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WHAT’S ON THE BOX TONIGHT

PEOPLE are being urged to come up with fun and inventive ways to help plug a major funding gap being faced by Bristol’s only adult hospice.

St Peter’s Hospice is facing a shortfall of an estimated £2million this year due to the affects of the coronavirus pandemic.

The charity, based at Brentry, has been forced to cut the number of beds in its inpatient unit from 15 to 10, and for the first time in its 40-year history is having to make staff redundant.

Its day hospice and day services have been suspended and a pay freeze introduced.

The hospice has now launched its When It Matters Most campaign, backed by the Bristol Post, in a bid to recoup the millions it has lost.

And people across the city are being urged to do their bit to ensure the charity can survive and continue to provide care to those in need in the future.

St Peter’s Hospice director of income generation Jayne Clarke said: “We are facing a £2million deficit this year, and that is a lot of money.

“What we need now is for Bristol’s amazing community to get behind us, as they always do, and help us meet this challenge we are facing.

“We want to be here, caring for people, for another 40 years.

What we need now is for Bristol’s amazing community to get behind us, as they always do, and help us meet this challenge we are facing Jayne Clarke, director of income generation at Saint Peter’s Hospice

“And at this current time, the future of the hospice is not looking as solid as it should do.”

The charity also had to close its 51 shops during lockdown.

Although all have now reopened, trade is down around 30 per cent.

Jayne added: “Our shops make us £150,000 a week towards the running of the hospice.

“Not only did we lose that income, but all of our major events have been halted and made virtual, including the Midnight Walk and the Tour de Bristol.

“Our amazing community groups also bring us in around £500,000 a year in income and their ability to continue raising this has been badly affected by the pandemic.”

An average stay at the charity’s inpatient unit costs around £17,000 while the average cost of the care provided by the hospice at home team to a patient is around £1,800.

“People can get involved and help us in a number of ways,” said Jayne.

“They can join one of our virtual events or come up with their own fundraising ideas.

“We know Bristol is full of creative people and are looking forward to hearing their ideas.

“We would also encourage people to shop with us, either at one of our shops or online.

“People can also set up a regular donation via our website. This is a great way of supporting us by allowing us to have money we can rely on during such uncertain times.

“Any donation will be appreciated. Every single penny counts.

“We are your hospice and we need your help more than ever now – When It Matters Most.”

You can get in touch with the hospice or make a donation at www.stpetershospice.org or pop into any of the hospice’s charity shops.