Mary Stevens Hospice nominated for Black Country Community Award

Established almost three decades ago, the lottery provides the hospice with a vital financial lifeline.

MAry Stevens Hospice is based in Stourbridge on Hagley Road and aims to provide care and support to people living with incurable illness as well as their families.

The bill for running the hospice is around £3.5m each year so every penny raised by the lottery is vital.

Hospice finance director Simon Henwood said: " Many people are still under the misconception that the hospice is funded entirely by the NHS.

"That's only true to a small extent in the fact they give us what they can afford, but as most people know, the NHS is under financial pressure itself and there is only so much money to go around.

"That's why the lottery is so important to us. We have around 10,000 people who play the lottery every week.

"It costs just £1 to take part and the lottery offers a £1,000 jackpot every week. We also do a few Super Draws in the summer. It provides us with vital income, as the money we need to raise is always a moving target.

"We do operate some shops which provide us with income, but it's the lottery that's the real life-line because it remains consistent and the more we can broadcast it, the better".

Mary Stevens Hospice Lottery is just one of many nominations for the Dudley Borough Community Awards, where the winners will be revealed at an exclusive black tie event on Thursday, November 23 at the Copthorne Hotel in Dudley.

The closing date for nominations is noon on September 24, for more information or to submit your nomination visit the community awards section on our website.

If any businesses would like to sponsor the awards they can email debra.orr@localiq.co.uk