Our annual review 2016/ 2017

It’s an exciting time for St Ann’s, and whilst we’re always looking ahead to what the future holds and how we can continue to adapt, grow and (most importantly) ensure we are continuing to provide outstanding specialist care to local people, it’s also incredibly important to stop and look back at what has been achieved.

We’re pleased to have published our latest annual review on our website today, which charts some of the progress made by the St Ann’s team over the past twelve months.

This year’s annual review document may look more compact than in previous years, but that’s no reflection on the amount of amazing work that’s been going on right across the organisation this year.

It’s a snapshot of just some of the exciting projects that have been going on – an overview of how St Ann’s has been working with local communities to improve the lives of people with cancer and other life-limiting illnesses.

I’m pleased to say that the St Ann’s community reaches far and wide.  Whether that’s the army of more than 700 amazing volunteers that help us in so many different ways, the staff that work tirelessly to care for patients and their families, the healthcare professionals from across the region, nationally and internationally who collaborate with us, or the fantastic supporters who help us raise around £16,000 every day to allow our work to continue, I can’t thank you all enough.

When I came to St Ann’s just over a year ago, I was extremely aware of the hospice’s rich heritage of almost half a century of care.  We all have a huge responsibility, as the current guardians of such an amazing organisation, to ensure that it’s still around, fit for purpose, and able to support people into the next century too.

That’s not always easy when there is such a changing external landscape, but I’m pleased to say that the team at St Ann’s is one that embraces change, adapts and seeks out new opportunities to help us care for even more local people.  We’re working on lots of exciting projects at the moment, and I can’t wait to share those with you in the coming months.

Taking stock of where we are, looking at any high points or areas of improvement, is just as important in a charity as it is in any business.  And I’m pleased to say that, in what has been a year of change for St Ann’s, reading this year’s annual review made me very proud.

There’s still a lot more to do, but we’re excited about another positive year ahead at the hospice.  Thanks to everyone who has made the last year such a success, and we’re looking forward to working even more closely with our local communities in the coming months and years too.