Trinity Hospice delighted with huge appeal response - but still faces £1m funding loss

Trinity staff are overjoyed at the appeal response but the hospice still has a major funding shortfall

Trinity Hospice has thanked Fylde coast residents and other donors after a magnificent reponse to its emergency appeal raised more than £135,000.

But despite this the hospice, on Low Moor Road, Bispham, is still facing a massive funding deficit of more than £1million due to the knock-on effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

Donations have come in from across Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre – and beyond – as the hospice plays a front line role in the Covid-19 crisis.

Response to the appeal has made a big difference – but the cancellation of Trinity’s mass participation events, the closure of local businesses and a three month gap in its high street trading means Trinity Hospice and Brian House Children’s Hospice still face huge losses.

Head of fundraising Linzi Warburton said: “The response to our appeal has been fantastic – we are genuinely thrilled with the total so far, and so grateful, but even with the appeal and with the money pledged to hospices by the Chancellor we are facing a major shortfall.

“Right now we don’t know when our regular events will re-start or when our supporter companies and organisations will get back to business. Our high street shops have re-opened and we have had a very successful stock appeal, but the restrictions in place at our shops make trading a challenge.

Trinity launched its summer superdraw raffle two weeks ago, and entries are flooding in.

The hope is that it will raise £30,000 and the hospice was boosted when solicitors Blackhurst Budd agreed to provide the £5,000 first prize.

Linzi said: “That was such a kind gesture and we have had help from so many parts of our community in these unprecedented times. Back in January we thought 2020 would be a year of celebration as Trinity marks its 35th birthday, but things have turned out to be very different.

“What’s important now is that we look forward, and every donation will make a difference to the adults and children we care for in the coming weeks and months – no matter what surprises the rest of the year brings.”