Welcome to our very first blog for thebestof Colchester! We will be writing a monthly blog covering a variety of topics hospice related, from fundraising to patient care. This month we want to get into the festive spirit by telling you about all the things we have going on in the lead up to Christmas.

Firstly we have our wonderful Christmas Bazaar run by our retail team.  The bazaar will be on Saturday 23rd November and once again be at our Peartree Road shop.  Starting at 9.00am and continuing until 4pm, there will be plenty of stalls selling Christmas gifts and decorations as well as a visit from Father Christmas and our very own Dandy Lion.  Click here for a map of the location.

Another great opportunity to shop will be the Secret Vintage Fair on Saturday 30th November which will be held at a top secret location in the centre of Colchester.  We have been chosen as charity partners for the 30th and will receive a percentage of the door fees as well as proceeds from a raffle.  It doesn’t stop there!  The retail team will also have their very own vintage and collectables stall selling the most gorgeous retro fashion and unique collectable items. 

To sign up to the Secret Vintage Fair’s mailing list and find out the secret location when they make the big reveal, please click here.

It is important not to forget that the festive period is not just about gifts and decorations, it is also about celebrating the lives of those you care about and remembering special individuals.  We are inviting people to make a dedication in our Tree of Memories appeal and to attend our Tree of Memories service on Thursday 19th December at our Joan Tomkins Day Centre in Highwoods.  Both the appeal and service provide an opportunity over the busy festive period for you to take time to celebrate and remember.   In return for your donation to the appeal you will not only receive a personal copy of your dedication on a decorative tag but, if you wish, it will also be hung on our Tree of Memories that will be on display at our Myland Hall site in Highwoods. 

For more information on the appeal and service, as well as other special remembrance services in the community and to make a donation, please click here or call the Fundraising Office on 01206 791740.

So that’s just some of the things coming up for us here at St Helena Hospice.  Just remember, our Inpatient Unit is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, our staff and volunteers don’t stop because it’s Christmas.  Help us continue to care by supporting us at any one of the events listed above.

If you want regular news from us you can sign up to our bi-monthly enewsletter. 

I’ll see you at our next blog!

Holly

Head of Marketing and Communications, St Helena Hospice