St Helena

23/07/2025

You may have read the news in yesterday's Gazette about the financial situation we face at St Helena Hospice and its impact on our staff and the services we can offer for patients and families.

We want to reassure you that we are very much here and still working hard to make sure we continue to be here for people in our communities across north east Essex, so you and your loved ones can access hospice support when you need it.

Hospices across the country are fighting for their future and St Helena Hospice is no different. Over the last few months, we have explained the costs and pressures that we face for reasons out of our control. Whilst doing so we have also been developing a plan which we are confident will secure our future.

We have been consulting with our staff and there will be a small number of redundancies. This process will be completed within the next couple of weeks. We absolutely don't want to say goodbye to any of our amazing colleagues but sadly we are in a position dictated by funding and increased financial pressures.
Our Hospice in the Home service continues to be provided in people’s own place of residence across north east Essex, including 24/7 support from SinglePoint.

There are now eight open beds in our inpatient unit and eight beds available on our virtual ward in which people receive consultant-led specialist care in their own homes.

It has been a difficult time with difficult decisions made, but we are confident our new service model will be resilient and our financial position strong for the next few years so we can continue to care for you and the people you love.

The generous donations and fantastic fundraising that you have done for us, have made sure local people and their loved ones could face incurable illness and bereavement with dignity and care, and we sincerely thank you.

Please keep supporting St Helena Hospice 🧡

21/07/2025

If you're remembering someone special, keep their memory alive with something as beautiful and important as they were.

Our 40th anniversary Roses for Remembrance are a meaningful way to commemorate loved ones. Your purchase will help St Helena Hospice to provide vital care to patients and their families.

You could:

- Display your rose in the garden, mantelpiece, grave or memorial space
- Gift it to friends or family remembering loved ones
- Give it to someone who just loves roses

You can even get a Ruby Rose with a leaf where you can engrave a message of your choice.

Explore your purchase options here: https://shorturl.at/ToGsp

18/07/2025

Owen the Shetland pony made a therapy visit to the Hospice today and for a little one, he made massive smiles 🧡

He was accompanied by Jodie, who was 7 when her mum died at the Hospice. Jodie said:

"It is really emotional being back but having to be responsible for an animal is a bit of a distraction. It is so lovely to be able to give back in this way because St Helena did so much for my mum, caring for her, so to be back 20 years later with a pony and being able to do this is just incredible. The Hospice is still as amazing as it was back then, thank you so much to everyone here for all you do."

Thank you for visiting Jodie and Owen .on.call

18/07/2025

Don’t miss out on this family fun day in Colchester!

We’ve truly got something for everyone. There’ll be plenty of entertainment and performances including: an entire inflatable village with bouncy castles, the return of our Fun Day Dog Show AND a Classic Car Show, food stalls, ice cream vans, face painting and more.

If you need to get the kids out on the weekend, this is the perfect way to do it.

Sign up now at https://shorturl.at/LW62V

17/07/2025

🏏 Cricket fans, this one’s for you!

As England and India go head-to-head today, don’t miss your chance to win a signed bat from the 2021 Test Series which will be up for grabs at the Ruby Ball charity auction!

🎟️ Tickets are selling fast. Register by 7th September to avoid disappointment: https://shorturl.at/zmu3U

We cannot wait to welcome you all on 11th October, at Stoke by Nayland Resort for a spectacular night of glitz and glamour, sponsored by Matthew Douglas Ltd, as we celebrate 40 years of St Helena Hospice.

16/07/2025

Don’t forget! 🧡 Use code MWEARLYBIRD for 20% off early bird tickets to this year’s Midnight Walk.

Sign up now:

We help people in north east Essex face incurable illness and bereavement, supporting them, their families, friends and carers.

16/07/2025

Looking for more meaning? Volunteering is the answer!

St Helena runs on the help of people like you who want to make a difference.

We’re seeking to fill these roles:

Retail - Mag Street Clearance and Mag Street Furniture, Frinton Clothes, Ecommerce Lister and Donation Centre and Walton.

Non retail - Ecommerce Lister, Lottery Engagement, Gardeners, Volunteer Bereavement Support, Volunteer Recruitment Champion.

Ready to start feeling fulfilled? Learn more at https://shorturl.at/EzEap

15/07/2025

Want to feel all good inside – and outside?

When you hire Total Clean, in support of St Helena Hospice commercial cleaning company, you’re supporting St Helena.

Our high quality commercial cleaners cover Colchester, Chelmsford & Ipswich. From daily cleans to bespoke ad hoc cleans, our professional team is ready to make your space sparkle.

Book here: www.totalclean.co.uk/colchester

All profits go towards keeping our hospice going, so we can continue helping people at their greatest time of need.

14/07/2025

Are you looking for a new challenge or just working toward your fitness goals? Join St. Helena’s half marathon, coming up on the 7th of September!

This will be our first EVER half marathon and official race, and will mark 40 years of hospice care in the local community.

By running these 13.1 miles with us, you’ll help honour two generations of families and ensure the hospice can be here for the next generation and your loved ones, too. Our event village will include stalls, food and contagiously good energy.

Tickets will go FAST (maybe even faster than you!) – so don’t miss out.

For more and sign up: https://shorturl.at/Lwgwk

13/07/2025

What a beautiful day for a sip and stroll! ☀️🥂

We've had a fantastic time at Dedham Vale Vineyard with lots of wonderful St Helena supporters taking on a 5k stroll through the vineyard and tasting some delicious local wine.

After the walk, we relaxed in the beautiful setting to enjoy delicious charcuterie picnic boxes prepared by our very own catering team and fabulous live music from Paul Steven Wood all rounded off with a decadent Eton Mess from Gaia Suffolk 🧡

13/07/2025

11/07/2025

A heartfelt thank you to The National Lottery Community Fund. We've received a £19,287 grant towards the salary of a Family Support Worker!

We're incredibly grateful for their generous support, which provides compassionate care to families facing the most difficult times, like:

🧡 Helping them prepare for the death of a loved one
🧡 Offering support both before and after loss
🧡 Being there during moments of crisis

Thanks to this vital funding, we can continue delivering this essential service when families need it most.

Thank you to everyone at The National Lottery Community Fund for your kindness and commitment to making a difference.