Speaking at the ceremony Gill Cronin, Head of Fundraising, said: “I would like to extend an enormous thank you to everyone who has supported this appeal so far. In the last 4 months alone we have raised a staggering £114,000, with donations and pledges being received from individuals, companies, trusts and other organisations. These funds have enabled us to complete the shell of the building and we can now move forward with furnishing the new rooms – with your help of course! Our original target was £222,700 so we are now more than 50% of the way there!

“We had already received a grant from the Department of Health and since November our Buy A Brick appeal, endorsed by one of our Patrons Dame Vera Lynn, has captured peoples’ imagination. We feel that an enormous amount has been achieved in a short space of time and we couldn’t have done it without the very public support given to us by our community.”

The developments at St Peter & St James are a long way from completion and they are still raising money to furnish the new extensions and to undertake internal refurbishments such as creating a new in-patient lounge and therapy room. If you would like to make a donation or learn more about the Raise The Roof campaign please visit www.raisetherroofcampaign.org.uk or call Gill Cronin on 01444 470206. If you are interested in working or volunteering with us please contact our Personnel department on 01444 471598.

As you can see, building work is now in full swing. Here you can see the progress being made on the new Chaplains’ office and family room, the counselling and quiet room, the Welfare Support Room and the quiet study room.

The “Buy A Brick” For Christmas appeal was launched in The Market Place in Burgess Hill on 25th November 2007.