League of Friends of Grantham Hospital
“The hospital was going to turn into just an out-patient department for Lincoln Hospital and we saved it and I'm very pleased we did. You never know what will happen tomorrow, but the last two years have been as encouraging as we've ever had”. — Quentin Davies MP
The Friends of Grantham Hospital, founded in 1970, have been a constant source of support for the hospital over the years. From working with current and former patients to providing services and raising funds for the hospital directly, they have consistently worked for the benefit of hospital patients.
Whilst continuing with their long running projects the Friends have looked to new ways to develop and expand and build on the long-standing relationship between the Friends and the hospital staff. Most recently the Friends have been invited to take tour of the hospital by Sylvia Knight, the Director of Nursing and Patient Services of the United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust, allowing the Friends to meet the heads of individual departments. This contact and the close working relationship with the hospital staff means that donations are used in a way that most benefits patients.
Raising the profile of the Friends within the hospital and the community has resulted in an increase in the success of fundraising activities and in the number of people who donate to the Friends. Long-established projects are also being maintained and improved, such as Radio Witham, one of the Friends most exciting and longest running projects. The Friends use Radio Witham to “provide music, news, entertainment, and chat” to the wards of the hospital, providing a link to the outside world and relieving the monotony of a hospital stay. The close working relationship between the Friends and the hospital staff means that the radio station is what the patients and staff wants it to be.
In 2009 The Friends of Grantham Hospital had the opportunity to co-host the Attend Diamond Awards, one of the biggest events for volunteers within the county.
The Friends became members of Attend less than a year after the Friends were founded. ‘We value being part of a national association,’ says Simon Needham, Chairman of the Friends of Grantham Hospital. ‘Membership provides access to a national voice, as well as contact with other member groups.’
Quotes
“We look forward to a new era of support, co-operation and partnership with the hospital trust and hope to increase our fundraising and develop our portfolio of volunteering to better support patients, their families and the staff at Grantham Hospital”. — Chairman of the League of Friends Trustees
Created July 19, 2012
The League of Friends of Grantham Hospital benefits from Attend membership, which includes comprehensive charity insurance cover. For more information, or to join, please click here.
