THE TRAINING FACILITY WITH QCTO AND THE FIRST TRAINING ROUND WITH ROTARY FINANCES.

1. What are the obstacles that you may have had to overcome to achieve these?

One of our proudest achievements has been obtaining our QCTO accreditation—an intensive process that challenged us but ultimately strengthened our resolve. We are pleased to share that we now hold a five-year accreditation, marking a significant step forward in our ability to train caregivers with excellence. Another meaningful learning curve was navigating how to provide our students with workplace experience. While we were unable to place them with our home-based patients due to limited resources, our commitment to their growth remains unwavering. We plan to invite them back for a refresher and practical experience as soon as a suitable outlet is secured.

2. What would you still like to achieve?

Our heartfelt hope is to give this first group of dedicated women a true opportunity to gain practical work experience—ideally within the Hospice environment. Even more inspiring would be to see one of these caregivers grow into a leadership role, perhaps even founding a Care Giving Agency in partnership with Hospice. An equally powerful dream is to empower them to open satellite care offices in communities where such support is desperately needed. Helping them uplift others would be a remarkable and lasting impact.

3. What assistance would assist you in achieving this?

To truly bring this vision to life, we need two key forms of support: Firstly, access to a reliable and appropriate outlet for workplace experience is essential. Secondly, additional funding would enable us to continue training caregivers in the delicate and deeply needed field of palliative care. With the right support, we can create a ripple effect of compassion, skill, and service in our community and beyond.

THE HOSPICE HAVEN & GARDENS: A SPACE OF COMFORT AND HEALING.

1. What are the obstacles that you may have had to overcome to achieve these?

While our hearts and hands were ready to bring our vision to life, we faced the all-too-common obstacle of limited funding. This meant we were unable to complete the project as fully as we had hoped. Despite this, we remain deeply committed to enhancing the space and ensuring it serves the community with care and dignity.

2. What would you still like to achieve?

Looking ahead, we dream of adding a roofing structure to the area to ensure the safety of all who gather there—particularly as the surrounding fruit trees, which bear fruit throughout the year, may pose a risk when unattended.

Additionally, we would love to create a serene Wall of Remembrance, complete with comfortable seating, nestled in the garden. This would be a sacred space for reflection, honouring loved ones who have passed, and offering solace to those they’ve left behind.

3. What assistance would assist you in achieving this?

We are seeking either funding or in-kind donations of materials and services to bring these final elements to life. With your help, we can ensure the garden remains not only a place of natural beauty but also one of dignity, comfort, and remembrance for all who visit.

HOSPICE HEROES AND SUPERHEROES.

1. What are the obstacles that you may have had to overcome to achieve these?

“Hospice Heroes and Superheroes” is a new and hopeful initiative, created to support the financial sustainability of our organisation. As with many new projects, the early stages require strong visibility and community engagement. We’ve realized that a more focused and dynamic marketing strategy is essential if we are to secure the kind of support needed to reduce our monthly deficit and continue providing care without compromise.

2. What would you still like to achieve?

Our vision is to build a movement that inspires community members to support one another in meaningful, accessible ways. We hope to design and distribute impactful posters, run a thoughtful media campaign, and engage the public in a way that makes contributing feel both empowering and personal. Ultimately, we want to foster a culture of care where everyone can be a hero in their own way.

3. What assistance would assist you in achieving this?

To reach our goals, we are in need of funding to cover the costs of printing promotional materials and accessing media space in local publications. We would also deeply value the assistance of a graphic designer to help communicate the message with clarity and heart. With the right support, we believe this initiative can truly strengthen the spirit of compassion in our community.

THE CHARITY SHOP.

1. What are the obstacles that you may have had to overcome to achieve these?

One of our ongoing challenges has been balancing limited staffing with the volume of donated items we receive. While we’re incredibly grateful for the generous support from our community, we currently lack the space and manpower to process these donations efficiently, which affects how much we can ultimately sell to support the hospice.

2. What would you still like to achieve?

We would love to expand our storage space and have the ability to bring in additional ad hoc staff to help with sorting and preparing stock. Introducing a basic Point of Sale (POS) system, along with a labeling machine and stock control system, would also greatly enhance the efficiency and professionalism of our operations. These improvements would help us generate more income to support patient care.

3. What assistance would assist you in achieving this?

We are currently seeking financial support, donations of relevant technology, and shop fittings that could help us create a more functional and appealing retail space. With the right tools and resources, our Charity Shop can reach its full potential as a vital income generator for our hospice and be a beautiful reflection of the generosity of our community.