Rowan Hospice launches urgent fundraising appeal

Rowans Hospice, in Purbrook, has faced a loss of more than £1m since lockdown due to charity shops having to close and fundraising events cancelled.

The charity has only been saved from closing its doors thanks to the government covering their losses from a £750m pot that was announced in April for front-line charities, hospices and those supporting domestic abuse victims.

But now chief executive Ruth White has told The News that they are very concerned about the future if the government help does not continue.

She said: ‘In these truly unprecedented times, it’s really hard to believe what’s happening to our country and the local health and social care economy by the disruption caused by the Covid-19 healthcare crisis. The Rowans Hospice Charity is no exception.

‘We attracted government funding of £450,000 per month for the last three months due to our role in helping the NHS but we are worried that we are not going to get the bail-outs at the end of this month hence why we have had to launch this appeal.’

Due to the hospice helping NHS colleagues and increasing care capacity to take on hospital patients, costs for the charity have risen, set against the backdrop of losing retail and fundraising income.

Ruth added: ‘Our reliance on voluntary donations is now more crucial than ever, as we prepare for the long haul and the aftermath of this global pandemic.

‘We know there is a lot of financial hardship at the moment but it is not about really big donations but a little from everyone goes a long way. There are roughly 650,000 people across Portsmouth and south-east Hampshire and if everyone gave £1 then that is the hospice covered for a month and a bit.

‘We know that is unlikely to happen but we hope people can support us in some way whether it’s monthly or one-off or even donating what they would usually spend on their commute.’

To donate visit rowanshospice.co.uk/appeal

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