The League of Friends
 of Fairford Hospital

More items needed for the Charity Shop

The League of Friends of Fairford Hospital’s new charity shop in Lechlade is proving to be a victim of its own success. So strong has been the demand for the items that it has on sale that they are running low on stock.

Said new manager John Bird: “I have been impressed by the potential that the shop is showing and we are getting plenty of customers, but it is vitally important that we maintain the high quality of stock which has already been given to us if we are to realise our full potential.”

The shop, which is manned largely by volunteers, is open on weekdays from 10am.

January 2012

Christmas Annual Bazaar 2011

The grand sum of more than £2,000 was raised by the League of Friends of Fairford Hospital at its annual bazaar at the Community Centre. The event, which raises funds for the League’s community work, offered a wide range of stalls and refreshments, which were included in the entry charge.

The Bazaar was also the venue for the annual charity draw, which raised nearly £1,000. An extra boost to takings this year came from the sale of Christmas cards, which the League trialled for the first time last year.

“We were delighted by how well our fund-raising efforts have gone this year,” said David Phillips, the League’s chairman. “Our charity shop in Lechlade came on stream recently and we hope that will help us achieve the large sum we need each year to maintain our work in the community.”

The organisation can always use offers of help at the shop and with its activities, which include drivers for the car scheme and collectors for the house-to-house collection which has been fixed for the end of March next year. Offers to the Administrator, Mrs Julie Zarczynski (01793725091), or the Charity Shop.

House to House Collection 2011

The Fairford Hospital League of Friends raised more than £18,000 as a result of its house-to-house collection this spring. It will help finance the organisation’s increasing commitments to health work in the community.

Commenting on the result, the League’s chairman, David Phillips, said: "We are grateful to the volunteers who work so hard every year to help raise this sum and to the community at large for responding so generously."

Another initiative launched by the Friends this year was an open gardens event at the homes of John and Barbara McNaught and Gerrard Campbell, which raised more than £800.

New Charity Shop planned for the League of Friends

The League of Friends of Fairford Hospital is negotiating to take a lease so that it can open a charity shop in Lechlade. Talks are well advanced and the League’s Management Committee is hoping to open its doors shortly.

“Our outreach work is getting progressively busier”, said Chairman David Phillips. “Both our community nursing service and our alliance with the Prospect Hospice are likely to make much heavier demands on our resources in the years ahead, so we have to find extra ways of raising money.”

The League will be advertising for a shop manager, but will rely heavily on volunteers to help run it.

Already this year the League has introduced a number of new fund-raising initiatives. It has run a lottery culminating in the annual Christmas Bazaar on November 20 and is selling its own Christmas cards for the first time.

“We really don’t know how the changes in the NHS will play out insofar as our services are concerned, but it is important that we maintain a healthy financial position and grab whatever opportunities become available,” said Mr Phillips.

November 2010

House to House Collection Raises £17,000

People living in Fairford, Lechlade and Kempsford and surrounding villages have contributed more than £17,000 to health care in the area. The money was collected by the League of Friends of Fairford Hospital in its annual house-to-house appeal. In addition, another £2,325 was contributed by way of standing orders.

“We are really most grateful to everyone who helped in raising this excellent sum,” said League chairman David Phillips. As a practical acknowledgement of the League’s thanks, helpers are being invited to a social evening at Fairford Community Centre on Wednesday, June 16.

Increasingly in recent years, the League has been turning its support to work in the community not addressed by the NHS, with such services as home nursing, physiotherapy, transport, counselling and terminal and respite care. “If we’re going to carry on with this important work, the need for funds remains crucial,” said Mr Phillips. “We are looking for new ways to support our work all the time.”

June 2010

Open Garden Success

The League’s first Open Gardens event in Hatherop, pioneered by Ros and Fraser Hart and their neighbours, raised nearly £1,500.

June 2010

First Responders

The team of volunteer first-aiders set up three years ago to attend accidents and serious health incidents before paramedics can get to the scene has had a busy winter. With 18 call-outs in December and 13 by the middle of January, the extreme weather has proved challenging for the Fairford and Lechlade First Responders.

Sponsored by the League of Friends of Fairford Hospital and the Ambulance Service, the team quickly proved its crucial role and has to date saved four lives as well as helping in the recovery of dozens more patients.

The number of call-outs has grown substantially in recent months from around six a month to 18 in December, when volunteers logged over 1300 hours.

Now it is hoped the team can be expanded. It has 24 volunteers at present, and it needs more. Said co-ordinator David Chapman: “We have the equipment and provide training free to all our volunteers.”

New Patron: Sharron Davies MBE

The League of Friends of Fairford Hospital is pleased to announce that Sharron Davies MBE has agreed to become its Patron. David Phillips, the League's Chairman, said he is delighted that such a well known sporting and television personality, tireless charity worker and prominent Fairford resident has wished to become associated with the important work that the League does in the local community.

Top Health Service Rating

A top health service rating has been achieved for the League of Friends of Fairford Hospital by its home nursing service. The Commission for Social Care inspection report on the Friends in the Community Home Nursing Service has rated the service as 3 Star Excellent for both domiciliary care and nursing services.

The inspector noted that:
"Evidence was seen of the agency receiving complimentary letters, cards and donations stating that the care provided was carried out by professional, caring and skilled staff members."

Dr Roger Johnson, Vice Chairman of the League, said: "I wish to congratulate our coordinators and nursing staff for the excellent and committed work they do, and they should be justly proud of this high achievement.

"Nearly 50 people from Lechlade, Fairford and the surrounding villages have been helped so far by our teams in 2009, and this is all made available by the financial support given to the League by our communities, whom we wish to thank too."

December 2009

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