## **The League of Friends of Sevenoaks Hospital** ## **Chairman’s Annual Report** Good evening this is my first Annual Report since taking over as Chairman from Ian Philip at the AGM last year. Ian has promised me that he had no idea the Hospital building was going to close, so soon after I took over the role of Chair. As a result of the decision to close the wards and eventually the hospital we have had quite a lean year in support to the Hospital as initially many decisions had to be made which needed time to be thought through. As a result we have had very few requests for the purchase of equipment and no major projects. We have assisted in watering and weeding the memorial garden to keep it looking good for the visitors and staff who use it. We have been kept updated by various members of the Trust management so that we can carry on our business in the best manner possible. We have continued to recruit new volunteers for the Tea Room in the out patients Dept which is going from strength to strength. I must thank all the volunteers, and the Tea room committee, Jenny Ullmann-Jones, Pat Turner and Chrissie and Ian Philip, for their unstinting work in managing this venture; also to Jenetta for the purchase of excellent cards. The vending machine is still very popular in the UTC and will be removed to a new site once the UTC has been relocated in its new location. We are still recruiting new volunteers who, mostly, having experienced the welcome in the Tea room have volunteered to join us. We often receive comments from the patients visiting the Tea Room to say how welcoming and friendly their experience is. This makes their visit to the Hospital a more “enjoyable” experience. We again provided hampers for the UTC staff working on Christmas Day and Boxing Day which were very well received. We have received an offer from a Sevenoaks resident, David Gamble who is now a life member of the League of Friends, to organise an International Food and Craft fayre to raise funds for the hospital. We have accepted David’s kind offer but have delayed it until 2026 when we will know if there is a demand for any large scale funding requests following the move and refurbishment. We also managed to recruit a new Treasurer, Russel Barclay, who very kindly offered to step into the role. Finally, I would like to thank all the committee and all the volunteers for all the work they have put in over the last year, in particular, Mandy Vickers who took on the role of Secretary last year and has made my role so much easier. Colin Ullmann-Jones Chairman May 2025 1124 471 J1571 4J% 11237 •*¢im&4•i•d lund •• X 8•ptw*•r X24 HOSP￿ I report to the trustee5 1)n my eyamin•llon af Iht K£&￿T￿$ d the The ￿ th• Frwndj ol the Sever&￿13 Hospitsb (the'Ch•¢ity'i kn tho yew ￿ded 30 202 As the tfU3te•s al th• Ch•rtr you are r•1P￿￿th th¢ pr•p*•kn rfth• •ccord• with th• r•qulrnmerrts of the Ch•rtDe5 *£t 20U kn. 2011 Art and In C4fryln8 out fty eYamiMlJM I 41 Ihe •ppl*•bl• lknckns bv the Chanty Commts5kn under srftton 149SKts) d lh• ACL I h•w• completed rny •Nam*wiiThb. l eth Itwf MI￿1￿ Iiiaiiirs ¢¢Yne aitenkn m conn•¢tlon ￿th the thmlnatson IMW m• Cause th•t Te5P l. xcounlSn8 recorts were not kept In rosp•ct al the Trust •5 reqL*wI th• A¢. (¢ 2. th• •¢counts do not 4ccord ￿ IIMM• rerwd vthKh •ttentlon Should be drawn in this rop(Yt in ord•¢ lo a prow th• •¢&wnts to be r••ch•d, N•rne: GrI￿rn Au511n O•t•: 3 D•cemb•t 2024