Rata Foundation Donates $250,000 To New Hospice Build

27 July 2017

RATA FOUNDATION DONATES $250,000 TO NEW HOSPICE BUILD

Nelson Tasman Hospice has received a significant donation to its fund to build a new facility in Suffolk Road, Stoke.

Rata Foundation has approved a grant of $250,000 to the capital fundraising campaign for the new building which is due to be completed in early 2019.

“To get something like this is fantastic news for hospice, for the community and certainly will help us in our fundraising campaign,” Nelson Tasman Hospice Chief Executive Frans Dellebeke said.

“It is the first grant to be approved so it’s really significant,” he added.

The total estimated cost of the new home for hospice is $11.5 million.

The hospice is contributing $7.5 million to the project and that leaves $1.5 million to raise through grants and in-kind donations on the build and $2.5 million from the community.

The hospice cares for over 155 patients at any one time with most being looked after in their own homes.

The design for the new hospice includes 10 patient units, consulting rooms, space for families to spend time together, as well as outdoor areas. It will also include storage for the hospice equipment that is used in the community.

Garner has been awarded a Companion of the Queen’s Service Order for services to the community.

The service she is most proud of is life story writing. Where those who are dying are able to tell their life story, with the help of a volunteer to document it.

“It can be quite poignant sometimes, people will tell the life story writer something they have never told anyone else.” It was empowering for people who were often subject to lots of medical treatment.

“It gives them a chance to revisit the good bits and put to bed the bad bits.”

The hospice currently had around 15 life story writers, who spent an average of six weeks with the patient, helping to write their story.

She said she loved working with patients and said volunteers were vital to the service.

“Volunteers can do anything, so it is the pleasure of being able to say to a patient or a staff member, we have a volunteer who can help you with that, whatever that is.”

She enjoyed setting up new roles and seeing them function really well. Since 2002, the hospice had recorded more than 8000 volunteer referrals and her contributions had left an enduring positive impact on the community.