WILLOWBROOK Hospice is making a desperate plea for help from the community it has served for more than 20 years – after suffering huge financial hardship during the coronavirus pandemic.

The hospice has provided palliative care for seriously ill patients since being created in 1997 following an incredible community fundraising drive.

It has gone on to become a charity that is both loved and respected by the St Helens public for the amazing care it offers for people in their final days.

This high level of care is free, however there is a cost to this service, one normally provided largely by donations, income from events, charity shop sales and more.

But during the pandemic, lockdown and social distancing have meant many of these revenue streams have dried up.

And though the Government came forward to provide funding for hospices across the country, that money has now been used.

Hospice workers say donations have come flooding in as lockdown restrictions have been lifted, but there is a long way to go before Willowbrook is out of the woods.

Costs have been cut to try and help combat the financial strain, but the charity says more needs to be done as donated goods alone will not solve the immediate financial shortfall.

So this week the Star, which played a leading role in the campaign that led to the hospice creation in the 90s, is urging readers to once again step up for Willowbrook.

Speaking to the Star, Alun Owen, corporate director of Willowbrook Hospice, said: “Many hospices in the country are in a similar position – some have large reserves mainly because of large legacies left to them, but most don’t have that.
“We have had Government funding which supported us but now we are on our own. Many of our events had to grind to a halt, but thankfully we have still had people making donations locally.
“In terms of retail we had to furlough staff in our shops but we have now reopened some of them.
“But the harsh reality is we will have to make significant savings and make cuts to hospice services if the situation does not improve.”
Mr Owen said the could potentially have to lose 21 of its 130 staff to deal with the crisis. He underlined the need to generate revenue by revealing the costs of running the hospice are more than £400,000 month.

So how can you help?

Tony Foster, a volunteer with the hospice, has set out some ways Star readers can offer support.

He said: “If you’re not already a member of the Hospice Lottery, please consider joining. It costs just £1 a week to be in with a chance of winning the weekly first prize of £1000, or one of the many additional cash prizes. 

“To join the lottery, and for further information, please go to the hospice website.

“Similarly, if you’re a UK taxpayer, and you purchase from Willowbrook shops or make cash donations, please consider signing up to ‘Gift Aid’. 

“When you buy from a hospice shop, that transaction counts as a donation. 

“If you’re signed up for ‘Gift Aid’ it promptly increases your contribution by 25per cent, and doesn’t cost you a penny.

“Speak to any of the shop managers, or see further details on the Willowbrook website.

“With ‘social distancing’ severely limiting the events and activities that the fundraising staff would normally be planning, and given that we have had a period of four months with no income from the shops, Willowbrook now faces an enormous uphill struggle if services are to be maintained. 

“There are few organisations in this world that may be regarded as indispensable. Willowbrook – the local Hospice – YOUR Hospice – is surely one such body. Please do all that you can to ensure that Willowbrook remains strong enough to cope with whatever difficulties lie ahead as a result of this dreadful pandemic.”