In the face of significant financial pressures Longfield Hospice is taking action to secure the future of hospice care in Gloucestershire.
This month Longfield launches a high-profile fundraising campaign to invite communities to take part in supporting this valued service to grow and move forward.
Earlier this year Longfield announced that it was facing serious challenges due to a number of factors. These include:
- The impact of the wider economic context in the UK, leading to a tough fundraising environment
- Rising staffing costs linked to increases in the minimum and living wage
- Increased operating costs in all areas of the charity
- Below inflation increases in NHS funding
- A drop in income from retail sales.
These pressures are being experienced across other Hospices and the wider charitable sector in the UK.
In a statement Sally Pearson, Chair of Trustees (pictured above) said: “Longfield shared earlier this year that we were taking major steps to reduce the costs of running the charity, in parallel with exploring opportunities for increasing income. Over the last few months, we have taken necessary but painful action to strengthen our financial position, with a persistent focus on securing the longer-term future for Longfield’s unique offer to local people and the communities of Stroud and the surrounding area.
“So far, we have sought wherever possible to avoid a negative impact on our direct care for the people using our services. We have reshaped the retail offer from our shops across the county; we have rationalised our Head Office arrangements and increased our fundraising capacity. This has resulted in significant reductions in operating costs and has sadly seen the loss of a number of valued staff.
“However, as year-on-year costs continue to rise, we need to do more. Next steps include a review of our Wellbeing offering, looking at ways to maximise the cost benefit of our main Hospice building in Minchinhampton, and continuing to explore how we can operate more efficiently and effectively across our whole charity.
“We are deeply appreciative of all the support we already receive from our local community and the special place Longfield clearly represents for many people. We are now approaching this community directly with a campaign to invite the public to play a part in securing the future for Longfield.
“Our Love4Longfield campaign is launching this month, and we encourage everyone to get involved by sharing their stories and supporting us in whatever way possible.”
Donations for Love4Longfield can be given via the Longfield website: www.longfield.org.uk
