Have a brew in support of St Clare's Hospice

St Clare’s Hospice has launched its Tea at 3 campaign, inviting people to host tea parties to raise vital funds.

Staff and volunteers kick-started the event on Thursday by hosting their own Tea at 3 event at the hospice, in Primrose Terrace, Jarrow.

The Mayor and Mayoress of South Tyneside, Couns Alan and Moira Smith went along to raise a cuppa in support.

Local businesses, Co-Operative Funeral Care, Tesco, in Simonside, Greggs, Duffy’s Deli, and Morrisons, Jarrow, and Cup Cake and Co and The Cake Place, in South Shields, got involved to support the hospice, which provides palliative care to the people of South Tyneside with life-limiting illnesses.

Community fundraiser, Tyler Anderson, said: “We are so grateful to everyone for supporting our event. It is so heartwarming to see the generosity of the local businesses who worked together to help us make our tea party a huge success and the people who offered to volunteer on the day, it really is a community event.”

Sonia Graham, senior fundraiser for the hospice, added: “Tea at 3 came about as we wanted to create a new way for the local community to do something together to really make a difference to the hospice. We need to raise around £1.4 million this year to support our patients with life limiting or terminal illnesses.

“All the money raised will help us to support patients accessing both our day care service and our in-patient unit.

“We understand that times are hard for many, given the current economic climate, but that people still want to support the hospice. Arranging a Tea at 3 get together is a simple what to support St Clare’s and by joining together to raise vital funds.

“We would like to invite everyone to join in and are hoping that local businesses will have a Tea at 3 in the workplace and community groups will hold their own afternoon tea party. But why stop at just tea? We hope that groups will make Tea at 3 their own and sell cakes, dress up, hold a raffle or organise some games.”

Tea at 3 runs throughout July and anyone can organise a part at home, work, or in the community.

To register and receive a fundraising pack, go to www.stclareshospice.co.uk/events/tea, email [email protected] call 0191 529 7111.