Support Sussex hospices at their time of need by visiting online Christmas Gift Fair

It is open from now until Christmas Eve, showcasing a wide variety of beautiful gifts for family and friends, supporting local independent retailers who will donate 10% of all purchases directly to FHS to enable vital continuity of support for 13 hospices across East and West Sussex, who during the pandemic have suffered from a huge loss of much needed income.

Never more so than now have local hospices needed support; Sussex adult hospices receive an average of 23% funding from government. Government support for our four children’s hospice care providers ranges from 0% to 12%.

To make up the deficit, they depend hugely on fundraising from their local communities, which this year has been hard hit with events cancelled due to COVID-19 and their charity shops closed during lockdowns.

Despite receiving welcome additional financial support from Government to cover losses due to COVID-19, most will end this financial year in deficit and are concerned about the coming 18 months, with little hope of more funding and a greater expected demand for their services.

Kathy Gore, Chair of FSH, said: “Friends of Sussex Hospices was started in 1995 when a group of friends organised a Christmas Fair to raise money to help build the Martlets Hospice in Hove.

“The charity today supports all 13 hospice care providers across East and West Sussex and Brighton & Hove and has held a Christmas fair every year since, distributing over £3 million to these local hospices.

“Sadly, as with so many charitable events this year, it is simply not possible to hold our fair, but I hope people will continue to show their loyal support for our hospices and support local independent businesses at the same time, by buying unique Christmas gifts from our stallholders either by phone or from their websites.

“It couldn’t be simpler; quote ‘FSH’ to the stallholder or at checkout and your purchase will secure a vital 10% donation to Friends of Sussex Hospices. Every little does indeed help and really can make a difference at this challenging time.

“This Black Friday support FSH by shopping from an additional 4,200 retailers including John Lewis and Amazon who use Easy Fundraising and ensure that you can support FSH by nominating us as your chosen charity.

See also: Sad loss of Sussex lifeboat crew remembered