Since it was founded in 1954 The Colchester League of Hospital and Community Friends has been fulfilling its charitable work in the Colchester Hospitals. Over the years, as the hospital facilities in Colchester have changed, the League of Friends’ role has been adapted to fit in with what is required, but the League’s basic philosophy of care for patients, visitors and staff has never varied.

What we do

The most visible work of the League is their Shops, Guiding Service, Ward Shop Trolleys, Ward Newspaper Rounds in Colchester General Hospital, and the tea bar at Essex County Hospital and cafe at the Primary Care Centre in Colchester. Along with paid staff, these outlets and services are manned by the many volunteers who willingly give of their time.

Where the money is spent

Money raised by the League is ploughed back into the Colchester hospitals by providing special equipment – any request from any department is considered by the League’s Trustee Directors, they always try to help when they can. Over the years the League has held successful appeals for the Elmstead Day Unit Children’s Play Area, the Breathe Easy and the Eye Scanner as well as helping the Breast Unit at Essex County Hospital with the Breast Scanner 2000 Appeal. In 2016 a donation of £15,000 was made by the League towards the Time Garden Appeal, which aims to build an outside area at Colchester General Hospital, for end of life patients, where they can spend quality time with their loved ones.

Other more recent donations of equipment include over £1,300 for a set of ‘practice stairs’ for the Physiotherapy department, £3,240 for specially designed chairs for Tiptree Ward day room, £510 for wheelchairs for the Stroke Unit, and £3,150 for 50 portable nebulisers. This list is by no means exhaustive, but simply gives an idea of the diverse area where funds are spent.

Members

The League has over 200 members with about 120 of them active volunteers. It has a board of directors whose members are the Trustees of the Charity. To enable continuity and an efficient business it employs a minimal number of paid staff. Our volunteers are greatly appreciated, they are vital to the running of the League’s shops and services, and we feel they enrich the life of the hospital.   We offer some social events for our members, and a quarterly Newsletter is distributed to keep all members informed of noteworthy events. We are constantly in need of volunteers and welcome applications all year round. If you would like to volunteer please call 01206 752899 or complete and submit the application form on the Volunteer page of this website.