EACH predicts losses of nearly £2m in the next year
East Anglia's Children's Hospices is renewing its appeal for help after forecasting losses of £1.7m over the next 12 months.
The charity says that's almost a third of the total it needs to continue supporting families in the region, and that's before it takes into considertion the additional losses of £100,000 a week in retail income during the second lockdown.
A year on from the Duchess of Cambridge's visit to officially open The Nook, a purpose-built hospice in Framingham Earl, the charity is appealing for help from the public.
The hospice was made possible through donations to a public appeal to raise £10m.
Ian Nicolson, who's the Acting Director of Income Generation at the charity, said: "We couldn't be more thankful for people's generosity in making the vision and the dream of The Nook a reality, but we now urgently need the help of all individuals, groups, community organisations, businesses, trusts, to survive this financial impact and ensure we can be there for families when they need us."
EACH say during the first national lockdown they had no choice but to suspend face-to-face care and support such as short breaks, wellbeing groups and events, and couselling in order to help families shield at home, taking its service online in most cases.
They added that The Nook was able to continue to respond to urgent requests for care and support though.
Jane Campbell, Service Manager at The Nook, which has won two awards in the last year, said: “Thinking back to our former hospice in Quidenham, while it was a place that those of us who worked there will always remember fondly, it is fortunate we got into The Nook before the pandemic arrived, as the increased space here has meant we could continue to deliver care whilst adhering to government safety guidance.
“The Nook has provided different types of support, including short breaks for many families struggling under lockdown restrictions and it’s not only a testament to the building but also to the team here that those families have felt comfortable enough to reach out for support.
“The continued pressure of the pandemic means our care is more important than ever and we’re now experiencing more requests for support, as families who have been shielding and self-isolating become exhausted from providing care for their children.”
EACH say the best Christmas gift supporters could give them and the families they support is a cash donation.
They say people can also see their donation doubled through a match funding campaign called 'Big Give's Christmas Challenge'.
Supporters can visit the Big Give during the first week of December and make their donation.