Bristol law firm Barcan+Kirby has chosen the city’s St Peter’s Hospice as its charity of the year for 2024.
The hospice helps thousands of patients and their families, providing support with managing pain, bereavement support and providing relief from symptoms all year round. 
It needs around £24,000 a day to operate its care services. But with only £5,000 of that coming from the NHS it needs to raise the remainder from its shops, through legacies and donations from corporate supporters such Barcan+Kirby.
St Peter’s has close connections to many of the firm’s employees. The hospice helped care for Hanni Pennelegion, a much-loved and well-respected partner at the firm who died last November after a long illness.
She had joined the firm, then Kirby Simcox, in 1998 as a trainee solicitor and became a partner in 2010.
The firm’s charity and social committee has already planned a range of fundraising initiatives for the year, including bake sales, quizzes and sweepstakes.
St Peter’s Hospice philanthropy and partnerships manager Ben Lee said: “The enthusiasm from Barcan+Kirby’s charity committee is contagious, and we look forward to working together to support St. Peter’s Hospice throughout 2024.
“It’s inspiring to see Barcan+Kirby’s staff eagerly signing up for challenge events and volunteering, demonstrating their dedication to our cause.
“Their contributions will play a vital role in funding palliative care across Bristol, North Somerset, and South Gloucestershire in the year ahead.”
Barcan+Kirby marketing and business development manager Lucy Harttrup added: “It’s remarkable to be involved in such a deeply meaningful cause.
“Our dedication to supporting the local community is unwavering, and St. Peter’s Hospice holds a unique significance for us.
“Many of our colleagues are eagerly looking forward to contributing, particularly because of the profound impact St. Peter’s Hospice’s support has had on some of our own employees and their families.
“We’re excited to dive into the engaging and inventive fundraising events planned by the St. Peter’s Hospice fundraising team, and we’re also keen to introduce our own initiatives to enhance these efforts.”
Previous Barcan+Kirby charities of the year have included Jessie May, the Bristol-based organisation providing palliative, end-of-life and bereavement care for terminally ill children and their families, and 1625 Independent People, which works with homeless and at-risk young people.
Barcan+Kirby supplies a comprehensive range of legal services ranging from corporate & commercial and employment to family and medical negligence from its five offices across Bristol and South Gloucestershire.
