St Giles Hospice joins calls for a new funding model

With a financial crisis looming over the hospice sector, St Giles Hospice is supporting calls for a new model to fund end of life and palliative care.

In a recent survey by Hospice UK, it was uncovered that the hospice sector is facing an estimated deficit of £77 million in the 2023-24 financial year – primarily fuelled by rapidly rising costs.

Data suggests that adult hospices have to raise around two-thirds of their income from charitable funding.

For St Giles Hospice, it costs around £10 million a year to provide its specialist care services and, with 25 per cent of this funded by the Government, the hospice relies on donations and income generation from the local community to continue its vital care.

Kristy Clayton, Director of Clinical Services at St Giles Hospice, said: “Our vision at St Giles is for ‘A world where everyone has fair access to specialist palliative and end of life care’ and it is only with appropriate funding from the Government that we can meet this vision.

“Every year, we care for thousands of people across Staffordshire, North Birmingham and surrounding areas, both on our Inpatient Unit and in their own homes.

“But with rising costs, exacerbated by the current economic climate, and donations squeezed as our supporters struggle to cope with the cost of living crisis, we need the Government to increase its funding to ensure that everyone continues to receive the end of life care that they deserve.

“After all, we only have one chance to get that right.”

A Parliamentary debate on hospice funding took place in the House of Commons on Monday, April 22.

Conservative MP Sally-Ann Hart said that the current funding model, which is reliant upon charitable fundraising, is “uncertain and unsustainable”, whilst Labour MP Colleen Fletcher added that “this sector’s reliance on fundraising for much of its income brings with it significant risks.”

St Giles Hospice was pleased to see this vitally important topic on the agenda, but is urging the conversation to continue.  

“We’re facing a funding gap this year of £1.5 million and we know that we’re not alone, with many hospices across the UK in the same position,” added Kristy.

“It’s only thanks to our incredible local community that we’ve been able to care for patients, and their loved ones, over our 40-year history. But we need to ensure that St Giles is here for another 40 years, and beyond. 

“We need a new funding model for end of life care – and we need it now.”

Town prepares for the big day in June

The iconic Sutton Fun Run is back with new sponsors for when the starting gun is fired in June.

West Midlands law firm George Green LLP Solicitors – who opened their third regional office in Sutton Coldfield last summer – have partnered with the Royal Sutton Fun Run as a supporting sponsor.

Registration for this year’s Fun Run has now closed, with the event scheduled for Sunday, 2 June at the end of spring half term.

Gemma Fenton, Family Law partner at George Green LLP Solicitors, said: “As one of the Midlands’ leading law firms, serving both businesses and individuals, we took the decision in the summer of 2023 to open our first office outside the Black Country.

“Our Royal Sutton Coldfield office, located in Emmanuel Court, Reddicroft, in the heart of the town centre, is our first venture away from Cradley Heath and Wolverhampton.

“We’ve been very proactive supporting community initiatives and organisations within the Black Country where we’ve been based since 1897.

“The Royal Sutton Fun Run is the largest annual fundraising event within the town, so it was a natural choice to support the event to show our commitment to the town and encourage staff to participate and raise money for our chosen charity Mary Steven’s Hospice.”

Tracey Spare, Fun Run Event Director, said: “We’re delighted to welcome George Green LLP Solicitors as a supporting sponsor for 2024. It’s rewarding to see new businesses within the town wanting to support the Fun Run both as a commercial sponsor and encouraging staff to participate and raise money for charity.

“We hope this is the start or a long-term relationship with George Green LLP Solicitors and wish them every success with their new office in the town.

“Over the past 42 years, the Royal Sutton Fun Run has distributed over £5.1 million to charities with thousands of participants taking part each year. Without commercial support from businesses such as George Green LLP Solicitors, this wouldn’t be possible, so thank you.”

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Fun runners, serious athletes or those looking for a walk in the sun are being urged to register for the Royal Sutton Fun run. After opening in early February, the 10-week registration period will close at 11pm this coming Monday, 15 April.

This year’s Royal Sutton Fun Run will be staged along its traditional 8.5-mile route on Sunday 2 June.

Registrations can be completed here.

Entries have already been received from Streetly Academy, Good Hope Hospital, Cookes Furniture, FIT Sutton Coldfield, Acacia Family Support and the Royal Sutton Coldfield Chamber of Commerce.

There is also a final ‘in-person’ registration opportunity tomorrow, Saturday 13 April, between 10am and 2pm at the RotoSpa showroom in Boldmere.

Anyone who visits the showroom will go into a free draw to win a week-long spa hire, while anyone who also registers for the Fun Run at RotoSpa, will have the added incentive of going into a free draw for a £25 Sutton Runner voucher.

Event director Tracey Spare said: “Registration will close ahead of the 11pm deadline on Monday if we reach the maximum number of entries [5,500], therefore I would urge anyone still to register for this year’s Fun Run to complete the registration process as soon as possible to avoid any disappointment.

“There’s a link at the top of the Fun Run web site home page www.royalsuttonfunrun.orgwhich will take you to the registration page. It only takes a few minutes to complete the process to secure your place.”

A bargain retailer has closed a store in Sutton Coldfield without warning, less than two years after it opened. One of its local concept stores, it opened in Boldmere Road in 2022.

Signs on the outside of the store state: “Sorry. We have closed. Don’t worry! We’re not far! Visit our store nearby…” and then showing a map to the Poundland in The Parade in Sutton town centre, which is 1.8 miles away. In fact, the Poundland at Princess Alice Retail Park is nearer at 1.2 miles away.

The discount chain, with its headquarters in nearby Walsall, was testing the new format Poundland Local shop to ‘bring convenience shopping to neighbourhoods not currently served by Poundland’.

The store was established to fill the gap between the chain’s big shop at the Princess Alice Retail Park in New Oscott and its town centre outlet in the Parade. However, a little over a year-and-a-half later, the ‘neighbourhood convenience store’ has permanently closed.

In addition to its usual range of discounted items such as drinks, snacks, health and beauty products, and household items, the store also sold fresh bread, fruits and vegetables, hot pies and pastries, and frozen goods.

A spokesman for Poundland told BirminghamLive: “I’m afraid it’s a location where we’ve been unable to secure a lease that would have enabled us to stay there. Whenever we have to close to a store in those circumstances, we do everything we can to look after colleagues.”

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Tribute have been pouring in following the sudden death of a well-known and much respected football figure in Sutton Coldfield.

Nick Heath, director of football director at Boldmere St Michaels passed away, aged just 51, on Good Friday morning.

Nick died hours after attending a training session on Thursday night at the club.

The passing of Mr. Heath brought the non-league football community in Midland together in mourning. Tributes were paid by The Mikes as well as other clubs in the region. Sam, the son of Mr. Heath, shared on X, “This morning, I lost my best friend and the best dad in the world. I will miss you forever, dad.”

A tribute from the club said: “Boldmere St Michaels are shocked and saddened to hear of the passing of our director of football Nick Heath, in the early hours of this morning. Our thoughts go out to his wife Jo, sons Sam and Rhys and all family members. RIP Nick.”

RIP Nick was trending on X, formerly known as Twitter, in the UK on Good Friday. A number of other tributes were also paid to Mr Heath, who was also head of the football academy at Birmingham Metropolitan College, in response to the club’s post.

Dean Conway, the Mikes under-21 assistant manager, said: “Absolutely floored and completely gutted this morning. Nine years together helping young footballers to become better players and ultimately better people. RIP my friend Nick Heath.”

Other Sutton football clubs, Romulus FC, Sutton Coldfield Town, Sutton United and Boldmere Falcons also posted. Romulus said: “Everyone at Romulus would like to extend their sincere condolences to Jo, Sam, Rhys, their family and everyone at Boldmere St Michaels. R.I.P. Nick. A very sad day.” 

The Royals said: “We are saddened and shocked to learn this morning of the passing of Nick Heath, director of football for The Mikes. This is terrible news, and a difficult time for the club. We wish everyone involved in the club, and Nicks family our deepest condolences at this difficult time.”

Sutton United said: “Sutton United are saddened to hear the news of The Mikes’ director Nick Heath’s passing. We hosted Nick and Sam’s U21’s side twice this year and enjoyed two very competitive derby matches. Our condolences go to all of Nick’s family and friends. RIP Nick.”

Boldmere Falcons posted: “Boldmere Falcons are saddened to hear the news of The Mikes’ director Nick Heath’s passing. A true legend of the game that will be missed. Our condolences go out to all of Nick’s family and friends. RIP Nick.”

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A leading Sutton Coldfield investment expert is warning affluent people to look out for two of the most common kinds of financial scam, saying ‘more people fall for them than you might think’ more than 25 years ago, said affluent people are being conned out of millions of pounds each year.

He said: “Research shows that a significant number of wealthy people have been the victim of financial crime.

“According to a recent survey, which spoke to people with assets of more than £250,000, two in five had fallen foul of scammers – that’s 41 per cent. So, more people fall for them than you might think.

“There is a bit of a myth that scammers target naïve, isolated and vulnerable people, but the truth is that no-one is immune to fraud, and there are increasingly sophisticated scams that target the affluent.

“Two of the most common types are investment fraud and pension fraud,” Mike explained.

Investment scams tempt victims either into a fake scheme, or one that makes them pay in more than the potential returns.  According to UK Finance, in the first six months of 2023, investment scams collectively cost victims more than £57million.

Mike said: “These scams can be very difficult to spot and may appear completely legitimate, with professional websites, testimonials from clients and persuasive marketing.

“The best-known examples are ‘Ponzi’ or ‘pyramid’ schemes, but there are lots of variants.

“My advice would be to be suspicious of anything that comes via cold calling, anyone who applies ‘hard sell’ tactics and certainly anything that offers high returns for low risk. If it appears too good to be true, it probably is.”

Fraudsters usually use pension scams to try to get access to a victim’s pension fund, Mike explained.

“In some ways, this has been encouraged by changes that have given people the ability to self-manage their pension pots, once they reach 55,” he said.

“We hear about cons where victims are persuaded to cash in their pension, or take a loan from it, and then give it to the fraudster to invest. In other cases, they convince victims to move their savings into a new pot, promising higher returns.

“I would advise you to be wary of terms like ‘unlocking’ your pension, unusual investments and overcomplicated schemes, involving different groups, all of whom want their own fee.

“If you are suspicious of a firm that has contacted you, you can check to see if they are on the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) register or on the FCA warning list, or you could check their HMRC status.

“Just a quick online search can tell you a lot about a company’s reputation and financial position. First of all, my advice is, do not deal with anyone who is not registered with the FCA (and check the FCA website yourself, don’t rely on what they tell you).

“Also, contact the firm yourself using the details that are registered with the FCA. Some scammers “impersonate” a genuine firm and so always check whoever you are dealing with really works for the firm that they claim to.

“Then, do not invest into anything that isn’t covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) or that isn’t a genuine registered and regulated investment product (such as a Unit Trust).

“Then, go to Companies House and look the firm up and look at their accounts so that you can see their financial position. Scammers are likely to have very little money in their business and the amount might contrast starkly with what they’ve told you about their investment success. Also, you vcould visit their business premises and check that they’re a genuine business.

“There is help available if you have been scammed, from Action Fraud and the FCA – but the best approach is to reject any cold calls – and don’t believe anything that seems too good to be true.

“Don’t put yourself in a position where you’re risking everything you’ve worked for being taken away from you. In addition, if you look online, you’ll find the details of local, respectable firms of financial advisers.

“Go and see one of them and show them what you’ve been offered so that you can get a professional opinion. Invest the extra time into making sure you’re not being scammed. Always ignore any pressures where you’re being told that you’ll miss the opportunity if you don’t act immediately, this is classic scammer behaviour.”