New boss brings old clothes

The new boss of St Peter's Hospice in Bristol has brought a bag of old clothes with her to donate to the cause and is urging others across the city to do the same.

Cathy Taylor has been appointed interim Chief Executive of Bristol's only adult hospice caring for local people with life-limiting illnesses, saying the biggest challenge is to keep funds coming in during tough economic times.

Cathy has joined St Peter's after six months as interim CEO at Cotswold Care Hospice in Gloucestershire, a post sponsored by Ecclesiastical Insurance, where she worked for 10 years.

She said: "We know that St Peter's Hospice is loved by the people of Bristol and their generous donations of time, money and items to sell in the 47 shops around the city are greatly appreciated. Our ongoing challenge is to continue to grow our support so that we can do more to reach those in need in our community.

"I cleared out part of my wardrobe. It is unusual for a Chief Executive to bring their old clothes to work but that is the fantastic thing about the hospice – everyone mucks in to help. Old or unwanted clothes can be sold in the shops or raise money as rags.  An added bonus is that we are preventing huge amounts of waste going into landfill every year.  So this also helps from an environmental perspective

"My aim is to reach even more people in Bristol and to ensure that the hospice is supporting all the different communities across the city and helping them when someone has a life-threatening illness.

Robert Bourns, Chairman of the Trustees of St Peter's Hospice, said: "The Trustees are pleased to welcome Cathy Taylor, who brings a great deal of experience and expertise to the hospice.

"The Trustees are working with Cathy and the senior management team to look at the future priorities for the hospice and the community it serves to ensure we have the right skills and support to continue and build on this vital service."