Fabulous Folkestone furniture shop opens to the public
Pilgrims Hospices has added an exciting new shop to its existing 31 stores across east Kent. The Folkestone Furniture shop opened on Friday 14 February, showcasing a huge range of new and pre-loved items including small pieces of occasional furniture, right up to and including full bedroom suites and, pretty much anything in between, as well as a full range of homewares including lighting, soft furnishings, curtains, ornaments and kitchen equipment.
The newly refurbished shop at 21, Guildhall Street, Folkestone is now a modern and bright space and, a welcome addition to the local community. It had previously been an empty unit for the past eight years, it’s now filled with something to suit all budgets and styles.
We are really excited about our new shop, and we’re pleased to have been welcomed by the local traders. We want the shop to become a key part of the local community.
Tim Stewart, Pilgrims Hospices
Tim Stewart, Pilgrims Retail Business Development Manager said: “We have a brilliant team who have been working amazingly hard to keep this project on schedule and open to the public on time.
“The shop is a wonderful space to showcase our diverse stock range, which includes some beautiful brand new lamps, cookware and so much more along with amazing retro and classic furniture.
“We are really excited about our new shop, and we’re pleased to have been welcomed by the local traders. We want the shop to become a key part of the local community. This is our largest furniture store and, we are confident that we’re offering something for everyone.”
The furniture shop joins the popular Pilgrims shop located in the main shopping precinct on Sandgate Road. The ground floor offers a wide range of goods including vintage clothing, accessories, trinkets, glass, crockery, books and vinyl records to name just a few of the treasures. The first-floor stocks a large selection of clothing, accessories and linens priced at £1, £2 and £3.
Folkestone shop manager Sarah Potts with volunteers Meg Alderson and Dotty Simms
Folkestone shop volunteer Andrea Samson
Folkestone shop volunteer Elizabeth Wyatt
The seaside town of Folkestone is most definitely worth a visit and Pilgrims shops will be topped up with eye-catching items to tempt you, whether an impulse buy or a more considered purchase. The friendly Pilgrims teams will be happy to help you.
The shops are run by a manager and supported by a small team of volunteers, but more volunteers are always very welcome.
If you would like to volunteer in one of the Folkestone shops or find out more about other volunteering opportunities with Pilgrims, click here.
Pilgrims shops generate many thousands of pounds of income for the charity that provides end-of-life care for the people of east Kent. More that 2,400 people are cared for each year, either in their own homes, within the hospices in Ashford, Canterbury and Thanet or as part of Pilgrims Wellbeing Programme.The people who generously donate or purchase in our stores are truly making a difference for those who need Pilgrims help the most.
Santas on the Run – Tri Series, a ho ho hospice success
Three jolly jogs, over three consecutive weekends, in three festive coastal towns where more than 1,500 red suited and bearded fun runners of all ages raised thousands for their local palliative care provider, Pilgrims Hospices.
Three charity Santas on the Run events took place during November and December in Herne Bay, Folkestone and Margate. The Santas ran, jogged, skipped and walked their way along the 3K or 5K routes in the beautiful coastal towns in support of the charity who provides end-of-life care across east Kent in people’s homes, within its Therapy Centres and wards at the hospices in Canterbury, Margate and Ashford.
Everyone was there for a very good Claus, including well over 150 elf volunteers who were all acting as Santas helpers on the day.
Kate Duddell, Pilgrims Fundraising Manager said: “The Santas on the Bay, (Herne Bay) started three years ago and is now well established as an important date on our supporter’s calendars, the event has raised more than £67,000 in the last two years. For 2019, early estimations show we will raise in excess of £50,000 for the Tri Series and we certainly believe in the countdown to Christmas”.
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Warm up Santas on the Seashore
Medals
Town Mayor Of Folkestone Cllr Jackie Meade
Martin Thorpe and Trisha Smith Satntas on the Harbour
Ebony Hills and Sam Hills from Folkestone with their Sri-Series medals Sants on the Seashore venue
Lord Mayor Of Canterbury Cllr. Terry Westgate with Yiannis Christodoulou
Lord Mayor Of Canterbury Cllr. Terry Westgate with Santas On The Bay! participants
The two additional fun festive runs brought a new dimension to the already popular event. The Santas on the Bay (Herne Bay) included GB athlete and Pilgrims ambassador, Yiannis Christodoulou taking part and the runners were set off by the Lord Mayor of Canterbury.
On to Folkestone Harbour Arm with Santas on the Harbour, and a new event area for Pilgrims, with two finish lines, here the magic of Christmas saw Pilgrims featured on Sunday evening TV news. Finally, in Margate, where we had Santas on the Seashore, and Santa himself in his grotto.
Our Tri challengers, who registered to take part in all three jolly jogs collected stamps in their Christmas cards at each event to be awarded their 4th and most impressive ‘gold present’ Tri-Series medal for completing all three.
“It was just the thing to get the whole family, neighbours, friends, schools and work colleagues into the festive spirit whilst raising vital funds for local hospice care this Christmas.” Kate added.
We are totally in debt to our wonderful supporters for helping Pilgrims to stage such a fun filled Tri Series.
Kate Duddell, Pilgrims Hospices
Supporters with sleighs, buggies and wheelchairs also joined in the fun with this inclusive event, every £1 raised will be helping Pilgrims clinical team to provide the very best care for those who need it the most.
Santas big and small took part from as far afield as Northampton; Ben Ackers and his dad Tony were visiting family in Margate and decide to join and raise money for this important charity. Young Ben was the first Santa back on the day.
The fundraising teams from all three hospices brought the festive events together, involving a huge number of volunteer elves, sponsors and staff all giving their time to help the charity raise as much as possible during the festive season.
Kate said: “We are totally in debt to our wonderful supporters for helping Pilgrims to stage such a fun filled Tri Series and a lot of ho ho ho Christmas fun. Everyone’s efforts will help our team to give patients the very best care and attention at such difficult times. After all, it’s all in a good Claus! You never know which festive character will be visiting each coastal town next year.”
Pilgrims Hospices will be sharing information on all of its fabulous fundraising events for 2020 very soon. Watch out for new events and challenges appearing on Pilgrims Hospices website:
Thank you to all of our wonderful supporters, you are just amazing,
Merry Christmas!
Did you know? 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.
19th November 2019
Santas on the Run! will raise £1000’s for specialist Pilgrims care
Paul Johnson from Ashford will be taking a festive dash along the Folkestone seafront on Sunday 8 December, when he joins hundreds of others in Pilgrims Hospices Santas on the Run! Christmas 5K or 3K fun run. The Harbour Arm will be a sea of festive fun-loving Santas, young and old, all raising valuable funds for local hospice care.
Paul in his running kit
Environmental Consultant, Paul, told us: “My dad Les was diagnosed with cancer a few years ago. He benefits greatly from the amazing services provided by Pilgrims Hospices, especially their Wellbeing Centrein Ashford where he has physiotherapy and receives emotional support.
“I joined a local running club, Beginners2Runners in April this year following a difficult time; the club is brilliant and helped make a positive impact on me. The running has really made a big difference to my quality of life.
“I decided to channel my energies into raising money for Pilgrims as a way of making a difference for those who need palliative care, and their families.”
If you would like to support Paul please visit his JustGivingpage and donate.
“Thank you to everyone who is supporting me, you are all helping to make a difference to end-of-life care in our area.” Paul added.
Lydia Todd, Pilgrims Challenge Events Officer said: “Thank you Paul for sharing your story, it’s wonderful that you are supporting us and helping to spread the word about our festive fun run.
“Good luck on the day, I’m sure you will enjoy every minute of the fabulous festive spectacle.”
Thank you to everyone who is supporting me, you are all helping to make a difference.
Your entry fee covers a Santa suit, a fabulous medal and, the feel-good factor that you are truly helping to make a difference.
Just by raising a little sponsorship you could help to pay for a patient to enjoy a mince pie and custard on the run up to Christmas, a festive dinner or physiotherapy sessions to help patients stay active and enjoy games with their family on Christmas Day.
See you there Santas!
Pilgrims Hospices is a charity providing palliative care free of charge to people in east Kent, and therefore relies on charitable donations.
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 visit www.pilgrimshospices.org/wellbeing for information on the Wellbeing Programme.
31st October 2019
Folkestone Channel Rotary hand over the sleigh reigns after more than a decade of Santas Fun Runs
Pilgrims Hospices are incredibly excited to be taking up the sleigh reigns of the fabulous Folkestone Channel Rotary’s Santas Charity Fun Run. The local charity will merge the well-known and much-loved Folkestone festive run with their own already successful Santas on the Run fundraiser. Folkestone Channel Rotary will continue to offer Pilgrims event support, ensuring this important local experience continues to be a popular festive feature in Folkestone and to help the fundraiser to grow from strength to strength.
Folkestone Channel Rotary hosted the Folkestone Santa Charity Fun Run for 14 years and raised an incredible £110,000 for local charities over that time. They have decided to invest and focus this success in to the growth of other important local events such as their triathlon, cycle ride and more.
Come and register for the jolliest jog of the year!
Louise Newman, Community Fundraising Manager
Louise Newman, Pilgrims Hospices Community Fundraising Manager said:“When Folkestone Channel Rotary approached us with the offer of the Santas fun run earlier in the year, we thought it to be a perfect match. My team responded with an enthusiastic and delighted yes please!
“I would just like to add a massive thank you for all the help and support that Folkstone Channel Rotary are giving us in the run up to our new ‘Santas on the Run’ event.
“We are very grateful they have passed on this fantastic community event; we intend to continue building on the success Folkestone Channel Rotary has achieved with this truly entertaining festive run and, important fundraiser for local hospice care.”
Santas on the Run! is an event for everyone, you can walk, run, jump or skip along the seafront with friends and family to get you all in the Christmas spirit. Join your local 3k or 5k fun run or challenge yourself to all 3 and join our tri-series! You’ll get to enjoy Christmas come early in 3 seaside towns whilst testing yourself to complete 3 festive fun runs, and you’ll get 3 festive medals plus a special fourth Christmas present medal for completing the challenge!
Edwin Beddy, President of Folkestone Channel Rotary told us: “Channel Rotary has been a firm supporter of Pilgrims Hospices over the years and we have developed a close and happy association.
“Our annual Folkestone Santa Run has been a firm favourite in the Kent Christmas programme since 2004 and has raised over £75,000 for local charities including Pilgrims Hospices.
“We now feel it is the right time for the Santa Run to become a much larger spectacle for the benefit of the broader Kent community and so have agreed that future runs will be organised by Pilgrims Hospices in association with Channel Rotary.
“We wish Pilgrims every success as they expand the Folkestone Santa Run into additional runs in Herne Bay and Margate between 1st and 15th December and look forward to working with them in the years to come.”
Folkestone Channel Rotary are a group of nearly 50 like-minded people from all walks of life, active and retired, who work together to support the community of South East Kent with funds and many hours of hands on expertise. The rotary club generously support many local charities and good causes in east Kent, Pilgrims Hospices being one of these. Folkestone Channel Rotary has raised over of £14,000 for local hospice care since 2001. Among many methods of fundraising, over £5,000 has been raised through the rotary club’s donation from their annual Santa Charity Fun Run.
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 click here to read about our Wellbeing Programme.
