Friends of the Leighton Hospital

Fundraising while having few volunteers

Founded in 1973, the Friends are a group of 40 volunteers from the local community who work to raise money for the purchase of equipment and comforts for the benefit of patients and staff at Leighton Hospital.

The Friends raise money in a variety of ways, such as fetes, cheese and wine evenings, jumble sales, sales stalls and similar events, as well as members' subscriptions, donations, and legacies. The major fundraiser is the well-stocked shop for patients, staff and visitors in the Main Entrance Hall. The shop has been operating for more than 25 years and all of the profits go directly into funding projects.

Additionally, the Friends provide:

• A Trolley Shop supplying newspapers, confectionery and other sundry items to the ward daily
• A coffee and tea bar in the Main Entrance Hall providing refreshments for visitors and patients on weekday evenings and Saturday and Sunday afternoons
• A weekly stall selling fancy goods in the Out-Patient department
• A weekly library service to all the wards

The Friends are necessary because the National Health Service is often short of money. When a need is identified that cannot be funded in local budgets, the Trust brings that need to the Committee of the League who decide whether or not to finance the particular requirement. The Friends are constantly identifying things that will help make the hospital better for both the patients and the staff.

One of the Friends' largest challenges is that like many charities, the Friends are short of helpers. To solve this, the Friends have an on-going recruitment programme to encourage people in the community to give their time to voluntary work within the hospital. In addition, the group hopes that by continuing to raise money, the public will see the vital need in what they do in providing funds to supplement the Trust's resources.

Since the group was formed, the Friends have raised more than £1,000,000 for projects throughout the hospital. This has allowed them to provide many items of equipment such as:

• HIBA trolley for the Accident and Emergency Department complete with a monitor for blood pressure and pulse
• A portable incubator for the Special Baby Care Unit
• Defibrillators
• TV/Video/DVD trolley
• Diagnostic Ultrasound Bladder Scanner

By continuing to run events in the community, the Friends hope to obtain more volunteers, more recognition and more money for equipment and services.

Quotes

“The League of Friends is pleased and proud to have been able to assist Leighton Hospital by way of gifts of equipment. We hope to continue helping in whatever way we can over the years to come.”

Contact details

Linda Edwards
01270 255141
Leighton-League-of-Friends.org.uk