YEOVIL NEWS: Yarlington Housing Group is backing St Margaret’s Hospice

STAFF from Yeovil-based Yarlington Housing Group have been busy planning ways in which they will raise money for their new Staff Charity of the Year - St Margaret’s Somerset Hospice.

The hospice won the vote from Yarlington Housing Group employees this year and will benefit from their fundraising and volunteering efforts over the next twelve months.

St Margaret’s provides specialist care in Taunton and Yeovil for people living with an incurable illness. The charity aims to improve quality of life for these people by bringing relief from pain and other distressing symptoms.

PHOTO – TOP: Pictured, from left, are community fundraiser Ruth Morgan, fundraising administrator Shanti Bygott, diversional therapist Sarah Meikle, Yarlington customer contact operator Sarah Gunnis, and Yarlington communications and marketing assistant Sarah Symcox.

Ruth Morgan, community fundraiser at St Margaret’s, led employees on a tour of the facilities at Little Tarratt Lane in Yeovil, to provide an insight into how the organisation utilises its charitable donations.

Ruth said “The hospice provides dedicated medical attention and a tranquil environment for patients requiring palliative care. It costs £10million per year to run the in-patient beds, community care nursing and day centres.

“We receive a small amount of funding from the NHS but we rely heavily on donations from the public. We are thrilled that Yarlington will be supporting us this year with their fundraising efforts.”

Sarah Symcox, Yarlington’s communications and marketing assistant, was present on the tour and has experienced first-hand the difference St Margaret’s can make to patients’ lives.

“Sadly my mother, Sue Wright, passed away at St Margaret’s last November,” said Sarah. “She was an ex-Yarlington employee so I’m delighted my colleagues and I can give back to the hospice.

“She felt very comfortable and reassured there due to the exemplary medical and holistic care she received in the final weeks of her life.

“I’m heartened that we have this extraordinary establishment in the area to look after those with life limiting illnesses and their families with immeasurable sensitivity and compassion.”

Yarlington employee Sarah Gunnis, who went on the tour of the hospice, said: “It was lovely to see and learn how not only the fundraising but also the efforts and time given by volunteers within the hospice and gardens has helped to make a difference to the patients’ experience.”

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