Hitting the right note
Getting the word out
By Claire Stuart-Paulin, Senior Fundraiser
Isobel Millar organised her first fundraising event in September, a karaoke afternoon at Blacks Bar in Kilmarnock, raising over £4,000 for the Ayrshire Hospice. Inspired by her friend Julie, who has been receiving hospice care, Isobel was thrilled to sell over 100 tickets. The venue was buzzing, and the microphone was almost worn out by the end of the evening. With a little help from her friend “wee Lizzie,” there was a stunning raffle, which was applauded by all in attendance. The dynamic duo also put together hampers to take to the Ayrshire Hospice’s In-Patient Unit over the festive period, filled with home-baking and tasty treats for our patients and staff.
By Ron Swanson, Fundraising Manager
We enjoyed our first talk of the year as we visited the Friendship Group at Troon Church of Scotland.
Thank you so much for having us along - it was a pleasure to share information about our hospice services, fundraising activities and our Capital Build Project.
If you’d be interested in arranging a talk for a community group that you’re involved in, please contact Ron Swanson on 01292 288488 or email donate@ayrshirehospice.org.
Annie and Charles: Bringing Paws-itive Vibes to the Ayrshire Hospice Channel 5 News Feature Perceptions of Hospice Care
We’d like to thank them both for their hard work and generosity.
The Ayrshire Hospice Joins Campaign to Change
By Lorraine Barrie, Head of Communications and Marketing
On Wednesday 22nd January, the Ayrshire Hospice welcomed a Channel 5 News crew to film a heartwarming segment featuring our amazing volunteers, Charles and his adorable Yorkshire Terrier, Annie, from Pets as Therapy. Annie, a two-year-old bundle of joy, and her devoted owner Charles, have become regular visitors to the Hospice, bringing smiles, comfort, and some serious tail-wagging fun. Whether it’s a cuddle or a wag of Annie’s tail, they brighten up the days of patients, families, and staff, helping to create that all-important home-from-home atmosphere. Our Clinical Manager, Lynne, was also interviewed on camera, sharing just how much therapy pets like Annie contribute to the positive atmosphere at the Hospice. We’re incredibly grateful to Pets as Therapy for all the joy they bring and to Channel 5 for featuring this feel-good story. A big thank you to Charles, Annie, and everyone involved for making the Hospice a little bit brighter!
By Lucy Glendinning, Senior Fundraiser (Individual Giving & Legacies)
Throughout February, you may have seen the ‘This is Hospice Care’ advert on national television, encouraging people to consider leaving a gift in their Will to their local hospice.
By raising awareness of the vital role hospices play in communities and shifting public perceptions of hospice care, the campaign aims to inspire people to consider leaving a gift in their Will. This will ensure that hospices, including the Ayrshire Hospice, can continue to provide compassionate and specialist care for future generations. The Ayrshire Hospice is proud to be one of over 143 hospices across the UK participating in this campaign, a national initiative facilitated by Hospice UK.
This campaign provides an opportunity for the wider hospice sector to highlight the critical care that hospices, including ours, offer within homes and wards across communities. For the Ayrshire Hospice, legacy giving is crucial to our funding. In 2023, gifts in Wills helped fund one-third of the 160 in-patient stays provided at the Hospice—funding that is essential to our continued work.
You can catch the full segment by scanning the QR code – we promise it’s “paw-some” viewing!
For more information about the ‘This is Hospice Care’ campaign or to find out how you can support the Ayrshire Hospice, please visit www.ayrshirehospice.org or contact us at donate@ayrshirehospice.org
April 2025 | EDITION 39
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