1st February 2010

Kent Hospice asks local businesses to join charity phone scheme

The Friends of the Wisdom Hospice in Rochester have started an innovative partnership with a phone company, Support Telecom, to help them forge links with the local business community and raise vital funds.

The scheme offers companies a chance to reduce their phone bills – and a simple way to help a local charity. Mike Allison from Support Telecom explains how it works: “It’s very simple. In partnership with the Friends of the Wisdom Hospice, we go out to local businesses and offer them cheaper calls than they can find elsewhere. With every business that comes on board, we share the profits with Wisdom Hospice. Everybody wins. The businesses save money on their phone bills – and every time they pick up the phone, they’re donating to a charity in their community. The Friends of the Wisdom Hospice gets monthly donations through the profit share agreement with Support Telecom.”

Caroline Ford, Head of Fundraising at The Friends of the Wisdom Hospice, says: “One of our aims for 2010 is to build stronger ties with local businesses. It’s competitive out there at the best of times, and in today’s economic climate we knew we needed something new and different, so our first step was to team up with Support Telecom.

“Joining this programme is an ideal way for businesses to help us – and it’s got real benefits for them, too. It gives them a chance to show good corporate citizenship, and everyone in the company gets an opportunity to make a difference and help others. The hospice touches a lot of people in the surrounding area, and any support we get helps the hospice to care for seriously ill patients and their families.”

The Wisdom Hospice provides care for patients and their families throughout the Medway, Sittingbourne and Sheppey area.  This year the Friends of the Wisdom Hospice have committed to raise more than £500,000 towards its annual running costs. Additional funds raised by the Friends are used for increased staffing and for extra equipment and facilities that do not fall within the normal budget.  They also provide extra care and support for patients in their own homes with grants made to Crossroads and the Marie Curie Nursing Service.

For more information on Support Telecom and how to receive a no obligation quotation call 0800 804 8840 or visit www.supporttelecom.org/wh