October - St Peter's Church, Berkhamsted, Herts

Hospice NewsThe Co-operative Bank pitches in at the Hospice ofSt FrancisGreen-fingered staff from The Co-operativeBank have transformed an area of thegardens at The Hospice of St Francis inBerkhamsted.Staff from The Co-operative Bank CorporateBanking Centre (CBC) on Victoria Street, StAlbans, spearheaded an initiative totransform an area of woodland into a tranquilspace for visitors and residents of thehospice.Since the St Albans centre opened a year agoon September 7th 2011, the team have takenpart in various community activities and inrecognition have been nominated for theCorporate Social Responsibility Award at theCommunity Business Awards organised bythe St Albans Chamber of Commerce.In all, 35 staff from The Co-operative Bank’sCBCs across the South East spent the dayworking in woodland behind the hospicedigging out weeds, realigning a path andbuilding a new compost bin.The Hospice of St Francis providesprofessional support and care for people witha life-limiting illness in Hertfordshireincluding St Albans. It is a thriving charitywith a dedicated base of volunteers who tendto the gardens every Tuesday.Senior Manager at the St Albans Centre,Richard Crook, said: “It’s been a hard day ofmanual labour to clear the area and create apleasant place people want to visit but it’samazing how much has been accomplishedin a day. At the start of the day the woodlandarea was dark, overgrown and under-usedbut now it’s a beautiful peaceful area for theresidents and visitors.“As part of The Co-operative, we'reencouraged to get involved in thecommunity and help deserving causes. Thehospice provides essential support and it’s aprivilege to help them.”Charlotte Minoprio, corporate fundraisingmanager at The Hospice of St Francis, said:“The woodland area is an area where peoplecan take time out and get some peace andquiet. We are very fortunate to have suchwonderful gardens and are delighted whencompanies such as the Co-operative Bank sogenerously give up their time to support us.This is the largest group of volunteers from acompany to help us which is why we wereable to undertake a big project. We arethrilled with the result and I know that thepatients and their families will trulyappreciate the wonderful view.The hospice supports adult patients and theirfamilies affected by any life-limitingcondition in the 12 beds at the hospice andthroughout the community in people’s homeand care accommodation. All care is providedfree of charge and in order to carry on theirwork the hospice needs to raise £3.7millionper year.The St Albans centre handles businessaccounts for clients throughout St Albans,Hemel Hempstead, Berkhamsted, Hatfieldand further afield. yBThe team at The Co-operative Bank’s StAlbans Corporate Banking Centre organisedthis initiative to transform the gardens at TheHospice of St Francis.(left to right) Chris Harris, Nicola Johnstone,Arthur Deacon (from the Hospice of St Francis),Dan Seeby and Richard Crook21