Evora Hospice – the new name for Southern Area Hospice – celebrates its 35th year of service and unveils its new name, new brand, new website, and its vision for a new hospice facility in Newry.
The organisation, which was founded in 1989, provides specialist palliative care to individuals with complex life-limiting conditions who live within the Southern Health and Social Care Trust region. (This area encompasses Armagh, Banbridge, Craigavon, Dungannon, and Newry and Mourne.)
At a special event in the Seagoe Hotel, Portadown, Evora Hospice celebrated its 35-year landmark, unveiled its new identity, and set out its ambition to build a new world-class hospice facility within the Newry area. The event was kindly supported by Norbrook.
Speaking to attendees including volunteers, staff, supporters and stakeholders, Evora Hospice CEO, Liz Cuddy OBE, said:
“Southern Area Hospice will now be known as Evora Hospice. Our new name and brand are a true reflection of who we are today – modern, vibrant and rooted in the communities that we service and care for.
“Our new name and brand are also about looking confidently to the future and are part of our vision to ensure the continued provision of the highest standards of palliative care in the Southern Health and Social Care Trust region for many years to come.
“This vision also includes future-proofing our physical infrastructure and we therefore have an ambition to build a new hospice facility in Newry. Fulfilling that ambition will be a long-term commitment and will require a concerted effort by Evora Hospice, our supporters, stakeholders and the wider community over the years ahead.
“But we have great determination to turn our ambition into reality, and we look forward to talking to our supporters so we can work together to develop this ambition so we can meet the growing need for our services in this area,” she continues.
“For now, our focus is on embedding our new name and brand and of course on continuing to provide the highest standards of palliative care to the community.
“We will be working over the days and weeks ahead to roll out our new brand across our building, our uniforms, our social media presence, and our printed materials.
“And we are proud to launch our new website today which carries the new name and brand and features a new and enhanced user experience,” she adds.
Director of Care services Bridget Lynch (left) and Chief Executive Liz Cuddy.
Commenting on the hospice’s 35-year landmark, Health Minister Mike Nesbitt said:
“It was important to me to join in this landmark anniversary. With a growing and aging population, with the associated health challenges, there has never been a greater need for palliative care.
“At the heart of delivery is the commitment, dedication and empathy of the staff and volunteers. I thank them profusely and wish them every success in their new era.”
The special event at the Seagoe Hotel to mark 35 years of service and to unveil the new name, brand and vision was kindly supported by Norbrook.
Andrea Iucci, CEO from Norbrook said: “The hospice has played an incredibly important role in the local community for over 35 years and Norbrook’s support for today’s event is a mark of our great appreciation for the hospice, its services and all of its team.”
Evora Hospice was pleased to have been awarded funds from Dormant Assets NI which is delivered by the National Lottery Community Fund to develop its new brand and website.
About the name Evora Hospice
Evora derives from the Celtic word for yew, reflecting the hospice’s roots in Newry, a word that also means yew. Evora is also the district of Portugal where St John of God was born providing a strong link to the hospice’s legacy as an organisation founded by the Sisters from the Order of St John of God.
The name also has a modern feel, is short and memorable, and is inclusive and welcoming.
Check out their new website here www.evorahospice.org
