Compton Care in appeal as November lockdown set to cost charity £220,000 in lost revenue
The November lockdown will cost Compton Care £220,000 in lost revenue.
And that is on top of a £2.4 million black hole the charity was already facing as a result of earlier restrictions.
Rebecca Stone, of the Wolverhampton-based charity, said it was more important than ever that people supported its fundraising efforts so it could continue offering vital care services to those with serious or incurable illnesses.
She urged people to support this year’s Light Up A Life fundraising effort, sponsored this year by Homeserve. Those who have lost loved ones are invited to each sponsor a Christmas light in their memory on a large tree in the grounds of the centre in Compton Road West.
This year, due to the pandemic, the lights will be switched on in an online ceremony. As normal, loved ones will be remembered in a book of dedication, but this year they will also be featured in a special edition of the Express & Star.
Rebecca, supporter care manager at Compton Care, said the charity had been forced to close all its shops during the lockdown, hitting revenues hard.
“On top of the £2.4m loss already this year it really is having a huge impact,” said Miss Stone.
“All of our staff and volunteers are so sad to find ourselves in this position again, closing shops and losing vital income at our busiest time of the year.
“It’s not just us, I know hospices across the country are facing the really stark reality of having to make redundancies and in some cases close down.
“We are not there yet, but with news the Government is not likely to offer us the sort of financial assistance available in the first lockdown, it is a very serious position to be in.”
Miss Stone said the charity needed to raise £9.1 million a year to fund its normal activities. “We need to appeal more than ever to the people of Wolverhampton, and the Black Country, to help ensure we are here in the future,” she said.
“If you or a loved one are unfortunate enough to develop an incurable illness, such as cancer, MS, dementia or heart failure, we are the people you will need. We need to make sure Compton Care is here for the people that need us, and that we get through this.”
Terri Amesbury, in-patient ward manager at the charity, said she had never experienced anything like the present situation in her 18-year career.
“We have had to find new ways of working and face some incredibly emotional challenges,” she said.
“That has been really hard.”
