Businessman and devoted fundraiser Peter Jarvis has been named the first-ever national Patron of Zoe’s Place Baby Hospice.
Contechs is a leading engineering design and recruitment business which supplies the automotive industry in both the UK and Europe and its Managing Director Peter was chosen for the prestigious new role following a successful four years as chairman of the charity’s business group in Coventry.
Since its inception the business group has been dedicated to ensuring the hospice has enough income to provide baseline nursing and ancillary staff – allowing it to open its doors 24/7, 365 days a year.
The charity’s trustees say Peter’s ‘limitless’ energy and passion to raise money and awareness of the exceptional work of Zoe’s Place, makes him ideally suited to the new role.
And they are confident his determination and drive will now be felt across all three hospices – based in Coventry, Liverpool and Middlesbrough – which collectively have the challenge of raising £4.4m each year to remain open.
Peter said: “I am thrilled to have been chosen as the first-ever national Patron of Zoe’s Place Baby Hospice. It is a huge honour for which I am incredibly proud. Zoe’s Place is a remarkable charity which touches the hearts of everyone who becomes involved.
“My years on the business group have been hugely rewarding and I hope to replicate the success of the last four years in my new role. It will be a huge challenge, but one that I look forward to greatly.”
Zoe’s Place provides palliative, respite and end-of-life care to babies and infants suffering from life-limiting or life-threatening conditions. Each facility provides an essential lifeline to many families enduring the hardest battle of their lives.
Over the years, Zoe’s Place hospices have cared for hundreds of children, with the first facility opening in Liverpool more than 20 years ago.
But being dependent on donations, the charity faces new challenges every year in its continuous bid to remain open.
In his new role, Peter will help support the three hospices both individually and collectively giving them greater fundraising power.
Zoe’s Place Chairman of Trustees Professor Jack Scarisbrick MBE said: “We are delighted that Peter has agreed to take on this new role, which is pivotal to the charity’s future fundraising efforts.
“Peter’s dedication and commitment to Zoe’s Place is unrelenting. He works tirelessly to raise awareness of the charity in Coventry and ensure that the hospice has enough money every year to continue its vital service in the city.
“We are confident that Peter will help the charity to capitalise on the untapped potential of bringing all three hospices closer together and we wish him the very best of luck in his new role.”