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What we offer

We help people in north east Essex face incurable illness and bereavement, supporting them, their families, friends and carers.

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A third of our funding comes from the NHS, the remaining two thirds is raised from the generosity and support of people like you.

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Celebrating our Trustees

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Dr Fran Hyde is Chair of the Board of Trustees at St Helena Hospice, and this Trustees' Week writes about her role.

This week is Trustees’ Week and I’m proud to serve as Chair of the Board of Trustees at St Helena Hospice. It’s a voluntary role, and in one form or another, I’ve been a trustee there for nearly seven years.

According to GOV.UK there are over 810,000 charity trustees across the UK, with other sources suggesting around 700,000 in England and Wales alone. The average age of a trustee is 57, but more than 4,000 trustees are aged between 18 and 24.

So what does being a trustee actually involve? At St Helena, a busy local hospice, there’s plenty for trustees to engage with beyond our core governance responsibilities, which we fulfil in line with Charity Commission guidelines. 

Dr Fran Hyde, chair of the Board of Trustees at St Helena Hospice

One day I might be preparing for a board meeting, and the next I could be helping with the Christmas tree collection or attending a team meeting. I always try to be available to thank our incredible volunteers and supporters, who are absolutely vital to our work.

I’m often asked why I became a charity trustee and how I manage to fit it in alongside my day job. Agile working and Teams meetings help, but yes, you do need to be organised. That said, it’s not difficult when the work is so meaningful and important. I feel privileged—and deeply proud—to be part of something that touches so many lives in Colchester and north east Essex.  

I am driven by a desire make a real difference to people who are terminally ill, and to ensure that we will always continue to have a local hospice who can offer comfort and support to their families and loved ones during the most difficult times.

Charities are always keen to hear from people who might be interested in becoming trustees. Why not consider stepping into a trustee role in 2026?

 

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We are very grateful to our donors who offer to offset some of these fees with a minor addition to their total amount. This is however completely optional and we are very grateful for your support whether or not you choose to contribute to processing fees.

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We are able to claim an extra 25p on every £1 on your donation amount for no extra cost to you, as long as you are a UK tax payer; have paid enough income tax or capital gains tax in that tax year; and are donating your own money. If you pay less income tax and/or capital gains tax than the amount of Gift Aid claimed on all of your donations in that tax year it is your responsibility to pay any difference. For more information about Gift Aid, please visit https://www.gov.uk/donating-to-charity/gift-aid
 

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