Friends of the Royal Cornwall Hospital Chairman’s Report 2022
Presented at their AGM 27[th] March 2023.
On behalf of the Trustees of The Friends of The Royal Cornwall Hospital, it is an honour to present our Annual Report. We were very saddened by the death of our Vice Chairman, John Nunn, earlier in the year - he is sorely missed on our committee. However, I am delighted to say that we now have two Vice Chairmen – Mrs Deborah Barlow and Mrs Sarah Young. We have also welcomed Mrs Carol Taylor as a co-opted Trustee and are still looking for more volunteers who are prepared to become a Trustee and join us to help make a difference to the lives at The Royal Cornwall Hospital. We are very grateful to Chacewater Bowling Club who offer their premises for us to meet monthly.
As our country was coming out of Covid restrictions, more volunteers were willing to engage in volunteering. Volunteers who had worked during Covid were given a special Covid Star badge by the RCH Trust in recognition of all they had done.
Volunteering in the Headland Unit continued throughout, and the volunteer team is an integral part of the Unit. The drinks service in The Mermaid Centre has been re-established, but we have yet to get a service back in The Sunrise Centre, although we recognise this is urgently needed. We know how much the work of the staff and volunteers is valued as over £11,000 has being generously donated this year in appreciation for all that is done for our patients.
Our Coffee Bar has gradually increased its opening hours and the range of goods that it sells, and we are very grateful to all the volunteers who contribute to the smooth running of this important part of the hospital - and also to RCHT staff who are some of our most loyal customers. As a charity, it is certainly the largest part of our income at this present time.
We have tried to elevate our profile in the community using social media via Facebook and Instagram. This was particularly enhanced in August by one of our Trustees Liz Birchall who, along with her husband Adam and son Joseph (age 14), cycled 1111 miles from John O’Groats to Lands End in 22 days, raising money for us and Camborne Youth Band.
A Cream Tea Month was organised in June – selling boxed cream teas as well as hosting an event at Enys Gardens – and even though it poured with rain on that afternoon, a considerable amount was raised and we thank all our sponsors for their generosity. Also, a most successful evening with Jonny Cowling was held at Griggs Stores in October. Fundraising during the year has realised over £7000.
Crafters have been busy with their knitting needles or crochet hooks and many blankets (for palliative care patients) and twiddle muffs (for dementia patients) have been donated with a label informing recipients they have been made with love by Friends of RCH. We also provided a wrapped Christmas parcel for every patient in a bed on 25[th] December with a note to say that “W e are thinking of them being in hospital on Christmas Day” – again a big thank you to all concerned.
Whilst receiving less applications for equipment this year, we have still been able to provide over £43,000 worth of items requested. These included NeoBLUE blankets for babies in the Neo Natal ward; a bladder scanner for Urology; an electrocardiogram and some cooling caps for the Headland Unit, as well as specialised trolleys for children going into surgery.
In 2023 we look forward to getting all our equipment and stored supplies back into a dedicated room on the Hospital site and from there we hope to reinstate the Library Mobile Trolley service, but also to offer small items (e.g. toiletries, snacks, sweets, etc.) that an inpatient might like to purchase. We will need more volunteers to run this service, so if you are interested or know a friend who would like to get involved, please contact us.
We thank everyone involved - RCHT staff, Volunteers and the general public for their support. We believe that is an honour to be part of a charity that is run entirely by volunteers to serve Cornwall’s only Acute Hospital for the benefit of the people of Cornwall.
Beatrice Dyer January 2023
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INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF FRIENDS OF THE ROYAL CORNWALL HOSPITAL REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER 252083 I report on the Accounts of the TnLSt for the year ended 31 December 2022. RESPECTIVE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE TRUSTEES AND EXAMINERS As the Charities TnLStees, you are responsible for the Preparation of the accounts, YOU consider that the audit requirements of section 43{2) of the Chariiies Act 1993 (the Act) does nol apply. It is my responsibility 10 51ate. on th¢ b&8is of procedures sp¢cifi¢d in the General Dir¢¢tions given by the Charity Commissioners under StiOn 43(7) (b) of the ACL whether particular matters have come to my attention. BASIS OF INDEPENDF.Nr EXAMINERS REPORT My examination was carried out in accordanc¢ with the General Directions given by the Charity Commissioners. An examinalion include5 a review of ihe accounling records kept by the Charity and a comparison of the accounts presenied with those records. It also includes considerdiion of any unusual items of dtsclosure in the accounts and seeking explanations from you as Inlee$ concerning such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required by an audit and consequently. I do not express an audil opinion on the view given by the accounts. INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS STATEMENT In connection with my examination:. No matter has come to my attention l. Which gives me a reasonable cause to believe thal in any material respect the requirement a. to keepin8 records in accordance with Section 41 of the Act and b. to pr¢pare accounts which accord with the accounling records and to comply with the accounting requirements of the Act have not been met or 2. To whicM in my Opinio attention should drawn in order to enabl¢ a pro understanding of the accounts to be reache A H ROGERS AcCoUrAN Y & BOOKKEEPING SERVICES TREWHELLA FARM ST HILARY PENZANCE TR20 9BZ