Hospice News

Edinburgh Asset Managers Support Partnership

Scotland’s Hospices Together is a partnership of 12 independent Scottish hospices. Together the Partnership care for over 20,000 families in Scotland each year, offering free palliative and end of life care when it is needed most. The pandemic has had an impact on the Partnership members’ capability to run fundraising events, keep charity shops open, run workplace volunteering initiatives and engage with local supporters in their communities.

So, the members were delighted when Edinburgh-based Baillie Gifford, global specialists in asset management and investment trusts, offered the Partnership a funding boost of £1 million.

It has made a huge difference, helping members plan and deliver the best possible care for the patients and families they care for.

Hospice news

Our Shops and Café Are Now Open!

We are delighted to have re-opened our Shops in Leith, Portobello, Ocean Terminal, Haddington, Morningside, and Canonmills. It’s lovely to see our shop managers, volunteers and supporters back in store. Thanks to everyone who contributed to our donation service in April and for the donations made to our stores since our doors opened in May. We’ve got some wonderful quality items waiting for you to discover - including books, music, clothing, accessories, homeware, china and bric-a-brac.

We are also excited to announce the re-opening of our Iona Cafe & Shop and the return of our café volunteers.

Our Iona Café has been closed over recent months to cater for our dedicated staff who have been working hard throughout the pandemic. We are delighted to be welcoming the public again, serving hot and cold refreshments, delicious Hospice home baking and tasty soup. The café’s new manager, Rosie, has created a lovely display of cards, gifts, jewellery, toys and other gorgeous goodies for our café visitors to enjoy. There are a few new guidelines to follow in our shops and café and we are very grateful to you for your support in helping us keep these spaces safe for everyone. A warm welcome back! We look forward to seeing you all soon.

shops@stcolumbashospice.org.uk

Bakery Customers Give Generously

Craig Ferguson, owner of Ferguson’s Bakeries in Edinburgh continues the tradition his late father James Ferguson started, by holding Hospice collecting tins in both of his bakeries. James and Sheena Ferguson started collecting for the Hospice in 1984, and the collection tins from both bakeries in Moredun and Niddrie have since raised over £20,000. Over 2020 alone despite all of the restrictions, Craig and his team of staff and loyal customers raised a fantastic £1,500. An added perk for our volunteer tin collectors is the delicious baked goods they’re treated to when collecting Ferguson’s full tins!

‘Our customers take great pride in the amount we achieve each month and look upon this as a community contribution’ says owner Craig. Along with Craig, everyone at the Hospice want to say a big thank you to Ferguson’s generous customers for their continued support. If your shop or business would like to host a collecting tin - now with cashless payment option - and help raise vital funds for the Hospice, we’d love to hear from you! Email fund@ stcolumbashospice.org. uk or call 0131 551 1381.

Forget Me Not Tribute Garden

The Forget Me Not Tribute Garden in the Hospice courtyard is now open, providing a space for quiet contemplation. We are delighted that supporters are able to visit again. We look forward to welcoming those of you who have opened a new Tribute Fund to dedicate a copper leaf on a Forget-me-not flower as well as those re-visiting to mark a special date or anniversary of a loved one. The Iona Café will also be open for you to enjoy a snack or refreshment during your visit. It can be difficult to arrange a visit, so for those further afield or for families who may prefer to commemorate privately we are now offering the option to have a copper leaf engraved for you to place somewhere special of your own choosing. For more information or to arrange a visit please email forgetmenot@ stcolumbashospice.org.uk or call 0131 551 1381.