The whole team at FOCXH cannot believe we are in November already! Where has 2019 gone? Firstly, I would like to start by thanking the trustees and volunteers of FOCXH; without their ongoing commitment and drive, the charity would not be here today. Thank you team for all your hard work and energy. Next, here is our charity news update, including our latest grants, a change of treasurer and our fabulous Christmas events.
Change of treasurer
In September, we sadly accepted the resignation of Geoff North as Treasurer and Trustee. Geoff has been such a foundation for the success of FOCXH with his years of commitment as a trustee and the last three years as our treasurer. Geoff’s commitment and expertise will be sadly missed by the whole team. Thank you so much Geoff, for all your years of devotion and hard work for the charity. It has been greatly appreciated.
With Geoff’s departure we welcomed Kayla Chrysler as our new treasurer. Kayla has been part of the FOCXH trustee team for the past two years and we are thrilled to have her in the role of treasurer supporting us. Exciting times ahead!
Latest approved grants
During the grant section of the meeting we were thrilled to hear that the sleep aid box project which we helped to fund is underway. This is such a brilliant idea! If you or a relative has ever had to spend any time in hospital overnight, you know how hard it can be to get any sleep and the horrible dilemma is that sleep is one of the most powerful healing tools we humans have.
Stephanie Harrison-White is the head of patient experience and improvement from Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust; she presented the grant application to in June which centred on patient wellbeing. The grant applied for funding in order to place together a sleep aid pack for each in-patient bed in Charing Cross hospital; 500 beds in total. Each pack contains an eye mask, ear plugs, a leaflet on sleep and some boxes will also contain a tooth brush and toothpaste in their pack. This pack helps to give patients a chance of a night’s sleep in partnership with a wider project of improving the general sleeping environments throughout the wards. We are so proud to be able to sponsor this service.
In addition to the grant sleep aid box update the trustees voted approval of the Charing Cross Hospital Cricket team equipment grant application request. For many years we have supported the hospital’s cricket team and we feel it is so important to continue to do so, giving the staff of the hospital a supportive and fun environment within our hospital. We can’t wait to hear the updates from them.
Christmas events
After the grant work focus, we moved into the fun Christmas planning! It wouldn’t be a charity news update without details of our many wonderful events for your calendars:
The Christmas and Gift corner
is being set up in our Friends shop on the first floor of Charing Cross Hospital. Please do pop in to have a browse and remember with any gifts you buy, the proceeds go right back into the hospital. Tis the season of giving, so please check out our gift corner first before you start your Christmas shopping elsewhere.
Christmas Cards
You can also pop into our shop on the first floor to pick up your Friends of Charing Cross Hospital Christmas cards; not only will you be helping to support us you will also be working wonders to spread the word about our charity.
FOCXH Christmas Fair
28th November 10am to 3pm
Once again we will be selling cakes, Christmas gifts, baby knits, home-made jams and Christmas cards. Our famous bric-a-brac and tombola stands will also be back! Come and join us for some Christmas cheer and fun.
Carol singers
4th December 11am to 11.30am
We will be joined by the wonderful pupils of Latymer School to help bring Christmas cheer to the hospital. Their angelic voices will be singing a melody of Christmas carols while our volunteers are shaking those collection buckets to help raise funds for the charity.
Book sale
4th December – 10am to 2pm – Last book sale of the year!
Your final chance to grab brand new books from our book sale for the Christmas pressie list! Book sales are always on the first floor of the hospital by the friend’s shop come and have a browse there are some bargains to be had.
Christmas bell-ringing
10th December 10.30am to 11am
Come along and listen to our amazing bell ringers, getting everyone in the mood for Christmas and raising funds for our charity at the same time.
Dear friends, if you’d like to do more to help the charity please get involved. The list below is where we need support in order to help make the above happen…
Tombola Donations
Do you have some bottles of booze that are unopened and not being used? Or how about items that have been given to you as gifts that you have never got around to opening such as perfumes, creams, scarfs, chocolates? Please bring them into the hospital and drop them off to the friends shop on first floor open 9am to 5pm every day.
Bric a Brac Donations
Do you have any treasures such as costume jewellery, knick-knacks, ornaments, trinkets that you no longer need? Please drop them into the Friends shop on first floor, open 9am to 5pm every day.
Spreading the word!
Please send this blog to all your friends and family to help spread the word about our lovely charity. We need the support of the whole community. You can donate to our charity here.
That’s all for this charity news update. Can’t wait to catch up with you all next month and thank you all for your support.
Natasha Rawley
FOCXH Chair Woman
