Thank you from our Director, Lucy for your incredible support in 2025
As we approach the end of 2025, it is an ideal moment to look back on the achievements of the past year and extend a heartfelt thank you to our incredible community of supporters. None of what we do could be achieved without you. It’s also an opportunity to look ahead to 2026 with hope and optimism, wishing health and happiness for everyone.
2025 has been another fantastic year for Mid and South Essex Hospitals Charity. Together, with your unwavering support, we’ve made a significant impact in improving care and enhancing the lives of our patients, their families, and our dedicated staff.
Southend Hospital Charitable Foundation’s Spotlight Radiotherapy Appeal not only reached, but exceeded its initial goal of £600,000 – ultimately raising £920,000. This extraordinary achievement means our Radiotherapy teams can now use Surface Guided Radiation Therapy (SGRT) technology, which provides ultra‑precise positioning and motion management during treatment. This innovation reduces session times, improves patient comfort, and delivers safer, less invasive, and more accurate cancer care.
This year also saw the launch of our Dandelion End‑of‑Life Appeal, which aims to provide greater comfort to patients and their loved ones in their final moments. Through this appeal, we are refurbishing specialist rooms and providing items that create warmth and dignity across Basildon, Broomfield, and Southend Hospitals. The response from our community has been truly inspiring, and we are deeply grateful for the support. We are honoured that the Mayor of Southend has chosen the appeal as his beneficiary charity of the year, pledging a packed calendar of fundraising events for Southend Hospital. We are equally thankful to the Friends at Broomfield voluntary group, who are championing the appeal at Broomfield Hospital.
We’ve also seen the positive impact of numerous projects funded by our supporters, from upgrading essential equipment to creating more welcoming and comfortable spaces for patients and visitors.
We’ve been amazed by the efforts of so many:
- Families and friends taking part in Walk for Wards and our brave abseilers who took on Southend Hospital’s tower block. Participants collectively raised almost £50,000 to support various areas of our hospitals.
- Five marathon runners completing the London Marathon – and so many more completing half marathons across the UK.
- Community groups, schools, and individuals organising creative fundraisers, from bake sales to sponsored challenges, all of which made a real difference.
- Donations supported projects ranging from helping premature babies and renal patients to supporting bereaved parents and patients living with dementia.
This year brought new milestones in volunteer engagement, with our dedicated volunteers contributing more than 120,000 hours to support patients, staff, and visitors. Your kindness and commitment truly make a difference, enabling us to go further in caring for our patients and welcoming hospital visitors.
We must also celebrate the incredible contribution of our charity shops. These shops are not only vital in raising funds but also serve as welcoming spaces for our community. We are profoundly grateful to our shop teams for their dedication and to our customers for their generosity – together, you make a lasting difference every single day.
As we look back on this year, we are truly inspired by the remarkable generosity of our community. Each donation, event, and act of kindness has made a real difference, helping to create hospital experiences that are calmer, brighter, and more supportive for everyone.
On behalf of the charity team, I extend heartfelt thanks for your commitment. Your support goes beyond appreciation – it is transformative. As we move into 2026, we look forward to continuing this journey together, making even greater strides in enhancing care across Mid and South Essex Hospitals.
Wishing you and your families a joyful Christmas and a Happy New Year filled with health and happiness.