A local company has gifted £3,000 to Oswestry’s Hope House Children’s Hospice.
Hope House, which provides care for babies, children, and young adults with life-threatening conditions, supports more than 750 families across Shropshire, Cheshire, Powys and North Wales, offering care for terminally ill children or for families whose child has died.
The charity – which is dependent on public support – has been dramatically affected by the COVID-19 pandemic given that its vital income streams, such as profits from its retail stores and fundraising activities have been halted due to lockdown measures.
Shrewsbury construction firm Darwin Group, made the donation to allow Hope House to continue to provide essential care for children and their families throughout the pandemic.
Increased hygiene measures have meant Hope House workers now require costly personal protective equipment, with 12 masks and gowns needed every day for each child being cared for. This equates to £546 per week for each child and will be necessary for the foreseeable future.
Charles Pierce, Managing Director at Darwin Group, said: “We understand how important it is to work collaboratively and support those around us. Hope House is a charity very close to our hearts, which provides some incredible care for those who need it most.
“We are living in unprecedented times, and our belief in supporting our local community led us to making this decision. It has been our privilege to offer this donation and I’d like to thank the team at Hope House for their continued efforts throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Lynsey Kilvert, Fundraising Team Leader at Hope House Shrewsbury said: “We cannot thank Darwin Group enough for their support and incredible donation. Since COVID 19 our fundraising has been drastically affected, our shops doors have been closed on and off and we are currently suffering a loss of £1.25 million this year. The current times are so challenging for us and support of local businesses like Darwin Group is so vital.”
Pictured: Luke Millington, one of the young adults supported by Hope House.
