National fundraising drive for hospices is launched

Together for Hospice, the national fundraising body for the 24 specialist hospices and palliative care providers in Ireland, is behind the ‘Your Finest Hour for Hospice’ workplace charity initiative.

Funds raised by companies and staff in Roscommon will be directed to Mayo Roscommon Hospice Foundation.

The campaign asks firms in every sector to give workers an hour of downtime in April – and in return, staff are asked to donate an hour of their salary, with every cent raised locally, staying locally.

'Your Finest Hour for Hospice' runs throughout the month of April.

Employers in Roscommon are asked to reward staff by treating them to an office takeaway, giving them a well-being hour – or simply an hour off work. Employees are then asked to donate one hour of their salary to hospice.

Companies and employees, either in partnership or separately, are asked to register to support the initiative at: www.finesthour.ie.

With the population over 65 set to triple over the next 30 years, demand for hospice services continues to grow and in 2023 alone, hospice and specialist palliative homecare providers cared for over 14,000 patients and made over 87,000 homecare visits.

Meanwhile, a bereavement expert says creating grief-informed workplaces is vital to help people navigate loss and be supported by colleagues.

Niamh Finucane, co-ordinator of social work and bereavement services at St Francis Hospice in Dublin’s Raheny and Blanchardstown, says there is a major role for employers in Ireland to examine their response to a colleague’s loss.

“The first few days back at work and meeting people again can be very activating of grief,” she said.

She references songs coming on the radio or events like Mother’s Day as touching on people's grief, and says it is important to remember that when people are grieving, they are "not functioning as well as usual; their memory or concentration can be impacted and they may make mistakes."

Niamh points out that each person's needs is "very different" but it is important that they get the support they need in the workplace. “It’s the simple things; let them know you are thinking of them, even if you don’t know what to say. That can mean the world.”

.With the population over 65 set to triple over the next 30 years, demand for hospice services continues to grow and in 2023 alone, hospice and specialist palliative homecare providers cared for over 14,000 patients and made over 87,000 homecare visits.