Beaumond House: Three ways your business can support local hospices this year

Hospice care isn’t fully funded by the NHS so hospices across the UK rely heavily on donations, shops and fundraising to survive, writes Louise Sinclair, chief executive of Beaumond House Hospice Care.

It will cost Beaumond House around £2.8 million to deliver our services this year and around £2.2 million of this must be raised — and local businesses can be a big help in driving this.

There are many ways that businesses can get involved and support their local hospice, whether it’s hosting fundraisers, sponsoring events or through corporate volunteering. Every penny really does count for hospices to continue providing supportive palliative care and helping people to live and die well.

Fundraising

Holding a fundraising event or challenge can be a fantastic way for businesses to raise money for their local hospice — and it will give employees a great time too!

And if one event or challenge isn’t enough, businesses could also nominate their local hospice as their ‘Charity of the Year’— showing continued support over the course of 12 months.

There are so many great ideas for charity fundraising, whether it’s a cake sale, sponsored silence, walking challenge or even a sky dive. Here at Beaumond House, we also have some well-known local fundraisers including ‘Be Bright Blue’ where local businesses are encouraged to turn their shop displays and offices blue, to match our brand colours.

By hosting a fundraising event or challenge, employees will get a great sense of achievement as they not only reach their goal, but also raise money for a worthy cause. And this could even be taken one step further by businesses offering to match their team’s fundraising efforts, thereby encouraging and supporting them.

Sponsorships

We, and other hospice charities, run campaigns, challenges and events throughout the year to raise awareness and funds, but we often face logistical costs to make these a success. To ease this financial pressure, hospices may look for businesses to sponsor campaigns, challenges and events.

When sponsoring a charity event, businesses are able to advertise their products and services in the event marketing and at the event itself, so it’s a great opportunity for businesses to get their name out there and build their reputation, at the same time as lending a helping hand.

Corporate Volunteering

Businesses can play a vital role in supporting hospices through their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives and corporate volunteering programs.

Integrating hospice support into CSR communications can enhance a company’s reputation, demonstrating a genuine commitment to community well-being.

Corporate volunteering offers another powerful avenue for engagement.

Employees can contribute their time and skills to assist with hospice operations, from administrative support and fundraising to garden maintenance. These experiences not only benefit the hospice but also foster a sense of purpose and empathy among staff, strengthening team morale.

By encouraging and facilitating employee involvement, businesses can create a culture of giving back while making a tangible difference in the lives of those facing life-limiting illnesses.

To find out more about Beaumond House and how you can support us, visit www.beaumondhouse.co.uk.