Bolton firm Love Energy Savings has made a local hospice its new partner charity – and hopes to raise thousands of pounds to give back to the community.
Bolton Hospice, located on Queen Street, needs £4.8m a year to operate – just £1.1m of which comes from government funding.
But now leading business energy switching specialists Love Energy Savings (LES), headquartered in Burnden, has committed to fundraising for the hospice.
Phil Foster, CEO of LES, says the decision was driven by his 300 strong staff members – many of whom are well aware of the exceptional care the hospice provides.
Mr Foster says that through a series of dress down days, quiz nights, sweet sales, a St Patrick’s Day party – and even an upcoming beer and gin festival – LES will look to put several thousand pounds in the hospice’s coffers.
He adds: “Bolton Hospice is a fantastic local charity that provides incredibly skilled and compassionate care to people with serious illnesses.
“It is vital the centre is given the financial support it needs to continue its work, and that’s why we’ve chosen Bolton Hospice as our chosen charity.
“Many of us here at Love Energy Savings have had family members or friends who’ve been directly or indirectly affected by the hospice’s work.
“And we feel we have a responsibility to give them something back. Through a series of planned activities, we hope to raise a significant amount of money.”
The hospice opened in 1992 and offers a range of free care services at its centre and in the community. It has 18 single en-suite inpatient bedrooms, and it also offers outpatient clinics and day support services at its centre.
And it also operates a Hospice at Home service, which supports people the mainly seriously ill, who prefer to be cared for at home surrounded by their family and friends.
Last year, the hospice supported 292 inpatients, 276 outpatients, 146 people through its Hospice at Home service, and 96 with day therapy, while its advice line was called 341 times.
Kathryn Willett, Bolton Hospice’s corporate and community fundraiser, welcomed Love Energy Savings’ backing.
She said: “Our corporate partners are a vital lifeline in helping us to keep offering the exceptional care so many local families depend on.
“We really couldn’t continue to provide our vital services without the support of local businesses like Love Energy Savings, and for that we are truly grateful.”
The home service has a core team of nurses skilled in delivering all aspects of specialist palliative and end of life care in a non-hospice environment.
Bolton Hospice, which is situated about a mile from the centre of Bolton, also offers bereavement support to families who have lost a loved one.
Love Energy Savings, which specialises in securing the best energy tariffs for predominantly business, but also domestic customers, has a history of charitable endeavours.
They’ve previously supported the Bolton Lads and Girls Club, on Spa Road, and Mr Foster adds: “We’re Bolton based, and proud of it.
“That local mentality is an important part of our culture and it’s great to be able to support a community which we are a part of.”
