As we approach the end of 2022, we’re pleased to be looking back on a number of successes for the Pepper Foundation.
Throughout the summer, we were delighted to have been able to once again run some of our regular fundraising events for the first time since before the pandemic.
One such event was the Pepper Golf Day at Berkhamsted Golf Club which was attended by almost 70 participants. The event was hosted by the wonderful Nigel Barden, food and drink broadcaster, and regular on BBC radio and Greatest Hits radio. We would like to thank Nigel for taking the time to host our event. We would also like to say a BIG thank Berkhamsted Golf Club for hosting the event this year – you made the event very special for our guests.
The Pepper Show 2022
As always, the jewel in the Pepper Foundation fundraising crown is the Pepper Show. With the cost of living being so high for many people, we kept the tickets at 2021 prices and introduced the new ‘family ticket’ option. Despite the tough times we’re living in, 1200 people attended the Pepper Show in 2022. We’re so grateful to everyone who attended; the show is a vital part of our fundraising.
Pepper Family Day Out
This year also saw the return of the Pepper family fun day out; we have not been able to run a family day out since 2019, so we were extremely happy to be able to offer this again. The family day out is a free event for the families that the children’s hospice at home team works with. These days out have long been a much-loved part of the work that we do. This year we were back at Whipsnade Zoo. 🐘🦒🦁💜
Unfortunately, the weather was not at all kind to us, with heavy rain throughout the morning; sadly this made it impossible for some families to be at the event. However, Whipsnade Zoo agreed to allow us to transfer to another day, the tickets for those who couldn’t attend. We are very grateful to Whipsnade for accommodating the families in this way.
We will be back with more days out for families soon. Based on feedback we received this year, we’re hoping to be able to offer new options for families in future events.
Community Fundraising
We had an incredible response over the summer from our community. From local events to corporate fundraisers to individual fundraising events, our community really went all out to help support our charity through the summer.
The children’s hospice at home service
The children’s hospice at home team helped approximately 45 families over the summer, providing support through clinical care, respite care, and play therapy.
Over the summer, Rennie Grove was also able to restart music therapy at Grove House, allowing children to attend over the summer holidays.
The Merger of Rennie Grove Hospice Care and The Peace Hospice
The Pepper Foundation has been working in partnership with Rennie Grove Hospice Care (originally Iain Rennie Care) since the 1990s, helping to launch and fund the children’s hospice at home service that is so important to local families caring for children with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions.
Earlier in the summer, Rennie Grove Hospice Care announced that it is merging with Peace Hospice Care. As of the 1st October 2022 the next phase of the merger integration has started; the new organisation has been incorporated and will be called Rennie Grove Peace Hospice Care.
The goal of the merger is to increase the reach and scope of services, offering a range of high-quality care for those facing life-limiting illness, as well as bereavement counseling services for anyone affected by grief, across our diverse local communities. The combined catchment area of both charities will cover a GP population of over 1 million local people.
You can find out more here: https://renniegrove.org/about-us/news/detail/2022/10/05/merger-with-peace-hospice-care-goes-ahead-to-offer-improved-and-extended-care-to-local-people
Cost of living crisis
We are mindful of the fact that the rising cost of living is affecting most people in our community. This is a concern for most charities that rely heavily on community fundraising as part of their funding needs. While fundraising in 2022 has been steady, we are aware that 2023 could be a challenging time not just for our charity, but for all charities. Over the summer, the Pepper Foundation has been taking steps to to ensure we are in the best possible position to continue funding the children’s hospice at home service into 2023-2024 and beyond.
Thank you
Once again, thank you to everyone who has supported the Pepper Foundation with their time and/or money throughout the summer. We are grateful to have such a wonderful community to lean on in these uncertain times.