Local Hospice Worker in New Years Honours

Caroline Austen given prestigious award for services to Fundraising and the Community.

St Peter & St James Hospice are delighted to announce that one of their valued employees has been awarded a British Empire Medal in the New Years Honours List for 2022.

Caroline, known as Caz, was nominated by former CEO Barbara Williams for her extraordinary contribution to fundraising and services to the community and through the pandemic. This honour is given to those who are deemed to have given long term service to the community in the voluntary and charity sector and made a significant difference. Having raised well over £100,000 for the Hospice since the late 1990s Caz has most definitely achieved that.

Living locally to the Hospice in Barcombe, Caz first became aware of their services when a friend died there. Following some health challenges of her own, Caz who had been a dental nurse previously, almost with a sense of kismet saw a job advertised at the Hospice and in 2010 joined as a Healthcare Assistant.

Caz said: “It’s an honour to work at St Peter & St James, when I first came here to visit a dying friend it felt like there were arms coming around me as soon as I walked through the door.”

During the first Covid 19 lockdown in 2020 Caz selflessly lived alone in order that she could continue to perform her work duties and began a local drive for donations for toiletry items for patients that were arriving at the Hospice empty handed due to the crisis. Caz also took time during the same period to help out at the charity’s warehouse for their high street shops in order to keep herself busy whilst she lived alone.

Caz thoroughly relishes fundraising for the Hospice and regularly sets herself personal challenges to raise money; “ I feel so passionate about what I do and by fundraising I feel I’m giving back some of the pleasure that caring for our patients gives me, knowing that the monies raised will be used to enhance their lives and others in the future. I love working here so much…I was shocked to receive the letter…I didn’t believe it was real.”

Caz will be presented her honour by the Lord Lieutenant of East Sussex and will be invited to a Royal Garden Party in 2022.

Chief Executive Officer Dr Martin Powell congratulates Caz on her award; “ Caz has contributed so much to St Peter & St James Hospice over the years, through her care and support of people affected by life-limiting illness and her tremendous fundraising efforts. It’s so gratifying to see such wonderful recognition of her dedication and commitment. Our Hospice community is very proud.”