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 leila.ilkhan@pilgrimshospices.org.


    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.

    The Hobson Charity who donated

     

    22nd June 2020

    Good luck from everyone at Pilgrims!

    The team at Clague Architects in Canterbury have been clocking up the miles in aid of Pilgrims Hospices. 15 members of the team have pledged to complete a total of 140 miles by cycling, walking or through other creative means.

    Chris Sherlock-Scougall – Associate Architect, started off the challenge.

    Chris Sherlock-Scougall, Associate Architect, started off the challenge by connecting Dymchurch and Folkestone. Getting creative, Chris ditched the traditional methods and instead donned his roller blades completing laps around his garden. He successfully covered the 10 miles he needed to pass the virtual baton over to Cheryl Warwick and Stuart Bonnage who completed the next leg to Marine Parade Dover using a more conventional manner, their bikes!

     

    Cheryl Warwick, Architectural Technologist said: “Pilgrims is a charity close to many people’s hearts and now more than ever we need to show our support.

    “This was a perfect challenge to reboot our support for Pilgrims as well as bringing the team together.”

    The team are aiming to finish the relay mid July at their offices based in Burgate, Canterbury.

    Good luck from everyone at Pilgrims!

    We are so grateful to have businesses like Clague as part of our community.

    Leila, Pilgrims

    Colleagues at Clague have long been supporting Pilgrims, entering teams into various events including the annual Pilgrims Cycle Challenge which sees over 1,000 cyclists take on various routes across east Kent. In 2019, a group of staff took on the London Revolution Cycle challenge raising over £500.

    Cheryl Warwick – Architectural Technologist who completed the Marine Parade, Dover leg.

    Leila Ilkhan, Canterbury Community Fundraising Manager thanks the team at Clague for their wonderful support saying: “With the unexpected challenges we have been faced with over the last few months, we are so grateful to have businesses like Clague as part of our community. As a team, Clague is making a big difference to the lives of patients and their families living with an incurable illness. Their support is so very much appreciated by everyone at Pilgrims.”

    Clague have set up an online giving page. If you would like to support their challenge you can do so here.

    There are so many ways that you can continue to support Pilgrims. Click here for some virtual fundraising ideas.

    If you would like to take on a challenge in support of Pilgrims we would love to hear from you. Please contact our fundraising team here.

    We need you more than ever; our local community means everything to us.


    This year alone, Pilgrims Hospices has to raise £11 million through voluntary donations in order to run our full range of services. Sponsorship raised through events like these helps us to continue caring for local people at the end of their lives.

     

     

    20th July 2018

    Local brewery team complete marathon challenge to support hospice care

    The gruelling Heineken Race to the Tower was completed by plucky members of Shepherd Neame’s ‘Team Extreme’ last month.


    Chief executive Jonathan Neame was among the fundraising group that walked and ran 52.4 miles, the equivalent to two marathons, from Whiteshill in Gloucestershire to Broadway Tower in Worcestershire.

    The challenge is particularly demanding as Broadway Tower is the Cotswold’s highest castle, and the route involved more than 2,500m of ascent.

    Other members of Team Extreme, which has been running for nine years and sees Shepherd Neame staff tackle tough endurance challenges for charity, included Head of Property Services Martin Godden, Export Controller Olly Scott, Business Development Manager Dougie Dick, National Account Manager Lee Whitehead, Commercial Estate Manager John Barnes and Development Surveyor Nick Farrant.

    More than 500 competitors took part, and Olly and John finished the route in less than 11 hours 30 minutes, placing them both in the top 70. Jonathan, Martin, and Lee all finished in under 17 hours, while Dougie finished in just over 19 hours.

    They raised almost £4,000, and Martin and Olly presented a cheque for £3,381 to Pilgrims Hospices on Wednesday 4 July. The remainder of the money went to Prostate Cancer UK.

    During the past nine years Team Extreme has raised over £50,000 for charity, and we would like to thank everyone who has supported us.

    Olly Scott, Shepherd Neame Export Controller

    Martin said: “It’s the second year that we have completed the Race to the Tower, and although it is physically tough, it is a fantastic experience. It’s a great team-building activity, from the training beforehand to the actual event, and we have been delighted by the amount of money we raised for two fantastic causes.”

    Olly added: “During the past nine years Team Extreme has raised over £50,000 for charity, and we would like to thank everyone who has supported us.

    “The challenge was brutally hot and the course was hilly, it took all of our physical and mental strength to complete.

    “We are now starting to plan a very special challenge to mark our 10th anniversary next year, so watch this space!”

    Pilgrims Hospices Community Fundraising Manager Leila Ilkhan said: “Pilgrims would like to thank Shepherd Neame’s Team Extreme for their generous donation. The money raised will help us to provide care for patients and their families who need our help the most. Each year we care for around 2,500 people across east Kent, and this fundraising will make a huge difference to the care of so many.”


    If you or someone you know is coping with a life-limiting illness and you think you may benefit from Pilgrims support, talk to your GP or Healthcare Professional about the options or Wellbeing and Social Programme for more information.

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