Pulling pints and pulling in pounds

IT’S a pub in the heart of the city – and now the landlord and landlady of The Bakers Arms have taken Winchester Hospice to their hearts by choosing it as their Charity of the Year.

Steve and June Robinson have been running the popular city centre pub, in High Street, Winchester, for nearly two years, and they have pledged to support the Winchester Hospice fundraising campaign for the next 12 months.

The Winchester Hospice fundraising campaign has reached the 90 per cent milestone – and The Big Push campaign is now focusing on bringing in the final £370,000 to get the hospice open in Summer 2021.

The Charity of the Year support from The Bakers Arms will run to October 1 next year, but the couple got their fundraising off to a flying start ahead of time when June took part in a sponsored head shave during the August bank holiday weekend.

By braving the shave, June raised more than £720, and she, Steve and their customers are determined to keep pulling in the pounds over the coming weeks and months.

June, 55, said: “We want to support a local charity and we know that local people are very passionate about the Winchester Hospice campaign.”

Steve, 58, added: “Craft Union, which owns The Bakers Arms and nearly 400 pubs around the country, are very keen to support charities, and they are delighted that we have chosen to support a local charity like the Winchester Hospice.

“A hospice is one of those places that you never want to have to go in but so many people need the help and support that it provides. A hospice helps and touches so many people. Our city deserves to have a hospice and we are delighted to support the charity for the next year.”

Steve and June will be holding a weekly meat draw as part of their fundraising campaign, and other events are in the pipeline. There is also a tap-to-donate machine and collection tin in the pub.

Nick Vaughan, chair of Winchester Hospice Fundraising Charity board of trustees, said: “Thank you to Steve, June and everyone at The Bakers Arms for choosing to support the hospice as their Charity of the Year for 2020-21.

“Community support like this is much appreciated and so important as we enter a crucial phase in the campaign to reach the fundraising target that will enable us to open the doors of Winchester Hospice next Summer.”

The national lockdown caused by the pandemic meant work had to be halted on transforming Burrell House, on the Royal Hampshire County Hospital site, into Winchester Hospice in March. However, workers from Reside Construction have been back on site since the end of May and have been pressing ahead with the construction.

Winchester Hospice will be run by Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Its palliative care team have been a driving force behind the ambitious project as they know how important it is to have a local hospice facility that will help, support and care for the people of Winchester and the surrounding area.

Winchester Hospice will be the hub for specialist palliative care, providing inpatient care for up to 10 patients, as well as a host of outpatient and community support for people in their own homes.

For more information, and to donate, visit www.winchesterhospice.com or call the Winchester Hospice fundraising team on 01962 828353.