Warwickshire News Mine

The money is being raised through a scheme that enables the county council’s staff and pensioners to donate the ‘spare’ pennies from their payslips or pensions.

Around £4,500, including gift aid, has been raised for the hospice in the first nine months since staff were asked to donate, and with more staff and pensioners joining the scheme every month the donations are set to grow and grow.

‘Pennies from Heaven’ is a national scheme that was adopted by the county council in October last year. It invites employees and pensioners to round down their monthly salary or pension to the nearest pound and donate the pennies left over to the council’s two nominated charities: the Mary Ann Evans Hospice in Nuneaton and The Myton Hospices in Warwick.

The Mary Ann Evans Hospice is an independent, purpose-built day hospice situated in the grounds of the George Eliot Hospital, which provides specialised care for people with life limiting illnesses. It was established in 1990 to provide day care to residents whose GPs are based in the boroughs of Nuneaton, Bedworth and North Warwickshire.

Both the Mary Ann Evans Hospice and The Myton Hospices in Warwick are receiving an equal share of the amount donated. They are able to gift aid the donations, adding 28 pence to every pound staff and pensioners contribute.

The pennies soon add up and the funds donated to the Mary Ann Evans Hospice by Warwickshire County Council employees and pensioners after just nine months will be enough to provide:

• Over 1,100 daily meals for patients
• or transport for 900 patients to and from the day hospice
• or 90 sessions of bereavement support
• or more than 60 sessions of Hospice at Home care
• or 45 days of nursing care
• or 15 sets of aromatherapy oils for use with complimentary therapies
• or 4 ½ full days of voluntary funding for patient care

All of Warwickshire County Council’s 18,000 staff and its pensioners have been encouraged to pledge their pennies and sign up to the scheme.

Janet Griffin, Fundraising Manager for the Mary Ann Evans Hospice, said: “Pennies from Heaven is a wonderful fundraising project for the Mary Ann Evans Hospice.

“A few pennies donated every month by the individual employee, when added together will make a huge difference to the provision of hospice care. We would like to express our sincere thanks to all staff involved and stress that every penny counts.”

Martyn Thompson, Deputy Head of Human Resources at Warwickshire County Council, said: “It is encouraging to see an increasing number of staff contributing to these worthwhile charities. We have been surprised by how much we can raise by pledging our payroll pennies that overall makes a real difference."

Anthony Law, Managing Director of Pennies from Heaven, said: “It is clear that the generosity of staff and pensioners at Warwickshire County Council is making a real difference and just another example how effective this simple scheme is. We encourage all large employers in the county to consider Pennies from Heaven as a simple but truly effective way to raise funds for the sector.”

Link to WCC