Welcome to our Annual Report and Accounts for 2022/23 highlighting what we have been able to achieve this year, thanks to the generosity of our supporters.

 

When you make a donation to the Colchester & Ipswich Hospitals Charity, you help take care of patients and staff at your local hospitals and healthcare centres – providing those extras that go above and beyond what the NHS can provide, and which make such a difference to happiness and healing. 

As well as supporting many incredible people who have been fundraising for us, we worked hard during 2022/23 to make the best possible use out of every penny raised in what proved to be another challenging year for all charities due to financial pressures affecting people’s ability to give as well as investment market volatility.

We continued to receive incredible support from our communities for our two major capital appeals – The Blossom Appeal and The Children’s Appeal.  The first phase of the Children’s Appeal—the outpatients department opened their doors to their first young patients and their families in November with work continuing at pace on the remaining phases—the ward, high dependency unit and play spaces.  The breast care centre opened it’s doors to patients in January, bringing together the breast clinic, imaging department and breast screening under one roof.  We celebrated the official opening by Amanda Pritchard, Chief Executive of the NHS in the Spring. These two important spaces have transformed the experience of patients and their families by creating modern and welcoming environments which match the gold standard of care which staff provide.

We continued to support patients across many departments within our local hospitals and community services by funding additional equipment, staff posts and counselling services. We’ve funded paintings in hospitals, innovations and research projects.

We worked in partnership with our Integrated Health System together with our local voluntary and grass roots organisations by funding and supporting six projects tackling health inequalities in our area. 

I hope that you enjoy reading this report and hearing more about our inspirational fundraisers and the difference we are able to make as a result of their generosity. If you would like to support our charity or find out more about any of our ongoing initiatives, please get in touch or visit our website at colchesteripswichcharity.org.uk

Mandy Jordan

Associate Director of Charities and Voluntary Services