Rachel has a new income director role
EAST CHESHIRE Cheshire Hospice has appointed a new income generation director.
Rachel Allcock, from Broken Cross, who has previously been marketing manager at the hospice, steps into the role which was previously held by Karyn Johnson, the new hospice director.
Rachel,43, joined the hospice in 2015. She was inspired to apply for the role following the death of her mother, Megan Fyles, after a short illness.
“My mum spent her last days in a hospice in Merseyside and I saw at first-hand the amazing work that goes on there,” says Rachel.
“After months of treatment by doctors that just wasn’t working, it was such an overwhelming relief for her and the family to come to a place which concentrated on making her last weeks as comfortable and fulfilling as possible.
“You never truly understand the work of a hospice until you experience it first hand.”
Just weeks after her mother’s death, Rachel took up her job at East Cheshire Hospice, moving from Peaks and Plains Housing Association where she had been for more than seven years.
The role of a central marketing manager was a new one for the hospice but, with less than 20 per cent of funding coming from government, the need to communicate the hospice message was ever constant.
Her first task was the re-branding of the hospice logo and website, and to develop the social media presence of the hospice which has greatly expanded.
“Social media has grown from just being a marketing side-line to being the main way we reach our audience,” says Rachel.
“Our Facebook site been incredibly important in this our 30th anniversary year.”
In her new role, Rachel will head up both the fundraising and commercial teams which includes the three hospice charity shops.
At a time of expansion of the hospice services into the community, Rachel anticipates challenging times ahead.
“Our hospice @Home service has been phenomenally successful and, as we plan to extend more services into the community, there will be a continual need to raise money,” Rachel says.
“We are still in times of austerity and people have less cash to give, yet our services will continue to be in demand.
“But we have a brilliant and dedicated fundraising team and my job will be to help them do what they do best,” she said. MACCLESFIELD Art Fair is planning an extra special 20th anniversary year in 2019.
In addition to the eight-day Art Fair at Macclesfield Town Hall next September, organisers have also secured an artistic coup from world-renowned installation artist Susie MacMurray.
Susie is to display a new installation at Tatton Park from next June to the end of September with all proceeds from both events going to the East Cheshire Hospice.
“Susie has an international exhibition profile and we are absolutely delighted that she has agreed to be part of our special anniversary year,” says Georgie Johnson, the new co-chair of the Art Fair.
“Her installation is to be inspired by the work of the East Cheshire Hospice and it promises to be fascinating.”
An event to explain more about next year’s plans is to take place on Thursday, September 20 at Over Alderley.
“The Art Fair is run entirely by volunteers and we are going to need lots of support next year,” says Georgie.
“There’s lots of job roles – from stewards to café helpers and even if people can only give us a few hours of their time, we’d really love to see them.”
The volunteer event takes place at the Reading Rooms in Birtles Lane from 6pm to 8pm.
The Art Fair, which has now established itself as one of the most respected art exhibitions in the north west of England, will take place between September 26 and October 3 next year. Further information is available from contact@theartfair.org.uk.