Introducing the Pear Tree Fund
The Pear Tree Fund offers vital information, advice and holistic support to people with life-changing illnesses or long-term conditions, and families and carers.
We provide a wide range of services to people living in east Suffolk and neighbouring parts of mid Suffolk and south Norfolk.
From our tranquil and welcoming base at the purpose-built Pear Tree Centre in the heart of Halesworth, we offer everything from a cup of tea and listening ear to sessions with our qualified counsellors.
Working closely with the voluntary sector, community groups and partner charities, we put the right help in place to meet the needs of the whole family.
We pride ourselves on walking alongside people on their journey and offering local support when they need it the most.
Our charity also provides nursing care, as well as emotional, physical and practical support to people reaching the end of their lives so that they can die in the comfort and security of their own homes.
”The S.H.I.T. Club” and ”You’ll be Fine” - two audio plays by Jan Etherington
Come along to The Cut in Halesworth on Saturday 18 January for your chance to enjoy two plays by multi award-winning comedy writer and Pear Tree Fund patron Jan Etherington.
”The S.H.I.T. Club” (supporting Husbands in Trauma) and ”You’ll be Fine” both deal with life-changing illness and their impact on individuals and families. They are each full of poignancy and purpose, wit and warmth and laughter and tears.
The same cast of Hilary Greatorex, Vincent Franklin, Helen Atkinson Wood and Charlotte Parry will perform both plays at a 2.30pm matinee and 7.30pm evening show to raise funds for our charity.
Tickets are priced at £12 and available from The Cut. Our thanks go to Townsend Electrical, which has generously sponsored the event.
The Pear Tree Fund is seeking a new chair
We are seeking a new chair for the Pear Tree Fund. This is a fantastic opportunity to help shape the future of our charity and make a real difference to people's lives.
We provide information, advice and holistic support to anyone with a life-changing illness or long term condition who lives in East Suffolk and neighbouring parts of Mid Suffolk and South Norfolk, and to families and carers.
Services and support are provided from the Pear Tree Centre in Halesworth, or by telephone, online and in the home. We pride ourselves on walking alongside people, offering local support when they need it the most.
We welcome applications from people with skills and expertise at a senior level in the charitable sector, health and social care or a service development background. Applications from others, not necessarily with this background but with a commitment to our mission would also be welcomed.
We are a small charity so we need a chair who can commit to regular face to face meetings with staff as well as representing the charity at external events. The time commitment is around four days a month. Most of the trustee meetings are held remotely, but twice a year we hold face to face meetings at the Pear Tree Centre.
A copy of the recruitment pack is available here.
To apply please send a CV with a supporting letter to claire.boyne@peartreefund.org by 31 January 2025.
Interview date to be confirmed.
If you would like an informal chat, please send a text message requesting this either to the current chair, Dinah Morley, on 07966 474951, or our deputy chair, Guy Peryer, on 07910 712483.
This is an unpaid voluntary position, but you can claim reasonable out of pocket expenses.
Support for people living with dementia and their carers
We are currently offering eight-week reminiscence workshops to help those living with dementia and their carers to rediscover and relive memories and their shared lives.
'Hopes and Dreams - Rediscovering Memories and Shared Lives' is an arts-based reminiscence project taking place at the Pear Tree Centre.
It is based on the highly successful international project 'Remembering Yesterday, Caring Today', which was developed 20 years ago by the European Reminiscence Network and Pam Schweitzer, its founder director.
The project supports carers to engage in positive activities with the people they care for, as well as providing resources to stimulate memories and connection to family relationships and events. It also offers the opportunity to build social connections and offer mutual support to others who are living with dementia, as well as their carers.
We will be running three eight-week workshops with grant funding from East Suffolk Council, with places for eight couples on each. Together, we will explore and share memories, get to know about one another’s lives and - most importantly - have an enjoyable time.
All eight sessions are based on key stages in life and will include everyone in the group. They will take place at the Pear Tree Centre in Halesworth on Saturday mornings between 10am and 1pm.
For more information or to book a place on the second or third workshops, which start later in the year, please email info@peartreefund.org, call 01986 899655 or click here.
More information about 'Remembering Yesterday and Caring Today' and Pam Schweitzer’s work is available here.
"You’ll Be Fine" audio play
In collaboration with our partners, we are delighted to publish "You’ll Be Fine," an audio play written Jan Etherington, as part of our Compassionate Communities work.
We hope the play will support those who receive a life-changing diagnosis and their families, encourage and facilitate conversations around planning for end-of-life and help educate the public.
The Pear Tree Fund's latest news
Learn what's happening in and around our fund.
Meet our fabulous fundraisers – the Queen’s Head at Bramfield
Welcoming our new MP
Popular pub smashes through £10k target
Learn a little more
Please take the time to check out our website and get a little more insight into what we do and how we are making a difference to local people's lives.
