Fundraising

How Much Does the Hospice Cost to Run?

It currently costs around £1.7 million per year to run the Hospice, but no charge is made for any of our services. The pie chart below shows where the money goes.

How Do We Get This Money?

We receive financial support from the local Health Authority, but as you can see from the pie chart below we rely heavily on voluntary donations and fundraising activities for the majority of our income.

Ways You Can Contribute

Here are some of the ways you can help:

• Organise a fundraising event
• Join our Hospice Lottery
• Include Willow Wood Hospice in your Will
• Make a gift in memory of a loved one
• Donate items to our Hospice Shops
• Start a Fundraising Support Group in your area or place of work
• Make a straight donation (we can claim income tax back from all UK tax payers, increasing your donation)

Any support or contribution you can offer, large or small, will play an important part in maintaining and developing our service

Tips for Raising Sponsorship

If you're participating in one of our events, the tips below may help you in your quest to gain sponsorship. Remember that you are doing something immensely worthwhile so be proud and happy that you are involved.

• Don't be afraid to ask - most people are pleased to help.
• SMILE when you ask, and remind them of the valuable work the Hospice does.
• ALWAYS carry your sponsor form with you - you never know who you might bump into.
• The more people you ask, the more money you will raise.
• Get your biggest sponsor first. Others will follow suit with the amount they give.
• Ask your partner to ask friends and workmates.
• Get in touch with everyone on the family's Christmas card list. Not only will this help you fundraise, it's a good excuse to keep in touch.
• Email everyone in your address book - both at work and home.
• Choose a funny team name if it's a team event. This will help generate enthusiasm and interest.
• Add details to your Bebo or Facebook page. Everyone will be asking for information and you'll raise more sponsorship as well as creating awareness for Willow Wood Hospice.
• Set up a Justgiving page to raise money online - this way you can raise sponsorship from friends and family overseas or who don't live nearby. Go to www.justgiving.com for details.
• Ask your employers to match fund you. Many companies will be pleased to match the total amount you have been sponsored.

Good luck & thank you for all you efforts - we really do appreciate them. Most important of all - ENJOY WHAT YOU'RE DOING!

Click here to download a printable version of our sponsorship ideas (PDF)