A New Minibus for ellenor, Courtesy of Generous Donation

by | May 5, 2018 | Dartford Charities

ellenor hospice was absolutely delighted to receive a very generous donation of £40,000 from Coniston Construction to allow the charity to purchase a new minibus to transport its patients.

The volunteer driven minibus is used on a daily basis to transport patients to the hospice at Gravesend to access a range of service, such as day therapy, as well as enabling the charity to provide outings for some of its younger patients.

Claire Cardy, Chief Executive says: “We have been overwhelmed by the generosity that Coniston Construction has shown.  Thanks to their amazing donation of £40,000, we are able to continue our extremely valuable minibus service in helping our patients who may be very ill, have mobility problems or might be elderly or frail to access our services.  This will make a real difference to the patients and their families who receive our care at the hospice”.

Coniston Construction specialises in high end refurbishment, renovation, remodelling and conservation works throughout London and the South East of England. Their clients include The British Museum, The Victoria and Albert Museum, Old Royal Naval College, Somerset House, The Metropolitan Police, Ministry of Justice, and the NHS.  They have been long term supporters of ellenor, donating the proceeds of their Christmas raffle annually as well as giving up a table at their Christmas party for an ellenor family and staff to enjoy a night out.

John Rathbone, Managing Director of Coniston says: “I have always believed very strongly in the positive difference a charity can make on individuals, families and communities and when I first met Graham Perolls, founder of ellenor in 1980, I was hugely inspired by his vision to provide a breadth of hospice services locally.

Coniston has been involved from inception to date and we are delighted to continue our support for ellenor to both help increase awareness and generate funds to support the hospice in the future. Their contribution in the local community is invaluable and this minibus will enhance the work they already do.”

Linda Trew, Director of Income Generation: “We are just so grateful for their long term commitment and this recent gift of a new minibus is just remarkable.

A leading provider in specialist palliative and end of life care, ellenor is the only charity in Kent providing hospice care for people of all ages in their place of choice, 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year, and Children’s Hospice at Home services.

LOCAL CHILDREN GIVEN CHANCE TO SHINE IN THIS YEAR’S CHRISTMAS PANTO AT THE ORCHARD THEATRE

Young performers across Kent are being given the chance to step into the spotlight this Christmas as The Orchard Theatre announces open auditions for this year’s magical family pantomime, Cinderella. Youngsters aged 9–16 (school years 4–11) are invited to audition for...

Bluewater to Host ‘The Monster’ – One of the World’s Largest Inflatable Obstacle Courses

Bluewater is set for an action-packed summer as one of the world’s largest inflatable assault courses, The Monster, arrives during the summer holidays, with tickets on sale now. From Saturday 18th July to Monday 31st August, the Kent shopping and leisure destination...

Orchard Theatre – WE’RE HIRING

The Orchard Theatre Announces Search for a New Buildings and Technical Manager to Lead Landmark Reopening Following a period of major refurbishment, Dartford’s iconic Orchard Theatre is officially launching a nationwide search for a visionary Buildings and Technical...

‘A Brief History of Me and My Time’ – Local Author’s new book is released in September

My name is Richard Winston. I am a retired teacher of languages, living in Sidcup. Since retirement I have written a couple of novels and a memoir. The novel, called "The Seed of Change", is currently with Troubador Publishers and is due for release on 28th September....

Dartford’s Night Food Market returns with a World Cup twist

Dartford will once again host its popular Night Food Market on Friday 12 th  June, transforming the town centre into a vibrant celebration of flavour, live entertainment, and community spirit.  Visitors will be able to taste their way around the...

The Kindness of Strangers: A Reminder of What Unites Us

We never truly know how a day is going to unfold. One moment you are enjoying a sunny  Sunday afternoon listening to the Bandstand Concert in Dartford’s Central Park. The next you  are waking up from a sudden blackout, surrounded by confusion and panic....

Dartford Juniors lift the inaugural Kent County Chess Association Foundation Cup

Dartford Juniors are the 2026 KCCA Foundation Cup champions — and the first team ever to lift the trophy. On Saturday 30th May, our squad beat Petts Wood & Orpington 2½–1½ in a tense final to write their names into Kent chess history. The Foundation Cup is a...

“FAMILIES CALL US THE COMFORT BLANKET”

“When you spend time with Tina, you quickly understand why families remember her. She puts people at ease immediately and makes families feel like they’re not going through difficult moments on their own. Tina brings warmth and reassurance into people’s homes every...

Paralympian JohnBoy Smith to Scale the O2 in Wheelchair for We Are Beams

Commonwealth Games Medallist, Team GB Paralympian and Patron of We Are Beams JohnBoy Smith is taking his support to new heights by undertaking a breath taking wheelchair climb over the iconic O2 Arena in London. This special fundraising event, which will take...

Pop Icon Sinitta and Drag Royalty Divina De Campo announced to headline Dartford Pride

Pop Icon Sinitta and Drag Royalty Divina De Campo Announced to Headline Milestone 5th Anniversary of Dartford Pride. Orchard West, in partnership with Dartford Borough Council, is thrilled to announce that 80s pop sensation Sinitta will headline PrideFest: The Party...