Welcome to our spring/summer 2024 newsletter
It’s been an exciting start to the year as we expand our Hospice@Home service to become 24-hours. This is a pilot thanks to a generous donation and we hope that, through this service expansion, we will support more people to die in their own homes and prevent people being admitted to hospital.
The number of people who are being supported through our Wellbeing Drop-In sessions is continuing to grow. We are thrilled to be collaborating with the Motor Neurone Disease Association (MNDA) York group to provide sessions for people living with motor neurone disease, including complementary therapy. We’d like to remind everyone that you do not need a referral for our drop-ins. They are open to anyone who is living with a life-limiting condition or caring for someone.
The fact that St Leonard’s has supported over 1,000 patients and families in 2023/24 shows how important our role in our local community continues to be. You will hear from some of our patients in this newsletter, all describing our compassionate, unrivalled care. Yet, there is an inequity in funding from the NHS, which you will also read about and which we need your support with.
Next year will be our 40th anniversary and, as we start to look back and celebrate the people who helped make us grow, we are also looking forward and planning for a sustainable future.
With the launch of our new Vision, Mission, and Values we will continue our commitment to the people of York and North Yorkshire in helping everyone living with a life-limiting illness to have access to the best possible care and be supported to die well.
None of this is possible without you. You make a difference in so many ways. There are fantastic examples of this in this newsletter including Ben’s Twenty for Twenty challenge and supporters who danced, grew plants, and did some super challenges to raise funds.
It is also great to see our Rainbow of Ribbons campaign return along with our Moonlight Walk – please support us with these important fundraising events.
Our charity shops are continuing to thrive, and we are thrilled to be launching a new shop in Malton in July.
In the meantime, I want to thank you for your continued support. As a charity we now need to raise nearly £6 million a year to provide our unrivalled care and support to patients and families. This is only possible because of the generosity of people like you.
Thank you once again and wishing you a lovely summer.
Emma Johnson
Chief Executive
If you have any stories you would like to share in future editions, email communications@stleonardshospice.org.uk
