Louise to make a compelling case
TALENTED writer Louise Ball is never lost for words in her work at East Cheshire Hospice.
Her role is to write applications to charitable trusts and foundations for much-needed grants which help keep the Hospice going.
Louise must put forward a compelling case for the charity to receive income from different sources. Building relationships with donors is integral to Louise’s work.
Like many of her Hospice colleagues she has a medical background, though her field of expertise is the art of writing. Louise used to work in medical communications, gaining a scientific knowledge put to good use writing pitches to potential donors. Her job, as Bid Writer, was created almost a year ago, incorporating work done before by the charity’s major donor team.
Louise said: “It’s been a successful year and we’ve built a lot of good relationships with trusts and foundations both locally and nationally.
“A lot of our focus has been on the expansion of our Dementia Carer Wellbeing Programme and fortunately we’ve been well supported in that area.
“We would also welcome grants for any of our other services, including childhood and adult bereavement, our befriending service, or the inpatient unit.
“Small donations are as vital as large grants. It could be a big corporate foundation or a small family trust which supports the Hospice and every penny makes a difference.
“It’s an important income stream. When we apply we find a project or service within the Hospice which best fits what a charitable donor wants to support.”
Research is key. That involves exploring the Charities Commission website looking for leads and speaking to the Hospice’s clinical team.
Louise said: “I ask our amazing clinical staff as many questions as I can to get a full picture of what the services do for our community.
“I then go away and try to condense it and explain what difference a grant would make. Trustees from the trusts and foundations then decide whether to give money based on our application.
“Case studies help show funders the impact of a service.
“With permission, we use quotes and videos of what our care means to people.
“These patient stories are like gold dust and so powerful. Clinical staff might not always recognise what they do.
“They do this work day in and day out and just get on with caring for patients.”
‘When we apply we find a project or service within the Hospice which best fits what a charitable donor wants to support’