Christmas giving with a difference: Make this festive season truly special with Pilgrims Hospices
This Christmas, Pilgrims Hospices invites you to bring a little extra cheer to your workplace while making a real difference to people in need across east Kent.
With unique and thoughtful ways to give back, including a Secret Santa with a twist, and the opportunity to donate an hour of pay, Pilgrims Hospices offers easy ways to make your festive giving even more meaningful.
Secret Santa with a twist
Instead of the usual office Secret Santa gift, why not choose something with a deeper impact? By selecting an item from Pilgrims Hospices’ Amazon Wish List, you’ll be directly helping patients and their families, bringing joy and comfort to those who need it most. From craft supplies for wellbeing activities to toiletries and gardening tools, every gift serves a meaningful purpose for hospice care.
As a special touch, Pilgrims will provide a unique Secret Santa gift tag for you to give to your giftee. This token shares what you’ve purchased on their behalf, capturing the true spirit of the season and turning a thoughtful gesture into a lasting gift.
Could your last working hour of the year go a little further? By donating just one hour’s pay, you’ll be giving the gift of compassionate, end-of-life care to those in need. This simple gesture, whether made individually or as part of a collective office pledge, helps ensure Pilgrims can continue to deliver essential services and support for patients and families across east Kent.
This quick and easy donation can be made directly through our website. Encourage your workplace to join in with a group pledge and make an even bigger impact!
Let’s make this season one of heartfelt giving and community support. Join us in making Christmas truly special for all.
For more details on how your workplace can get involved, contact Leila Ilkhan, Corporate Fundraising Manager on 07525 235 287 or email [email protected].
Each year, Pilgrims Hospices care for thousands of people across east Kent, with services provided from its three hospice sites in Ashford, Canterbury, and Thanet, as well as in patients’ own homes. It costs over £17.2 million annually to run these services, much of which comes from the generous support of the local community.
29th September 2024
Local businesses making a difference in the community
Pilgrims Hospices is proud to work with a number of businesses in east Kent as they pledge their support to local hospice care.
It’s been a busy year for the Corporate and Trusts Partnerships team, and we’re incredibly grateful to our supporters who have been, and continue to be part of it. From golf days to football tournaments, volunteering and payroll giving, our corporate supporters have been busy raising vital funds, and showing their commitment to Pilgrims.
Benefits of supporting a charity
By working with Pilgrims, your business and workforce will be part of the driving force behind ensuring the charity continues to be here for people who need access to quality end-of-life care, not only now but in the future, too. With lots of commercial competition for businesses in what can often feel like a list of endless choices, pledging your support for Pilgrims can make your business stand out from the crowd.
From boosting your businesses reputation in a fulfilling way, to enhancing team morale and engagement, the benefits of supporting Pilgrims extend far beyond the value of a monetary donation.
How your business could get involved
Choose us as your next Charity of the Year
Commercial Partnership
Payroll giving
Event sponsorship
Organise an event
Staff fundraising
Volunteering
Isabel Smith, Senior Trusts Fundraiser, works with teams across the charity, both clinical and wider support staff, helping with the delivery of a range of projects, from replacing vital equipment to renovating spaces in the hospice buildings.
Over the past few months, the charity has been very grateful for the continued support we receive from charitable trusts and foundations. With this, we have been able to achieve so much:
Our kitchen garden at the Canterbury hospice was funded by Kent Community Foundation through their Environment Fund, and with care of our green-fingered volunteers, we can grow our own fresh produce.
Our Bed Appeal has been kindly supported by a number of Charitable Trusts, including Cantiacorum Foundation.
The R V Coleman Trust, the Frank Brake Charitable Trust and Roger De Haan Charitable Trust, who are all helping our patients to remain comfortable.
Funding for renovations of one of our family lounges at the Ashford hospice has been given a kick-start with support from the B&Q Foundation.
If you’d like to get involved with Pilgrims Hospices and help support thousands of people each year in east Kent, please contact [email protected].
Pilgrims Hospices is a charity dedicated to providing expert care and support to patients with life-limiting illnesses in east Kent. Our services ensure comfort, dignity, and quality of life for patients and their families, offering compassionate care both in hospice settings and in the community.
4th June 2024
TJC Renewables Ltd & TJC Fabrications Ltd stands with Pilgrims Hospices in heartfelt support
TJC Renewables Ltd. & TJC Fabrications Ltd., a family-owned business working in the engineering, fabrication, and offshore sectors since 2010 and based in Ramsgate, proudly announce their commitment to supporting Pilgrims Hospices through a generous donation.
The decision to contribute to Pilgrims Hospices stems from a deeply personal experience that underscores the importance of hospice care in the community.
For the family behind TJC – Brian and Kate Dale, along with their daughter Kelly Waller and sons Bradley and Arron – the support provided by Pilgrims Hospices during a challenging time was invaluable. The family’s matriarch, Jenny, was diagnosed with asbestos-related cancer in 2022 at the age of 79. Despite the difficult diagnosis, Jenny spent her final days at home, surrounded by loved ones, thanks to the compassionate care provided by the Pilgrims Hospices community team.
Reflecting on their experience, Kelly shared: “The care provided by Pilgrims Hospices community team was a beacon of light during a dark time for our family. Their support not only eased Jenny’s pain but also provided comfort and guidance to all of us.” Jenny’s daughter, Kate, echoed these sentiments, emphasising the importance of the hospice team’s presence and assistance in managing Jenny’s symptoms and medication.
Throughout Jenny’s illness, the Pilgrims team ensured that she was comfortable and supported, allowing the family to cherish their time together. Despite the challenges they faced; the family found solace in the memories they created with Jenny, particularly during the holiday season, a time traditionally spent surrounded by loved ones, and the special relationship she had with so many of the employees and customers of TJC. Jenny passed away at the family home in Sarre on 20 October 2022.
The care provided by Pilgrims Hospices community team was a beacon of light during a dark time for our family.
Kelly Waller
In honour of Jenny’s memory and the exceptional care she received from Pilgrims Hospices, TJC Renewables organised a Christmas raffle to raise funds in support of the charity. The overwhelming generosity of friends, family, and community members resulted in a significant donation of £1,500 in January, underscoring the impact of Jenny’s story and the importance of supporting charities like Pilgrims Hospices.
As they continue to navigate their grief, the family remains grateful for the support they received from Pilgrims Hospices and is committed to giving back to ensure that other families facing similar challenges can receive the same level of care and compassion.
For more information about how local businesses can support Pilgrims Hospices, please email [email protected].
If you would like more information on the care provided by the hospices, please visit pilgrimshospices.org.
Each year, Pilgrims Hospices give care and comfort to over 2,500 people in east Kent who are coming to terms with an illness that sadly cannot be cured. The charity supports patients to live life as well as possible until the very end, free from pain and distress.
17th August 2023
Introducing our Corporate and Trusts Partnerships team
As a charity, Pilgrims Hospices relies on the invaluable support from the community including businesses, trusts and grant giving foundations to help us continue delivering care to people across east Kent.
How businesses can make a big impact on local hospice care
Corporate giving has long been an avenue for businesses to give back to the community on a national and local level and can help businesses achieve so much. With approximately 80% of Pilgrims’ income coming from voluntary donations, we rely on the support of our business community and the difference they can make.
The benefits go far beyond the impact that a monetary donation can have for the charity and can be a mouth piece for businesses to demonstrate to clients, customers and the community their social values objectives and aims. It is also a fantastic way to strengthen a business’ reputation and can have a positive impact on workforce relations and morale.
Isabel Smith, Pilgrims Senior Trusts Fundraiser, works with teams, clinical and non-clinical across all the hospice sites to identify projects to apply for funding for.
Projects can vary greatly which shows the breadth of services Pilgrims delivers and can include applying
for funding for the replacement of equipment, refurbishment projects to enhance the warm, inviting environment at each of our sites as well as core running costs which help Pilgrims to continue delivering its services free of charge.
We would like to say a big thank you to all the Trusts and Foundations who have generously supported Pilgrims including some recent donations from:
• The Albert Hunt Trust who generously donated £30,000 to contribute towards Pilgrims’ essential core running costs; their continued support is so valuable to the charity.
• The Hobson Charity who donated over £4,300 and the R.V Coleman Trust who donated over £5,200 so
we could purchase syringe drivers and lockboxes.
• Kent Community Foundation who donated over £3,300 for our Kitchen Garden project at the
Leila Ilkhan, Corporate and Trusts Partnerships Manger explains, ‘It is not an understatement to say that customers and clients are drawn to businesses who demonstrate strong charitable values. My role is to work with businesses on creating exciting partnerships which are tailored so both Pilgrims Hospices and businesses can achieve mutually beneficial goals.’
Corporate partnerships are an exciting opportunity to achieve transformational change and can take on many different forms to suit the aims of a business. Leila will sit down with a new corporate partner to advise and brainstorm ideas on what would work best for each business. This bespoke and tailored approach means we can make the most out of our partnerships and ensure companies feel part of the Pilgrims’ vision.
By partnering with Pilgrims Hospices your business will be supporting charity which has been delivering
specialist end of life care in the east Kent community for over 40 years and is at the heart of the community for so many people.
If you would like to get involved with Pilgrims Hospices and make a meaningful difference which impacts thousands of people each year please contact [email protected].
Each year Pilgrims Hospices give care and comfort to thousands of people in east Kent who are coming to terms with an illness that sadly cannot be cured. The charity support patients to live life as well as possible until the very end, free from pain and distress.
Isabel Smith, Pilgrims Senior Trusts Fundraiser, works with teams, clinical and non-clinical across all the hospice sites to identify projects to apply for funding for essential core running costs; their continued support is so valuable to the charity.
