Store50’s Sustainable Santa wins Canterbury BID’s Christmas Window Competition 2022!
Pilgrims Hospices would like to say a huge congratulations to its Store50 shop team, who won Canterbury BID’s Christmas Window Competition in December 2022.
Becky McNicoll, Store50 Supervisor, came up with the idea for Sustainable Santa, in keeping with the shop’s focus on pre-loved and recycled items that are kind to both purses and the planet. A Santa suit was donated to the team by another Pilgrims’ shop, and Amy Eldridge, Store50 Manager, and her mum Thelma set to work dressing Santa and creating the display – using rag denim and a hot glue gun!
Amy said: “Sustainable Santa felt like the right twist on Christmas for our store; with it being our first Christmas in Canterbury, we wanted to showcase our product and creativity whilst keeping with the city’s beautiful festive displays.
“The Canterbury BID judges entered us into the competition on their behalf; we had no idea, so we were completely shocked we’d won the Judges’ Favourite prize! We are all extremely proud of this achievement, not only for the store but for my wonderful staff and volunteers who all had involvement in bringing our vision to life.”
Mandy Hawkett, Area Manager, added: “I’m so proud of how the Store50 team has worked together creatively to deliver such a valuable message about sustainability via their Christmas window display.”
The team can now proudly display their winners’ certificate in the shop, and they also won a bottle of fizz and a shopping voucher for all of their hard work.
Store50 is located at 50 St. Peter’s Street, Canterbury and will be open in the run-up to Christmas.
Thank you so much to everyone who supports Pilgrims Hospices Shops; we really appreciate it, and it makes such a difference to the patients and families we care for across east Kent.
Pilgrims Hospices cares for thousands of local people each year, free of charge, during the most challenging time in their lives. They offer care and support in people’s own homes, in the community and in their inpatient units as well as running a 24-hour advice line.
6th December 2022
Pilgrims festive sale exceeds expectations
The Pilgrims Hospices Canterbury Christmas retail fair exceeded all expectations, raising an incredible £2,100 for hospice care for local people. The annual November Saturday event, took place in St Peter’s Methodist Church Hall, Canterbury where more than 150 hospice supporters, and Canterbury shoppers browsed all things Christmassy to start the festive season.
A huge thank you to everyone who came along
Charlotte – Pilgrims
Charlotte Brown, Pilgrims Retail Manager said: “We had a magical day! The wonderfully generous local community supported our festive event with donations and purchases. We had the most amazing array of Christmas merchandise, including cards, fancy dress, vintage collectables, toys and so much more.
Martin Langham, Pilgrims’ elf
“A huge thank you to everyone who came along to browse and buy, your support is truly helping to make a difference to those who need Pilgrims’ care.”
Pilgrims staff and volunteers entered into the spirit with Christmas jumpers and fancy dress, and Santa joined the merriment with gifts for the children.
Mandy Hawkett, Pilgrims Retail Area Manager said: “Christmas cheer was in abundance, the generous local community managed to raise more than £2,000 with their festive shopping at our special event.
“I really want to mention my staff and team of volunteers who made this special day happen. They’ve worked so hard to bring so many festive gifts and goodies together during the past few months.
“The children loved the Santa visit, and our very own special elf, Martin Langham from Cliftonville and Birchington Pilgrims shops, kept everyone laughing all the way!”
Pilgrims Hospices shops will be open throughout east Kent approaching Christmas, all containing fabulous stock of party wear, Christmas trinkets and more. Find a list of all Pilgrims shops here.
Pilgrims wish everyone a very merry Christmas.
Pilgrims Hospices cares for thousands of local people each year, free of charge, during the most challenging time in their lives. They offer care and support in people’s own homes, in the community and in their inpatient units as well as running a 24-hour advice line.
3rd August 2022
Store50 brings second-hand, chic and eco-friendly fashion to Canterbury
Store50 is Pilgrims Hospices’ newest shop, located at 50 St. Peter’s Street, Canterbury, in the heart of the city on its bustling high street.
By nature, charity shops are known for stocking preloved goods; Store50 is taking that a step further, aiming to make second-hand fashion affordable, chic and eco-friendly at the same time.
Opening on 4 August 2022, it will stock a diverse range of clothing for all, with a focus on “slow fashion” – an approach to producing clothing that advocates respect for people and the environment, often through reducing, reusing and recycling, rather than buying new items.
The shop will particularly appeal to Canterbury’s thriving student population, who will find trendy threads to suit their wardrobes and their budgets.
Store50 also features a dedicated denim section upstairs, a chill out area and vinyl record room downstairs, and a community board where people can leave messages about local news, events and business.
Mandy Hawkett, Pilgrims Retail Area Manager shared: “We’ve been really keen to get this initiative off the ground for some time now, and have been searching for a suitable shop. We are delighted to have secured Store50. The team has pulled together fresh ideas with innovative and creative planning to give the shop something extraordinary for shoppers to enjoy. It looks like high end fashion with all the qualities of sustainability and so much more. We are also offering students a 10% discount, so it really is worth paying us a visit.”
Amy Eldridge, Shop Manager, said: “We’re so excited to be launching this brand new charity shop for the quirky and diverse Canterbury community. We hope that by encouraging shoppers to thrift and be mindful about their purchases, we can help to build a more sustainable retail economy that benefits people and our planet. By shopping with us, you will help to stop items going to landfill, save precious pennies, and also contribute to Pilgrims’ vital services across east Kent – supporting our charity to provide compassionate care to patients and families where and when they need it the most.”
Emily Bartlett and Demi Hale, Supervisors, added: “It’s a re-envisioning of a charity shop, set apart from the mainstream and what people are used to. We hope it will be popular across different age groups, not just students – it’s perfect for the everyday shopper, too!”
Store50 is open 10:00-18:00 Monday-Saturday and 10:00-16:00 on Sundays.
Pilgrims Hospices cares for thousands of local people each year, free of charge, during the most challenging time in their lives. They offer care and support in people’s own homes, in the community and in their inpatient units as well as running a 24-hour advice line.
28th June 2022
Annie reflects on 36-year career at Pilgrims Hospices
Annie Hogben has worked for Pilgrims Hospices since 1986. Initially a nurse, she then helped to set up the Therapy Centres, and is now based within the charity’s Education team, developing volunteer roles that support patients, carers and bereaved loved ones.
In Pilgrims’ 40th birthday year, she reflects on her memories with the local hospice charity.
I started work in Canterbury hospice as a State Enrolled Nurse in May 1986. I was so keen to join the hospice team after hearing a lecture by Cicely Saunders, one of the early founders of the hospice movement, and felt it was the right place for me. When I came to the hospice, there was purely a ward, with the availability of 20 beds for patients across east Kent. Our Medical Director did home visits to support patients in the community, and as always we worked very closely with GPs, district nurses and hospital staff, to support palliative patients and their families in our local communities.
A day centre was opened a year or so later, and this operated five days a week for our community patients. This enabled patients to have an overview of their symptoms as well as engage in a variety of social and creative activities, whilst providing some worthwhile respite for their families. These centres have always been so positive, enhancing the wellbeing of patients of various ages and situations, with much shared joy and laughter.
Pilgrims has grown and developed dramatically to meet the needs of the people of east Kent, but always with the wonderful philosophy to support and come alongside patients, families and bereaved loved ones throughout the latter part of their lives.
I consider it a real privilege to have been part of this amazing team of staff and volunteers for so long.
Annie
Annie
Allied Health Care Professionals have always been such an important part of the team supporting patients, families and bereaved relatives at Pilgrims, as have volunteers, who were present on the ward, supporting staff in those early days. It is so lovely that part of my current role has been to be part of the team to reintroduce Ward Support Volunteers, which adds great value to patients and their loved ones.
I left the hospice in 1989 to continue my training and then to work on an oncology unit, the Mountbatten Centre at the Kent and Canterbury Hospital. I returned to Canterbury hospice in 1992 as a Registered Nurse on the ward. Shortly after this, the specialist community nursing team were introduced, to support community patients and families across the whole of east Kent. This invaluable service now runs throughout all three hospice sites.
I was fortunate to move into the role of Senior Staff Nurse on the ward, and throughout that time experienced many celebrations with patients on the ward, including weddings, anniversaries and other important events. The addition of the Thanet hospice allowed the growth of support services for the people of east Kent, enabling access to services in the local area and increasing the amount of beds available for those requiring in-patient care.
After having my family, I was on duty on nights for a couple of years, before finally leaving the Canterbury hospice in 2000 to move to the Ashford hospice, to set up the day services centre there. Over these past years, Pilgrims has grown and developed dramatically to meet the needs of the people of east Kent, but always with the wonderful philosophy to support and come alongside patients, families and bereaved loved ones throughout the latter part of their lives. I consider it a real privilege to have been part of this amazing team of staff and volunteers for so long.
Pilgrims Hospices opened in Canterbury in June 1982, followed by Thanet in 1992, and Ashford in 2001. That means we have a lot to celebrate this year!
If you’d like to join us to celebrate our special birthdays by donating you can visit our JustGiving or Facebook pages.
Pilgrims Hospices cares for thousands of local people each year, free of charge, during the most challenging time in their lives. They offer care and support in people’s own homes, in the community and in their inpatient units as well as running a 24-hour advice line.
Are you interested in sustainable clothing purchases? Do you love to search for that special pre-loved item in your local charity shop?
Do you think about how much high quality clothing goes to waste, landfill or lays unloved in someone’s wardrobe?
You will love Pilgrims Hospices pop-up kilo event on Saturday 28 May 2022 at St Peter’s Methodist Church Hall in Canterbury.
For those who’ve not had the experience of perusing the rails for vintage or retro clothing, pre-loved high street and some designer items, this is an awesome event not to be missed, the doors open at 10am. For just £5 per kilo, you can seek out a completely new style or find some items that will give your current wardrobe a new lease of life or a new twist in your styling.
Mandy Hawkett, Pilgrims Retail Area Manager said: “We’re very excited to bring our first ever Kilo Sale to shoppers in the Canterbury area. We are providing the bags, all customers need to do is pick their items and pop them in the bags for us to weigh. It’s only £5 per kilo and you can buy as much as you like on the day. We will have a huge variety of stock, so there’s definitely something for everyone.”
There won’t be changing facilities available at the venue, therefore taking a tape measure to check sizing would be something to think about on the day. Shoppers can pay by cash or card at the event and there will be a pop-up cafe for light refreshments too.
Mandy added: “Pilgrims charity shops are an important part of the community, providing local employment, productive volunteering opportunities to a range of age groups and stability to ailing high streets. The environmental benefits through the re-use and re-purposing of pre-loved items are hugely important. And… apart from all of these reasons, we all love to seek out that very special item at a very special price.”
Whether it’s a gentleman’s jacket, some new work gear, a branded t-shirt or something for a special occasion, we will do our best to help you find the perfect items to suit your needs.
St Peter’s Methodist Hall is on St Peter’s Street, Canterbury CT1 2BE, look out for the Kilo Sale banners outside, the event runs from 10am to 4pm.
All the money raised from the sale will help to run Pilgrims Hospices services in Canterbury, Ashford and Thanet along with supporting people to live well in their own homes.
Please come along, it’s free to come in and you are sure to find something special for you or someone in your family.
Each year Pilgrims Hospices give care and comfort to over 2,500 people in east Kent who are coming to terms with an illness that sadly cannot be cured. The charity support patients to live life as well as possible until the very end, free from pain and distress.
27th April 2022
Barry’s super beard shave for Pilgrims Hospices
Barry Ash from Hawkinge, near Folkestone, set out to raise £5,000 for Pilgrims Hospices by completing a superhero-themed beard shave on Saturday 23 April 2022.
Barry with his mum, Carole
Barry is fundraising in memory of his mum, Carole, who was cared for at the Canterbury hospice in January 2022. Carole was from West Hougham, near Dover, where she lived with Barry’s dad, John.
Inspired by the support his family received, Barry wants to give back to the local charity so that others can benefit from its vital, compassionate care.
Barry said: “From the moment Mum was referred to Pilgrims, the care was outstanding – from pain management, to her personal care, including brushing her hair and teeth, to our care as a family. They spoke to us about what Mum was going through, and reassured us so we weren’t scared of what was going to happen. Staff were always on hand to answer any questions we had.
“I used to think that Pilgrims was just a place to die, but now I see a much bigger picture; they care for everyone, both patients and families, and so much more.”
Laura and Barry as Wonder Woman and Superman
Barry and his wife, Laura, love all things superheroes. To say thank you for the care Carole received, they organised a themed fundraiser – on Saturday 23 April 2022, Barry dressed as Superman and had his beard shaved off outside Get Ready Comics in Rochester. Paul Blakeborough, who owns the shop, and his team, helped to organise the day. Barry’s wife, Laura, joined him as Wonder Woman.
Barry continued: “This was a chance to raise money for Pilgrims, have some fun and bring smiles to people’s faces at the same time. Mum knew what we were planning; she loved the idea and we know she was smiling down on us on the day.
“We started off walking up and down the high street and the reactions were just awesome; not just from kids, but from their parents as well. Everyone wanted a picture with us! They asked what we were doing, and as soon as I said that we were raising money and awareness for Pilgrims everyone put their hands into their pockets and gave what they could. It was so nice.
“The beard shave started at 12:30; Shayne Kingham was the kind man who gave up his time to do the deed.”
Barry and Laura have raised £4,175 of his target thanks to the generosity of work clients, friends, family and members of the public, and his JustGiving page will remain open for further donations now that he has completed his challenge.
He hopes that alongside raising money, he has also increased awareness of Pilgrims’ services within the community.
Barry and Laura with Carole
He added: “They say that you remember people by how they made you feel. The staff and nurses at the Canterbury hospice left a long-lasting impression; we are full of gratitude and thankfulness for everything they did for us in the final stages of Mum’s illness.
“The kindness we were all shown in Mum’s last few days was phenomenal; it is something we will never forget.”
Each year, Pilgrims Hospices give care and comfort to thousands of people in east Kent who are coming to terms with an illness that sadly cannot be cured. The charity support patients to live life as well as possible until the very end, free from pain and distress.
