Naomi House wins the charities ‘Oscar’ (From Daily Echo)
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Hospice has something to cheer after bank troubles
10:20am Friday 27th February 2009 in Search
WINNERS: The team from children’s hospice Naomi House. Echo picture by Paul Collins. Order no: 8130053
AS it struggles through some of the darkest times in its history, Naomi House has finally received a ray of light amid the gloom In front of more than 150 guests at the Rose Bowl, the Hampshire children’s hospice was last night crowned Charity of the Year at the inaugural Wessex Charity Awards.
The prestigious honour comes just days after the Government turned down the Sutton Scotney-based charity’s plea for financial help.
Hospice bosses asked the Government for assistance after £5.7m of its cash was frozen in a failed Icelandic bank. Khalid Aziz, who chairs the charity, said the Government had turned its back on the 220 families who use Naomi House and the needs of their terminally ill children.
The other local winner of the night was Emmaus Hampshire, named Fundraising Team of the Year for their efforts in raising £2.7m in just 20 months.
The charity is currently constructing a new community on the outskirts of Winchester that will provide 23 formerly homeless people a place to call home and start rebuilding their lives.
The £3m building in Bar End Road is virtually complete, and the first residents are due to arrive in middle of next month.
An open day, to show how it will work, is to be held on Tuesday.
The glittering event, organised by Winchester-based PAS Charity Recruitment, was held in honour of the tireless work and vital contribution of the region’s charities and not-for-profit organisations.
PAS Charity Recruitment director Jenny Warner said: “The night was a fantastic success. There was a real feel-good atmosphere in the room. The awards themselves reinforced what an outstanding job our local charities and volunteers do.”
Other Hampshire finalists included Jubilee Sailing Trust chief executive Amanda Butcher, who was commended for using her inspirational leadership skills.
Oakhaven Hospice, Lymington, was shortlisted for the Fundraising Team of the Year. Anna Wilson from the Winchester charity Wells for India, was a finalist in the Volunteer of the Year category.
