Lancaster charity scoops £1,000 funding thanks to vote on grant allocation

St John’s Hospice was a runner-up in the Cadent Foundation's ‘Connecting Colleagues, Customers and Communities’ initiative.

Through its initiative, Cadent employees in the north west were asked to trial a new approach to the way in which local grants are allocated – by nominating local charities which were then shortlisted and put forward to a public vote.

More than 1,000 customers took part in the voting process with Derian House Children’s Hospice in Chorley being awarded the top grant of £3,000.

Action for ASD in Burnley and St John’s Hospice in Lancaster were voted runners-up and will each receive grants of £1000.

St John’s Hospice provides patients and families in north Lancashire and the South Lakes with palliative care for a range of life shortening conditions.

The charity has been awarded a £1,000 grant from the Cadent Foundation. Natalie Santamera, campaign and appeals manager, said: "We are extremely grateful to The Cadent Foundation for awarding a £1,000 grant; it is always wonderful to know that we voted by Cadent customers from across our community.

"The funds will go towards the purchase of a syringe driver for our Hospice at Home team - this vital device allows our community nursing team to deliver palliative care medicines effectively and in a timely and controlled way in a patient's home. We can only deliver this vital care for our community due to generous donations and the support like this."

Julia Dwyer, director of the Cadent Foundation, said: “Over the last 12 months, the need to come together and support each other has never been more important. We wanted to ensure Cadent customers and colleagues were given the chance to help care for their local community by nominating and voting for charities which were close to their hearts.

“The ‘Connecting Colleagues, Customers and Communities’ initiative has been a huge success with 14 charities shortlisted and more than 1,000 customers taking part in the voting process.

"The project has grown from strength to strength as a direct result of the ongoing focus, commitment and support from colleagues across the north west. It has allowed us to focus on where help is needed the most and offer grants to projects where we can make a real difference.”

The Cadent Foundation is funded by local gas network Cadent, and has been established to support projects large and small that help people living in vulnerable situations and disadvantaged communities; protect and preserve the natural environment or support in creating a sustainable energy future for all.