Charity Chat Dec 14

Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust Charity

Inside this issue...

Treks and Challenges

Jumbo JigsawGames

FOSHInterview

Tel: 0121 424 3838

Email: [email protected]

www.heartofenglandcharity.org.uk

www.facebook.com/heartofenglandcharity

www.twitter.com/heftcharity

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Editor: David Liberati Designer: Sasanka Srinivas

Hello everyone and welcome to this new winter edition of the magazine by the Trust’s very own registered Charity. The festive spirit is in the air and while we look at Birmingham coating itself with the shining lights, joyful songs and thousands of scents of the Christmas Markets, our thoughts as always go to all patients at our hospitals that will not be able to spend this Christmas at home, surrounded by their beloved ones.

It’s been a long break since the last number of Charity Chat has gone to press: in the last six months there were plenty of changes and news in the Fundraising office. New members of the Community Fundraising team have joined us to raise money for our patients; a new Marketing team is now in place to ensure all the fundraising initiatives and stories reach maximum exposure and spread across the community; our new Treks & Challenges section gives you the possibility to live a real life changing adventure; Moreover, we started to undertake a massive rebranding project,

to make the Charity more recognizable and familiar to patients, staff and members of the public. This is an important process that will last several months and will involve new materials, new initiatives, new events, and even a shiny new website to make the online conversation with patients and local community even better! Everybody is electrified to all the good things that are coming and the new team is committed to create a broad, varied and colourful range of fundraising initiatives to guarantee our patients a better experience at our hospitals.

On the top of all this news, this year you have the opportunity to step into Santa Claus’ red suit in our “#Be Santa” Christmas appeal, that aims to collect money donations or gifts for Children’s services at our hospitals. To donate now, just call the Fundraising Office or text “SANT41 £3” to 70070. On behalf of HEFT Charity, I wish you all a merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year!

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A word from The Chairman

With over 400 funds to choose from, it’ s like walking in an infinite “happiness store” where you can decide which smile you want to light up: you will be spoilt for choice! From presents for our children’s wards, to Christmas decoration to make our patient environment more pleasant, up to purchasing specialist medical equipment, there are plenty of ways in which your donation can make a difference in your local community. Moreover, you will be sure that your donation will go exactly to the specific ward or department you choose. Every year, local associations, community groups, local businesses, football teams and members of the public help us deliver a great Christmas for less fortunate people. Take action today and BE Santa! Just go to www.heartofenglandcharity.org/donate or text “SANT41 £3” to 70070 to donate £3 now. Stop Wishing, start jingling!

Puzzle and games manufacturer Jumbo Games has been the protagonist of an amazing fundraising initiative to source new toys for patients at our hospitals through a Jigsaw Amnesty. The amnesty, in partnership with the Trust and crafts retailer Hobbycraft ran between 18th October and 9th November, and proved so successful that it was extended by one more week. Members of the general public were invited to drop off their old and used jigsaws at two local Hobbycraft stores in Solihull and Tamworth. In return for the donation, supporters received money off vouchers that can be used to purchase any Jumbo jigsaw in store. On this nationwide campaign, Birmingham won the title as most generous city, with the highest number of donations, which Jumbo Games have matched with new jigsaws and donated to the hospitals for use in the Children Unit and the Elderly Unit just in time for the Christmas. “We are thrilled to be a part of this amnesty with Jumbo Games”, commented David Westman, Marketing & PR Manager for Hobbycraft. Not only it will help improve the lives of those in hospital but it will also create a stronger sense of charity within the local community”. Spending the Christmas festivities at the hospital is never easy. Not only will the puzzles add an element of fun into what can be a hard time for poorly patients and their families, it will also provide entertainment for the large number of nurses and doctors working over the festive period. “I’m so excited that Jumbo Games have thought of our children to donate some much needed jigsaws” added Samantha Askey, Nursery Nurse at Birmingham Heartlands. “They will help make many children’s stay in hospital more pleasant and show them that hospitals can be fun.”

Jumbo Games teams up with Hobbycraft to bring little patients new jigsaw puzzles

“In one equation you can solve all the puzzles of life. It is the equation of giving.” - Amit Ray

Editor: David Liberati Designer: Sasanka Srinivas

Don’t wait for Santa,

Be SantaStill coping with the crazy Christmas shopping rush? The wish list of gifts for your family seems endless? Running short of original ideas for finding the perfect present for your beloved ones? Make this Christmas really special by giving a meaningful gift. A donation to the Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust Charity is the best way you can impact someone else’s life and secure a patient a merry Christmas in the wards of our hospitals.

Registered Charity Number: 1052330

Heart of England warms up for its

first Black Tie Ball

A glittering Black Tie Ball is being organised for the NHS staff at the Heart of England.

This prestigious event will be held on Saturday 31 January 2015 at the fabulous location of New Hall Hotel & Spa in Sutton Coldfield, to raise money for chemotherapy and cancer equipment for Good Hope Hospital. Amongst the equipment in the wish list, there is also a bladder scanner for the Urology Unit: this state of the art equipment will help diagnose prostate related conditions more effectively and will cost £10,000.

The ball is set to be an amazing evening, packed with entertainment from an award winning magician, a three course meal, silent and live auction, great raffle prizes, heads and tails game, plus a charity casino and fantastic music by the in-house DJ.

Managing Director of Good Hope Hospital Richard Parker would like to thank our main sponsors Healthcare at Home and Vanguard Healthcare Ltd for supporting the event as well as Sixth Sense Hair & Beauty for providing the goody bags and a prize for our raffle. Tickets are £45 per head for a three course meal, reception drinks, teas and coffee served after the meal. To purchase your ticket or for additional information, please contact Samantha Howell on 47560 or email: [email protected]

Help us reach our target via the link www.justgiving.com/goodhopeblacktieball or text ‘GHHB50 £3 to 70070 to make a small donation. now.Venue: New Hall Hotel

Screams of joy were filling the Fundraising office when it was announced that the HEFT Charity had been awarded £1,000 at the 2014 Lloyds Community Award.

The competition, held by Lloyds Community Fund from 2nd September until 10th October, was created by the bank group to champion good causes in local communities all across the UK with grants of up to £3,000. From the Scottish Highlands to the Channel Islands, from Wales to the east coasts more than 350 Charities fought to promote their cause among communities and advertised them on Social Media in order to collect the most votes and get the valuable prize. Thanks to the votes of all our beloved supporters we achieved third place, winning £1,000 that will be used to buy toys, books and other equipment for the Children Assessment Unit at Good Hope Hospital. The Lloyds Community Fund initiative has been an incredible success and scored a record-breaking participation: more than 1,400,000 votes were cast for the 1,400 good causes in 350 communities across the United Kingdom. In each community the votes were cast for the four good causes either online, by Twitter, SMS or in branch.

“We are delighted to having been chosen in 3rd place” said Monica Morrin, Ward Manager at Good Hope. “On behalf of Paediatrics at the Trust, I would like to say a huge thank you to the Lloyds Community Award 2014”.

The award will help purchase toys and other fun equipment which will offer relaxation and a pleasurable distraction for children suffering from pain during treatment, examinations, procedures and rehabilitation.

HEFT Charity gets bronze medal at Lloyds Community Award 2014 !!


OPEN THE DOORS TO THE

ADVENTURE OF A LIFETIME!

dive into a life changing experience in 2015Have you ever dreamt of doing something totally amazing? Have you ever wanted to push yourself and give something back to a cause close to your heart? We did. In 2014 HEFT Charity partnered with Global Adventure Challenges to offer everyone the opportunity to undertake an incredible challenge and at the same time raise much needed funds for improving the life of patients at our hospitals.

The initiativeTreks & Challenges is a new initiative launched by Heart of England Foundation Trust Charity that allows everyone to raise money for the Charity by undertaking a sporting, trekking or adventurous activity either in the UK or abroad. From biking in Cuba to trekking in Nepal, from hitting the Great Wall of China to cycling to Paris, we can offer a wide range of challenges that will suit everyone’s taste for adventure or fitness level.

Those who've done it say...…

“The trip was amazing, a real adventure and has left me with some great memories. Everything went so smoothly and the accommodation and food en route were superb.”Stuart Wilson - Coast to Coast Cycling Challenge

“I made some fab friends and I learnt a lot about myself…Cycling in Paris is the most exhilarating thing I have ever done in my life, so if you are thinking about signing up, do it, do it, do it, do it!”Kerry Cahill – London to Paris Bike Ride

From the captain’s Diary

No adventurer goes on such a trip

without his diary…..send info,

pictures and updates about your

adventure to all your Facebook

friends and Twitter followers and

remember to quote #Heftcharity on

your posts!

1 You Gov, “Activity and Adventure Holidays”, 2013


How does it work?Participants can sign up either as an individual or a team and they can choose among a large range of different activities. After payment of a registration fee, adventurers will receive from the Charity a fundraising support pack, consisting of fundraising tips, training advice, sponsorship form, leaflets, t-shirts, collection tins, badges and pins. In return, they are only required to raise a minimum sponsorship that varies depending on the duration of the adventure. HEFT Charity will be giving advice and support along the way, so that you can make the most out of your adventure and raise the highest amount for the cause you love

How do I enrol?Once you have chosen the right challenge for you and the dates of your adventure, just give us a call on 0121 424 3838 or email us at [email protected]. You will be given detailed information about the initiative and shown the Charity’s current activities and appeals and be advised about how to reach your sponsorship amount, easily and smoothly.

Why is this important?In a more and more globalised and connected world, adventure travel is emerging as the new way to travel for the 21st century. According to a YouGov report1, 36 million of UK residents have undertaken a holiday abroad during 2012. According to the same report, Walking, Trekking and Cycling rank as the top 3 favourite activities and over the next 3 years there will be an increase of 70% in participation to adventure travels.

Why undertaking a challenge for us?Our Treks & Challenges are so unique because they combine together the ecological, cultural and ethical elements of the travel. Such travel involves reconnecting with the nature by travelling through beautiful landscapes in a sustainable way. Secondly, this way of travelling allows you to get immersed in the local culture, learning customs, rites and traditions of locals. Moreover, this amazing experience will raise money for our Charity and have a real, long lasting impact on the patients of the hospitals that are part of the Heart of England NHS Trust.

Cambodia

PeruParis

What are you waiting for? Call the Fundraising Team at 0121 424 3838 or email us at [email protected] and grab your adventure of a lifetime! For more

information about Treks & Challenges, visit www.heartofenglandcharity.org.uk/challenges

Leaving a legacy A gesture that stays forever

A gesture that stays forever, a great help for generations to come, a footstep of love: Legacies have been given plenty of definitions and described in many ways, but leaving a gift for the HEFT Trust in your will stays one of the most popular, beautiful ways to leave a true legacy for our hospitals and the local community. This form of donation is vital for many charities in UK, for which gifts in wills represent about one third of the total income.

Usually, at the end of the life, the urgency to look after the closest ones, like family, relatives and friends is the first source of doubt or reluctance in leaving a bequest to charity. Many other people may have already made their will, but have the perception that changing it will result in bureaucratic hurdles and give up. Despite the understandable fears, leaving a legacy to a Charity can be easier than most people think. There is more than one way to donate a legacy, so that the donation reflects the needs and wishes of everybody. Unlike what is commonly believed, leaving a legacy is not a privilege of rich and affluent people, but it can make a difference in every measure and size. Big or small, every gift we receive is appreciated and represents a fundamental brick in the building of a better tomorrow for future generations of countless patients at the Trust. Thanks to the generosity of members of the community, during 2014 the Trust has benefited greatly from several legacy donations, many of which have already been utilised to purchased urgently needed specialist equipment for the wards.

This is why the HEFT Charity runs communication initiatives to make people aware of this opportunity to donate. With over 400 funds to choose from, HEFT Charity provides donors with an unprecedented freedom of choice: from the broader, generic Services areas, up to the most specific, precise single department, you can be sure your legacy will go exactly when you want it to.

During 2013/2014 almost £300,000 was donated through legacies to the Heart of England NHS Trust. This year looks very promising as well: with £83,000 already received and £155,000 of pledged legacies, we will be able to secure the patients at our hospital the top class care they deserve.

Here are a few examples of how the legacy donations from 2014/2015 helped us making our hospitals even better:

Heartlands Hospital Severe Brittle Asthma Unit

In June 2014, £25,000 was spent to purchase Bronchial Thermoplasty machinery for the Severe Brittle Asthma Unit at Heartlands Hospital. Brittle Asthma is one of the most difficult forms of asthma, up to half a million people, are living with severe asthma symptoms despite taking high doses of medicine correctly and avoiding triggers. The Bronchial Thermoplasty will help people affected by severe asthma by applying heat to the airways to reduce the amount of scars / tissues in the lung caused by airways narrowing.

Heartlands Hospital

A&E Department

The A&E Department staffs at Heartlands Hospital have been celebrating the arrival of a brand new Edge Ultrasound System& Transducer last April. This portable machine cost £30,000 represents the state of the art in terms of ultrasound imaging and will allow medical staff to have high quality, real time images of organs and tissues. The Ultrasound system is widely used today in the UK in many types of examinations, including Doppler, Echocardiogram, and Bone Sonography and Fetal ultrasound.

Good Hope Hospital Cedarwood Unit

New Shower rooms were installed at the Cedarwood Unit at Good hope Hospital in June 2014. Cedarwood, a revolutionary new service opened in 2013 at Good Hope Hospital supports patients who are medically fit and due to be discharged but need additional support before returning home. The Cedarwood Unit, who provides 24 hr support in a homely environment, has now been equipped with new shower rooms, purchased by the Trust for £15,000.

You too can help transform lives of future generations with a simple but powerful gesture. For further information on legacy giving or if you are considering including a legacy in your will, please contact the Donated Funds Department at 0121 424 1118 or speak to your solicitor.


Friends of Solihull Hospital (FOSH) have closed the year in the best possible way by being awarded at the Trust annual Staff Recognition Awards. What awaits next? We asked Liz Steventon, FOSH Secretary, about the association’s vision and goals for 2015.

Friends of Solihull Hospital have been awarded the Charity Community Award at the Staff Recognition Awards. What are your thoughts about this achievement? Were you expecting to win?

LS: We were not expecting to win but were hopeful. We are extremely grateful for this Award as it is tangible proof to all our volunteers that their efforts both over the last 61 years and currently are appreciated and recognised by the Trust.

December is the time of the year in which we indulge into looking back at what we’ve done during the past 12 months. What’s your analysis of 2014 for the association?

LS: We have had another excellent year of fundraising for the Friends considering the country’s current economic situation. Local people and companies have been very generous this year and we have even had a few surprise legacies. We have worked extremely hard and we are always trying to come up with new interesting events to raise money.

What’s the result achieved by FOSH during 2014 you are most proud of?

LS: Three things: an excellent Summer Fete, recognising the service and commitment of Millie Skinner achieving her 100th birthday and receiving the Award from the Trust.

What are the new objectives and projects of the association for 2015?

LS: We will continue supporting wards and departments at Solihull Hospital to purchase equipment that will enhance the treatment or comfort of patients and staff. Looking forward, one of our major projects will be to work in conjunction with the Trust Charity on raising funds for the new Chemotherapy unit, whilst still maintaining our ability to respond to requests from the wards. Quite a challenge!

What would you say to all those people from the local community who would like to engage into volunteering activities, but don’t know exactly where to start?

LS: I’d invite them to make contact with myself at [email protected] or call 07909912525. Alternatively contact our Chairman Bill Jones at [email protected] or call 07914791414 to discuss how and what involvement is available within the Association or to buy tickets to our events.

A Word with...Friends of Solihull Hospital

Gemma Rayson and her colleague Annette pulled on their walking boots and went for a sponsored walk to raise money for the Children’s A&E unit at Good Hope Hospital. Gemma, who is Children’s Nurse at Good Hope, and Annette, Play Coordinator, are “fundraising veterans” and have already organised several fundraising events for the Trust in the past. They have recently completed a get fit Challenge, where they lost overall more than 4 stone in weight.What better way to celebrate success than a a sponsored walk for the children at the hospital?

The initiative has encountered a tidal wave of warmth and support by both Trust staff and the community, and also local businesses joined the collective effort, raising the wonderful amount of over £3,000. Gemma and Annette, companied by the faithful four- legged friend Spyro, undertook a 12.5 miles walk around the Sherbrook Trail in Cannock Chase on the 6th November. The money raised, collected through a mixture of direct, text and online donations, will go towards the purchase of a Multi-Sensory equipment for the Children’s A&E. Are they going to celebrate this success with another fundraising initiative? We will find out very soon…Well done, girls!

A&E Nurses hit the road again for children at Good Hope

Overcoming one of most powerful human fears, going through the clouds, challenging gravity, Claire Lane and her husband Paul did all of this for a great cause. On 7th August, they made a charity skydive to raise money for the Neo Natal Unit at Birmingham Heartlands Hospital in memory of her little niece. In 2006 little Faye was born 24 weeks and she was taken to the Neonatal Unit as she had a post birth complication, resulting in a cerebral haemorrhage. Unfortunately, despite the efforts of all clinical staff, little Faye sadly passed away 16 hours after birth. Claire and Paul have never forgotten what the staff did for their niece and her family, and have always wanted to say “thank you” by raising money for the Neonatal Unit. The occasion came along with a skydive when she mustered up her courage and headed to the Hinton Sky Dive site for the big jump. “The Skydive was the most frightening, amazing experience of our life – Claire declared just after the exciting experience - but it was worth it in memory of Faye and for a brilliant cause.” Claire and Paul raised a brilliant £1,075.00 that will be used to buy much needed equipment at the Unit.

When generosity defies gravity


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Charity Chat Dec 14