined to make the most of each day, something the hospice would help her do.

Vicky had always wanted to take a ride in a helicopter and as soon as the hospice nurses heard about it, they sprang into action. Within a couple of days they’d arranged for Vicky to be soaring above the Devon skies in a helicopter, taking a dramatic tour of the local landscape.

Vicky said it was “an experience of a lifetime.”

Of the hospice team, she added: “Nothing is too much trouble, if you need anything they will do it for you. They’re quite simply amazing.

They’ve really helped to ease the intense pain I’ve been experiencing.”

We are only able to make amazing moments like this happen thanks to the wonderful support of our local community.

Vicky sadly passed away in August 2019 on our Bedded Unit, surrounded by her family. The hospice helped her have some amazing experiences before she died, living each day to the fullest. Her incredible zest for life will stay with us and is an inspiration to all.

Where our income came from in 2019/20

Where our money was spent in 2019/20

Total expenditure £6,141,568

Total income £7,508,411

18% Fundraising

19% Shops

61% Clinical and Supportive Care

18% NHS Devon

2% CHC funded activity

37% Cost of raising funds

29% Legacies

4% Investments and other

2% Education

10% Lottery

Priorities

for 2020-21

“

Looking back now I don’t know what we would have done without the hospice.

When we were there all the worry was taken away from us. As soon as we arrived it felt like home.”

Increase the use of technology to enhance our care

Ensure we have future financial sustainability particularly after the impact of COVID19

Launch our new 5 Year Strategy which includes an enhanced new care model

“

how you can make a difference: Your support changes lives and is more vital now than ever before. Here’s how you can make a difference, despite current circumstances: Join our hospice lottery, for just £1 per week, with a weekly jackpot of £1000. Sign up online at playnorthdevon.co.uk Make a monthly or one-off donation northdevonhospice.org.uk or call 01271 344248 Shop through Amazon Smile. The same vast range of Amazon products, but they donate with every purchase! Smile.amazon.co.uk Donate your quality, unwanted goods to our shops – now more than ever we need donations which we can sell to raise vital funds Buy from our shops. They are a treasure trove of hidden gems and every purchase helps provide local care to those in need

People don’t realise that you can have the hospice come to you.

You can be at home and cope with it all, because you’ve got their support.”

Teresa’s Story Your support helped Andy to die in peace at home, surrounded by family, friends and his dogs.

Teresa’s husband, Andy, was diagnosed with terminal cancer at the age of 61. They were supported through the entire journey at home by Jill, a hospice community nurse. Teresa said this support made a huge difference, allowing Andy to die peacefully in the place he wanted to be, which was at home surrounded by loved ones.

“Originally I knew nothing about hospices. I thought, like a lot of people, that it was just somewhere you go to be looked after in your last days.” said Teresa.

“But a few years ago I visited my friend in the hospice. It was such an uplifting and lovely place.

It really surprised me. So when Andy was diagnosed I actually asked for us to be referred to the hospice myself. I knew it would be invaluable.”

Hold a virtual fundraising event with your friends and family. A Zoom quiz? A Whatsapp bake-off?

A House Party cocktail evening?

She added, “People don’t realise that you can have the hospice come to you. You can be at home and cope with it all, because you’ve got their support. I didn’t realise quite how much support we’d get, but Jill helped us feel more in control because we had someone there, guiding us and giving us options.”

Remember us with a gift in your will. Please call us on 01271 344248 for more information on how to leave a gift in your will.

Your support helped make sure that Andy did not have to spend his final days alone, in pain or in distress. Thank you.

thank you for your support

Thank you to all of our volunteers who gave such amazing support in helping North Devon Hospice to provide care last year. Over 500 volunteers gave an outstanding 128,500 hours of their time. This includes our volunteer trustees who provide invaluable guidance and leadership Patron: The Countess of Arran MBE VLL Trustees: Mary Brooks, Sharon Bates, Kate Cox, Annabelle Tree, Thomas Parkin, David Cottingham, Teresa Turner, Matthew Jones, Robert Withecombe, Zara Svensson, Peregrine Mears, Jennifer Willmott, Kevin Underwood, Mike Ford, Alison Dyer. Vice Presidents: David Morgan, David Whiteley, Geoffrey Cox QC, Gavyn Davies OBE, John Riley, Lady Stucley, Mark Parkhouse DL, Sir Nick Harvey, Philip Jewell, Ron Ley MBE, The Hon. John Rous DL, John Brend, Keith Abraham

registered charity no.286554