News about St Luke's Hospice

Ranjini and Thusitha's Open Garden

The garden at 7 Treve Avenue was crowded on a beautiful summer afternoon. Nearly 100 friends came to enjoy the flowers and a cream tea, raising much-needed funds for St Luke's.

Inpatient Unit refurbishment

A much-needed refurbishment of the Inpatient Unit will be starting on 14 July and should be completed by 31 July or 5 August. Unfortunately this means the unit will be closed during that time. More details.
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Jubilate concert

Nearly 100 people appreciated a stunning and varied performance by the 27 singers of the Jubilate female vocal group in Kenton Methodist Church on 6 July. About £700 was raised for St Luke's. Many thanks to Lorraine Finnerty, the other members of the group and all those who supported. “...you could see that the singers were enjoying it as much as the audience.” The group website is at: www.jubilatesingers.org.uk
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Ladies in pink take to the midnight streets to raise money for St Luke’s Hospice

What a wonderful night this was!! Thanks to everyone who took part in the first ever St Luke's Midnight walk: 500 walkers; the wonderful volunteers who marshalled, registered, sorted out the hall and served breakfast; Stanmore Fire Brigade, the police, first aid crew, and all the local companies and organisations who sponsored the event. Over £70,000 in sponsorship was pledged: almost enough to pay the hospice drug and food bills for a year! Lots of photos on our photo page. Send yours in and we'll try to get them set up. Meanwhile, if you want any tips on collecting your sponsorship money, click here.
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St Luke's Summer Show

I wish I could have just some of them...

Thanks to everyone who supported the St Luke's Summer Show at Holy Trinity Church, Wealdstone on 14th June. Visitors enjoyed a range of activities from break dancing workshops and Bollywood dancing displays to relaxation sessions and colour workshops, plus a great range of stalls and refreshments.
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The Wymans' Open Garden

Patrick and Anne Wyman's Open Garden on 7 June raised over £700 for St Luke's. 72 visitors enjoyed delicious home made cream teas, a raffle, and the chance to buy plants and enjoy the peaceful garden on a beautiful sunny afternoon. It was hard to believe that we were in London!
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£250K Big Lottery Grant boosts St Luke’s Volunteer and Community Strategy

St Luke’s Hospice could not function without its network of volunteers and their extraordinary commitment. Now an award of £250,000 from the Big Lottery will help us to develop an integrated volunteer and community strategy for the Hospice.

How the grant will be used:

To enhance our communication with our local communities. We want to make sure that people from all cultures, backgrounds and faiths have a better understanding of Hospice Care, and of the services provided by St Luke’s and how to access them.
To develop our volunteer strategy. We hope to analyse and develop the role of volunteers and the opportunities for volunteering within the hospice. The contribution of our volunteers to the hospice is huge, we estimate that it would cost us over £750k per annum in salaries to employ staff to do all the work they do.
To work with local community groups to ensure that our recruitment of volunteers is more representative of the local community.

Would you like to find out more about volunteering?

We are keen to come along and talk to community and faith groups, schools, businesses and other organisations about our services and about opportunities for getting involved in the hospice, for example through volunteering or fundraising for the hospice. If you would like us to come and talk to your group just call Pam Russell on 020 8382 8040.
You can give your time, skills and experience in many different ways. You can volunteer to work in one of our 11 charity shops, raising vital funds for the hospice, or as a fundraiser, a gardener, a driver, a receptionist, a bereavement support volunteer, or a hairdresser, to name just a few. Volunteers come from a wide range of backgrounds, from students to retired people, from people who volunteer job-related skills to those who simply give their time and enthusiasm to take on a job that needs doing.
If you would like more information regarding volunteering for the hospice, or would like to talk about different aspects of volunteering, please do not hesitate to contact Personnel & Volunteering on 020 8382 8000 for an informal chat. Or click on "Volunteering" in the header of this page.

Wanted! Volunteer Resourcing Co-ordinator

As part of the project we will be recruiting a staff member to help recruit volunteers, visit groups and events to talk about volunteering, and help raise the profile of the hospice in the community. Phone 020 8382 8000 for an application pack. Or click on "Employment" in the header of this page.
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Skydive for free to raise money for your local Hospice

St Luke’s Hospice is appealing for adventurous people who are willing to experience the thrill of freefalling from 20,000 feet to raise the essential funds needed to care for people with cancer and other serious progressive illnesses.

Participants will jump strapped to a qualified instructor, giving the peace of mind of having someone else in total control whilst they enjoy the view! They will experience 40 seconds in freefall and approximately 5 minutes under the parachute. Once the parachute has opened they may be allowed to help with the steering and landing, all under the guidance of their instructor.

‘I couldn’t control the excitement I expressed in a series of incoherent screams. This was the biggest adrenaline rush I have ever had and I still feel the buzz every time I think about it’

Tara Brady, who jumped for St Luke’s in 2007

All costs of the jump will be covered, but participants are asked to commit to raising a minimum level of sponsorship for St Luke’s. The jumps will take place at an airfield in Oxfordshire, and participants can choose to jump on any weekend between June and the end of September.
The information page tells you all about it and how you make a booking.
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Last updated 22 July 2008