Haskins Garden Centre supports Forest Holme Hospice with grant of nearly £16,000

Haskins Garden Centre has donated over £15,800 to Forest Holme Hospice, Poole, through its Charitable Fund, enabling the charity to update its inpatient ward for an enhanced patient experience.

 

Lisa Looker, brand director of Haskins, nominated the charity for the grant after her mother received care at the hospice. Lisa explained: “On the 23rd December it will be four years since my mum passed away. In the days prior to that, she was fortunate enough to spend some time at Forest Holme, after a prolonged period in hospital.

“I know that my mum was very grateful for the calm and dignified care that she received, and it was also a great comfort to my family. I wanted to nominate Forest Holme as my of way of saying thank you and to help them continue to support others.”

Every year Forest Holme cares for nearly 400 patients who are living with life-limiting illnesses such as motor neurone disease, cancer, heart failure, lung disease and Parkinson’s. The grant received from the Haskins Charitable Fund will enable the charity to make the hospice as welcoming as possible with the purchase of new beds and support mattresses, pressure relief cushions, smart TVs, toys and games.

Anne Currie, charity manager of Forest Holme Hospice Charity, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to have received this life-enhancing donation from the Haskins Charitable Fund. This wonderful grant will be put towards updating a variety of homely touches within the hospice building, to help improve the quality of care for patients and their families across Poole, Wimborne and the Isle of Purbeck.”

Jamie Haskins, member of the Haskins family, said: “We are delighted that we have been able to help this wonderful charity to fund some much-needed equipment for their patients. It was a real pleasure to meet the staff and see the hospice and hear about the valuable work they do.”

The Haskins Charitable Fund was set up in 2017 to benefit charities and community projects local to its four garden centres across the south, through personal nominations from its staff. The Haskins team of over 650 employees can nominate their chosen charity or local community project, located within 15km radius to a Haskins centre. The Trust accepts nominations for charities which benefit vulnerable children and their families, for horticultural and environmental projects, or for hospices and respite care providers.

Haskins Garden Centre in Ferndown has raised more than £12,500 since 2015 for Forest Holme Hospice, through the charity of the year initiative and various bucket donations.