Hospiscare house clearance team scoops national award
The House Clearance team at Hospiscare in Exeter has won the Most Inventive Hospice Retail Initiative award for its work generating new income and also helping raise public awareness about the support the hospice offers bereaved families.
Kate Few-Singh, Director of Income Generation, and Helen Hutter, Head of Retail, at the hospice received the accolade on behalf of the team at the Help the Hospices Retail Conference 2014 held in Birmingham – an annual event hosted by the national hospice care charity to develop knowledge and best practice among hospice retailers.
The dedicated house clearance team - which has the strapline 'Give your possessions a good home' – offers a service for re-using unwanted goods left after someone dies, either by selling them through the hospice’s high street shops and online outlets or recycling them. All the profits generated are ploughed back into the hospice helping fund the care it provides to terminally ill people and their families.
Each member of the team is trained to understand the impact of bereavement. The professionalism and sensitivity they have demonstrated towards bereaved families while carrying out their work has generated considerable good will among people who have used the service and increased demand for its business via personal recommendations. In turn this has helped raise public awareness about the other services the hospice provides such as bereavement support for families and also increased the number of supporters for the hospice from the local community across the Exeter area.
The house clearance service also has wider social benefits. An increasing number of volunteers support the work of the house clearance team who have the opportunity to learn new skills, meet new people and develop their self-confidence.
Glynis Atherton, Chief executive of Hospiscare, who nominated the team, said: "Our house clearance business is fantastic because it generates stock, is eco-friendly and, in 2013/14 resulted in over £200k in sales. “However, what is unique and inventive about this initiative is that it is becoming recognised as a valued part of Hospiscare's offering to bereaved families and is helping to grow awareness of the charity and build social capital. “Most of all it is the unique approach of the team that makes this a special initiative. Our customers are hugely appreciative of the care the team. This initiative is creating a whole new body of supporters for Hospiscare and generating a growing income stream for the charity.“
The service has received widespread positive feedback from people who have used it, as one person commented: “The Clearance Team is part of Hospicare's BIG HUG!! Your attitude was so quietly positive; I felt that you appreciated all the lovely things which had been part of Mum's life. Your comforting words afterwards have stayed with me.”
Julia Ferguson, House Clearance Manager said: ‘The House Clearance Team are all very proud of what we do and the organisation we do it for. Winning the award is a fantastic accolade for the team and the publicity will help spread awareness of Hospiscare and the wonderful services it provides.’ For more information on Hospiscare House clearance please visit their website www.hospiscarehouseclearance.co.uk.
