King's College Hospital Charity shortlisted in Third Sector Awards 2021

Charity Chief Executive of the Year: Gail Scott-Spicer

Gail joined King's College Hospital Charity in July 2018 and since then, the team has grown significantly in both numbers and ambition.

Thanks to Gail's leadership, King's College Hospital Charity has collaborated and performed like never before, launching two emergency COVID-19 appeals amongst the challenges of the pandemic, and harnessing the power of partnerships, delivering maximum benefit to those who need it most.

"Humbled, emotional, thoughtful. None of us can be the best we can be without brilliant boards, teams, family and friends."

CHARITY CHIEF EXECUTIVE, GAIL SCOTT-SPICER

Best Fundraising Campaign: Hospital Heroes

On 23 March 2020, the day the first national lockdown was announced, we launched King's College Hospital Charity's very first emergency appeal: the Hospital Heroes Appeal. With minimal resource and budget, and learning to work from home, the team pulled together to delivered our best ever performing campaign.

With the growing national pandemic, it was more important than ever to ask our donors and the community to support our hospitals. Going from concept to launch in two weeks it was a quick turnaround which required huge amounts of collaboration and innovation. The original target of the campaign was £40,000 and the Charity raised over £1.5 million. We also nearly doubled our cash donor file and received over 2000 messages of support from the local community.

"Our Hospital Heroes Appeal was a promise to staff and patients – a promise that we would not leave them to face the pandemic alone. We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who has given so much so willingly – you have helped us keep our promise.”

Best COVID-19 Service Delivery: King’s College Hospital Charity Bereavement Service

The King's College Hospital Charity Bereavement Service was developed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the traumatic circumstances in which many lost loved ones.

The service is for families, friends, and partners of those who died at King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust during the pandemic. The service appointed Family Liaison Officers to reach out to the bereaved and provide practical and emotional support, and to refer them to bereavement counselling, which was outsourced to a specialist service, St Christopher's Hospice.

Beneficiaries received access to a comprehensive 12 week program of therapeutic support to help them process their grief.

"I went from completely isolating myself, to actually beginning to live again. This is a lifechanging service that supports people every step of the way through the grieving process."

Unsung Hero Award: Mark Thornberry

The definition of an ‘Unsung Hero’ one who does great deeds but receives little or no recognition for them. Mark Thornberry, who sadly passed away in June 2020 from liver cancer, is the epitome of an Unsung Hero.

Mark was the most incredible fundraiser, raising £144,000 for pioneering liver research at King’s. He was also an advocate who inspired others to fundraise, volunteered at our events, sat on one of our Committees, and raised awareness for our cause. Mark was the Volunteer Fundraiser every charity dreams of and that is why we are proud to nominate him posthumously for the Unsung Hero Award.

“I am frustrated that I cannot be cured but know that every penny I can raise will help the medics better understand liver cancer progressions and allow them to treat people like me in the future.”