NR TAUNTON, U.K. -- “In these hard times, charity shops are finding an increase in demand as people look for bargains and quality goods at prices they can afford. With Christmas coming we will also be stocking a few new ranges of children’s clothing and fun toys – perfect little gifts from Santa”, said Christine Kitto, St Margaret’s Head of Retail Operations

The shop, which opened this week is the 28th St Margaret’s shop in Somerset. The shop is sited on the corner of Bridge Street where the charity used to have their furniture shop, which this has now been relocated closer to the Taunton bridge in larger premises.

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

For further information please contact Pam Knight 07887 850757

· To continue to deliver our services, we need to raise in the region of £10 Million each and every year, which in real terms amounts to needing to achieve a daily fundraising target of £27,400

· Currently, there are approximately 5,000 people a year in Somerset who suffer from incurable illnesses. St Margaret’s is striving to increase funding so that the Hospice can treat and care for more patients and their families.

· The Hospice seeks to improve patients’ quality of life by providing relief from pain and other distressing symptoms and help enable people to live as actively and independently as possible with a life-limiting condition. We never say there is no more we can do.

· St Margaret’s provides 24/7 patient and carer advice every day of the year through our one-stop shop centralised referral centre and advice line tell: 0845 0708910 (tel:0845%200708910)

· St Margaret’s employs over 360 staff, including clinicians, therapists, social workers and clinical support staff who work days, nights, weekends and bank holidays.

· The Hospice has an army of over 1,200 volunteers, who work clinically, in fundraising and in our shops. We couldn’t provide our services without them.

· A major part of the care and support offered focuses on the family and carers enabling them to cope throughout the patient’s illness.

· St Margaret’s has two sites; one in Yeovil and one in Taunton, providing intensive care. There are day-care facilities at both Hospices and many other services, including, medical and nursing provision, physiotherapy, Chaplaincy, complementary and diversional therapy.

In 2012/2013, our 374 staff cared for over 3,000 patients – some will have used a number of our services:

· 1, 815 were supported out in the community,

· 486 people were cared for in our in-patient units,

· 1,584 by our out-patient clinics,

· 315 people in our Sunflower day centres

St Margaret's is the fourth largest hospice in the UK


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