We are delighted to have been donated a sign Blackpool FC shirt, worn by defender Alex Baptiste during their games against Fleetwood Town and Ipswich Town this January.

This shirt is is being sold via an online auction for to help raise further funds to support our work at Trinity Hospice and Brian House Children’s Hospice.

If you would like to place a bid on this shirt please complete the form below.

This auction is only available onlineand will close on Friday 2nd March 2012.

Emily, who has a lot of experience performing around the North West, including singing recently on the ‘SandAid’ record made for charity by Blackpool-based musicians is really excited to be able to support her local hospice whilst doing favourite thing, singing.

The competition organised by Furness Building Society in conjunction with the North West Evening Mail, Lancashire Evening Post and Bolton News, challenges talented local charity supporters to step up and represent their good cause.

12 finalists will compete for prizes of £1,000 for first place, £750 for second place, and £500 for third place, with £100 for each of the other finalists so that all of the charities represented on stage will benefit. The Charity Challenge final takes place at the Lancaster Grand Theatre on Saturday 21^st January, starting at 7.00pm. Tickets are £7 each and available through the Grand Theatre box office telephone 01524 64695 or by visit www.lancastergrand.co.uk.

Sarah Wane, Marketing Support Manager for the Furness says: “The response to the competition was brilliant and it left the judges with an incredibly tough job to select the 12 finalists from so many excellent performances uploaded onto the website. Now the finalists have been selected we hope the charity supporters will really get behind them and turn out at the Lancaster Grand Theatre on January 21st to cheer them on. Our aim of Charity Challenge is to make everyone more aware of the need to support charities in the current tough economic climate, and the final will be a fantastic night of fun and entertainment.”

Furness Building Society prides itself on supporting local charities and has more than 20 affinity accounts linked to good causes. The affinity accounts offer customers an attractive return on their savings whilst the Society makes an annual cash payment from its own funds to the charity, based on the total amount in all accounts for that charity. As a result last year the Furness paid out more than £360,000 to affinity partners.

Players took the time out of their busy training schedule to visit the children in Brian House Children’s Hospice and the adults in the In-Patient Unit and Day Therapy Unit of Trinity Hospice, taking the time to speak to patients, staff and volunteers whilst posing for photos and signing autographs.

Lorraine Cundy, Clinical Manager for Brian House Children’s Hospice said ”We are delighted the club were able to make their annual visit and spend so much time with the children. With Christmas less than a week away we are all getting in the festive spirit and the players presents of footballs, scarves, teddies and calendars were a lovely early present for the children”.

Whilst the hospice has a long running relationship with Blackpool FC this year has been extra special as the local club and charity have been matched through the 2011-12 Help the Hospices partnership with the Football League. So far the club has helped raised over £10,000 by supporting the hospice through a recent Sportsman’s dinner, charity collection and staff members from Bloomfield Road taking part in charity events including a skydive and the annual Trinity Hospice Santa Dash.

We have some other exciting events planned for the New Year, but for now we would like to wish everyone at Blackpool FC a Merry Christmas from everyone at Trinity and Brian House and a big thank you for their support.

Anyone wishing to help Blackpool FC reach their fundraising total by donating £3 can do so by texting TrinityGoal  to 70003

Over 800 people attended the short carol service held in our Hospice Garden, which included festive carols accompanied by the Hospice Choir and the Pilling Silver Jubilee Band. Followed by readings from Reverent John Dennett and Hospice President, Jimmy Armfield. Sister Debra Green, of Trinity Hospice and Sister Lorraine Cundy of Brian House Children’s Hospice then had the honour of switching on the lights of our 3 18ft Christmas tree lights, each decorated with special dedicated stars. These lights will shine throughout the festive season, each one in remembrance of a  loved one.

View this year’s Light up a Life Book of Remembrance here.

If you would still like to support this year’s Light up a Life and add a star to our Christmas tree please call us on 01253 359362 or to donate online please click here.

Our annual Presents of Mind appeal

The whole concept of Presents of Mind is one huge present for Brian House. Over the last 4 years we have managed to raise over £20,000. It may be optimistic to try to beat our fantastic efforts from previous years but with your generosity we can try.

Collection points are available throughout Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde at:

• Blackpool Police Station, on Bonny Street
• Blackpool & South Shore Fire Stations
• McDonald Estate Agents & Letting Agents
• All Trinity Hospice Shops
• Sweet, High Street, Garstang
• Over Wyre Medical Centre, Knot End
• Karen Taylors, Thornton
• PDM Lettings, St Anne’s
• Upstairs Downstairs, Lytham

“From gift sets, clothes, toys and books to toiletries, all your gifts will be put to good use. The majority will be sold in our shops across Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre with every penny raised by their resale going towards developing the services provided at Brian House which cares for local children with life-limiting conditions and their families. Those extra special gifts will be used by children in Brian House.

For more information about Presents of Mind please call the Fundraising Team on 01253 359362.

We are delighted that over 700 people took part in one of Blackpool’s most festive events and the sea of Santa’s dashing down the promenade was fantastic to see. Here are just a few of the pictures from the day.

For more pictures please click here

Here’s how it works

easyfundraising.com is a simple way to raise funds for Trinity Hospice this Christmas. You can shop online with your favourite stores and you raise money for us at the same time. It really is that easy!

Easyfundraising.com work with thousands of well known retailers including Boden, M&S, Argos, Vodafone and many more. Their retailers love supporting good causes and will donate a percentage of what you spend to us when you shop with them through the easyfundraising site.

For example, if you spend £50 with Boden this festive season, you’ll be raising £1.25 for us. Insure your car with the RAC and they’ll donate up to £3. Take out a new mobile contract with Vodafone and raise up to £45.00…we could go on!

What’s more, they work closely with retailers to find voucher codes and discounts so you can save even more money on your shopping.

Register today, simply:

1. Register for free at www.easyfundraising.com and choice ‘Trinity Hospice and Palliative Care Services’ as your good cause to benefit
2. When you’ve registered, you’re ready to shop and raise money! Simply click on the retailer you want via the easyfundraising website , then shop as you would normally. When you make a purchase, we’ll send you an email telling you how much you’ve raised and pass the donation to your cause.

It has toured Europe with one of the world’s most famous bands in history, but the iconic Big Man statue from the recent 2011 Take That Progress Tour made one final stop in Blackpool where it raised over £13,500 to support local adults and children being cared for by Trinity Hospice and Brian House Children’s Hospice.

This generous donation was only made possible thanks to local resident, Simon Rimmer, who toured with the band, and was involved in the construction, dismantlement and safe transport of The Big Man, which was designed and built by Total Fabrications. The Big Man (not to be confused with OM the mechanical man that stood up for the finale) spanned 200 feet across the top of the stage looking down on Take That from above for the duration of the show. Once the tour came to an end in August Simon approached the production company who had organised the 36 date tour, who kindly agreed that he could arrange for it to be sent to Richardson Tractions Yard in Fleetwood, where it would be dismantled and separated in order to recycle its valuable metal in aid of Simon’s local hospice, Trinity.

Simon Rimmer said; “Living so close to Trinity Hospice I know firsthand, the wonderful work Trinity do and how they support the community. Once I heard there were no plans for The Big Man once the tour was over I was determined to make sure it didn’t go to waste. I am proud I was able to save it and that the money raised has gone to such a worthwhile charity”.

Linzi Young, Fundraising Manager, said; “We are absolutely thrilled that Simon thought of us for such an amazing  opportunity and I would like to express a huge thank you to the production company, Simon, the entire team and of course Gary, Howard, Jason, Mark and Robbie. It’s hard to believe The Big Man travelled through Europe, was seen by hundreds of thousands of fans yet eventually made its way to Blackpool!  We would like to reassure all Take That fans he’s been put to good use – helping to support the services and care we offer to children and adults affected by life limiting illnesses in Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre”.

In addition to the donation, Simon also provided Trinity Hospice with a unique piece of the famous “Big Man” structure for them to auction off, along with a selection of Take That merchandise, which includes a crew t-shirt, limited edition Take That branded Dunderdon Parka jacket and a Progress Tour cap.

This unique collection is going to be auctioned online to help raise further funds for Trinity Hospice and Brian House Children’s Hospice. If you are interested in placing a bid please Click Here. The collection will also be available for viewing and bidding at this year’s annual Trinity Hospice Ball, taking place in the prestigious Blackpool Tower Ballroom. If you are interested in attending please call the Fundraising Team on 01253 359355.

This unique collection of Take That memorabilia from their 2011 Progress Tour includes:

A one off piece of the famous ‘Big Man’ structure.
The Big Man (not to be confused with OM the mechanical man that stood up for the finale) spanned 200 feet across the top of the stage looking down on Take That from above for the duration of the show.  This specific piece was from the chin of the ‘Big Man’

An ‘Evolution of a Roadie’ black crew t-shirt
Only issued to the crew and roadies (size XL)
(Please note this t-shirt has been worn but remains in good condition)

Limited edition Take That branded Dunderdon Parka jacket
Khaki Parka with limited edition Take That badges.  Brand new with tags (size XL)

A Progress Tour ‘Big Man’ cap
Limited edition black cap with gold leaf, Take That embroidered logo and ‘Big Man’ embroidered badge to front

Take That crew bag tag
Bag tag only issued to crew members, each with their own unique number

Also included:
Take That Progress CD Album
Tour photo of the ‘Big Man’ and OM the mechanical robot
Limited edition Take That tote bag

The auction has now closed.

Visit our dedication Shops Page for more information about retail opportunities.