Day in the life of Sarah Cash, Deputy CEO at Dove House.

Hello my name is Sarah Cash, and I first came to Dove House on 8^th May 2006.

Since joining the hospice as a Community Fundraiser, I've steadily progressed through various roles, including Events Fundraiser, Fundraising Manager and Director, culminating in my current position as Director and Deputy Chief Executive since 2020.

I’d actually volunteered at the hospice before I worked here as I’d helped my auntie, who ran the Beverley Wednesday Market shop at the time, to promote their new wedding room. I remember walking up and down Butcher Row in a wedding dress handing out flyers in February. It was so cold I was my own something blue!
My background is in PR, Marketing, and Events. While I found the work engaging, I was seeking a role withing an organisation with greater impact. When I saw the Community Fundraiser job at Dove House advertised, I jumped at the chance as it meant I could apply the skills and experience I had gained through my education and early career, to directly support the local community. I’ve never looked back! 

I actually remember visiting the hospice for the first time when I was at primary school to sing Christmas carols to the patients. I can vividly remember being a bit scared to visit as I thought it would be a really sad place, but I was pleasantly surprised! It didn’t look anything like the hospital environment I was expecting and there were lots of people smiling and it felt so positive.

The hospice building has changed quite a bit over the years but that same welcoming home-from-home feeling remains. 

Undoubtedly the thing that makes the hospice so special is the people that work and volunteer here. We take the time to really get to know our patients and their families and tailor our care to them. No two days are ever the same. I feel very privileged in my job, I get to meet lots of supporters and help them do something amazing and feel great about themselves by supporting hospice. Hearing their inspirational stories about the things they are doing to fundraise for us is really fulfilling.  

My days are incredibly varied and focused on supporting our income generation teams to maximise fundraising for patient care. This can range from strategic planning with trustees and brainstorming with department heads, to giving presentations and pitching in wherever needed. Just last week, I was sorting through a mountain of retail donations due to a volunteer shortage. No two days are ever the same. While working within a small Executive Leadership Team has its workload challenges, it also offers a unique opportunity to directly witness the positive impact of our efforts as we all help and support each other.

The three biggest achievements we have accomplished while I have been at Dove House have been leading a team that is now raising over £10m annually and diversifying our income by opening two Day Nurseries to help fund our work. No other hospice has done this. And finally, I am really proud that we have been voted 5^th best not for profit to work for twice by the Sunday Times Top 100 Companies.

My hopes for the future at Dove House are for us to achieve the goals set in our 5- year strategy. This will mean we care for more people; in the place they want. I also hope to raise the additional funds to extend and redesign the hospice in a timely manner so we can have it open and operational within the next 3-5 years. This extension and new Inpatient Unit is so desperately needed as it will allow us to care for our patients in single rooms instead of shared spaces.

Additionally, I would like to inspire more people into a role in fundraising. Fundraisers play such an incredible and vital role in the hospice and their work directly helps our patients and their families.