Where can struggling families "dress your kids from top to bottom for £20" while helping others?

The bargains to be had at fundraising stores are just one of the things highlighted by hospice charity ellenor as part of Hospice Care Week, which starts today.

Ellenor provides care for adults living in Gravesham , Dartford and Swanley either at home, at the hospice in Gravesend or a local care home. It also runs children’s home hospice care across North and West Kent and Bexley .

It has a number of charity shops across the region.

Lisa James, 54, is full-time manager of ellenor’s store in Northfleet.

Her journey with ellenor began when her friend died in the hospice in Gravesend. Following his death, Lisa volunteered with the charity before taking on her current job.

She said: "I wanted a job where I could make a difference and be part of my local community – that at the end of the day, when I went home, I know that I have raised money to help local families in need of hospice care.

"When I say, ‘Yes babe, we made a tenner on that and with gift aid, your donation has now made ellenor £12.50', they are over the moon"

"The money raised by our shops contributes significantly to the £7 million needed each and every year to continue to provide our services, free of charge to patients and their carers. Now in the wake of Covid, we need our community now more than ever. We need you coming in and spending your money. Every pound we raise in our shops will make a difference to ellenor.

"Just £34 worth of your donation can enable one of our health care assistants to make an essential home visit to a family in need. If your donations raised £232, this would fund a session of chemotherapy for a child at home.

"One of my customers said last week ‘Did you sell my wife’s handbag?’. And when I say, ‘Yes babe, we made a tenner on that and with gift aid, your donation has now made ellenor £12.50', they are over the moon.

“As a single parent with nine children, I’ve experienced difficult times so if anyone knows what it’s like to be skint, to try and dress your kids with no money, then it’s me.

"Our charity shops can give you top brands, like Nike and Adidas and we can dress your kids from top to bottom for £20."

Ellenor is shining the spotlight on just a few of the people who keep the service going as part of Hospice Care Week.

This year's national campaign runs from October 5-11, and the theme this year is #thisiswhatittakes.

Ellenor is one of more than 200 charitable hospices across the UK taking part, led by the national hospice and end-of-life charity, Hospice UK .

Over the week, ellenor will show what it takes to provide end-of-life care during Covid-19.

Vikki Harding, chief executive of ellenor, said: “Each year, Hospice UK organises a week of celebration, activity and action to reflect on and highlight the invaluable work hospices do to support individuals and families with end-of-care life care.

"This year’s theme, This is What it Takes, is an opportunity to meet some of the people behind the scenes of hospice care involved in ellenor.

"From nurses to volunteers, therapy assistants to retail managers, chaplains to housekeeping this theme is about celebrating the incredible contribution of everyone who works at ellenor especially during these challenging and constantly changing times.”

Other staff sharing their story are kitchen assistant Deb O’Connor, who as part of a five-strong team, plus volunteers, helps serve nutritious food to patients, their families and staff.

The catering team will help ensure families have the knowledge they need to prepare the same sort of meals in their own kitchens for their loved ones, once patients have returned home. This will cover things like nutritional support, plus showing relatives how to make and shape pureed food, so it looks like normal food but is easier to swallow.

And don't forget the vital work of housekeepers such as Michelle Aldous who ensure the hospice ward is safe and clean and that linen is freshly laundered, something which has never been more essential in the face of coronavirus.

She said: "In terms of hygiene, we’re talking not so much about a rethink, but more of the same.

"We’ve always had the very highest standards of hygiene here at ellenor, which means that the place is a spotless.

"I know that by doing my job, I’m adding to patients’ safety, comfort and wellbeing. I think it’s the fact that we’re all working together to make a real difference that explains the lovely atmosphere here at ellenor. It’s a place that’s about people and putting them and their needs first, and I’m very happy to be a part of that.”

More at ellenor.org

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