Bethesda Hospice has received a £55,000 grant from Point and Sandwick Trust (PST) to help with running costs.
PST originally pledged annual funding towards Bethesda in 2009, six years before
their community-owned wind turbines at Beinn Ghrideag were operational. The annual
grant, derived from the income of the wind farm is contracted to continue for the
25-year lifetime of the turbines.
A significant proportion of the hospice’s overheads rely upon voluntary donations and fundraising from community, a task which is becoming more of a struggle as the islanders’ own finances are under pressure.
Joanne Ferguson, Bethesda’s finance manager, said: “We now have to fundraise over £450,000 per annum in order to keep the hospice open. With the cost of living affecting everyone, this is becoming more difficult to achieve every year and this means that the Hospice is at a real risk of closure.”
PST manager Donald John Macsween said Bethesda is an organisation that has “touched
many of our lives and plays an important role in the Western Isles. Our 25-year
commitment to deliver a grant payment of £55,000 was PST’s first grant pledge and
we’re pleased, year on year, to uphold it.”
Bethesda Hospice welcomes £55,000 donation
11 June 2024
