STOCKPORT HOSPICE SUFFERS AFTER FALL IN LEGACIES

A sharp drop in gifts from legacies for St Ann’s Hospice.

New figures show the amount given to the charity in wills in the year to March fell by almost 50 per cent to £1.39m.

St Ann’s has beds at Heald Green, Stockport, and Little Hulton, Salford, and an out-patient unit at Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester
It made a surplus of £104,609 last year, down from £1.4m in the previous 12 months.

The legacy reduction was offset by a significant rise in donations, up £250,000 to £2.5m, as supporters rallied to mark the charity’s 40th anniversary.

Campaigns run by the Salford Advertiser and Stockport Express, part of MEN Media,  generated £250,000 in income from readers.

Read more at MEN Media

St Ann’s subsidiary trading company, which includes charity shops, a lottery and raffles, contributed £564,662 of income, down six per cent on the previous year.

Turnover in its 15 charity shops topped £1m for the first time.

Director of finance Liam McCarthy said: “It was a satisfactory year financially, but the recession is biting deep in terms of donations in the current financial year and, with our supporters still suffering from the woes of the economy, we’re in an uncomfortable financial position.

“It’s becoming increasingly important that we maximise all our income streams and exploit every opportunity for generating more income.”