Caroline Creates Kind and Care Packages for Carers at Saint Francis Hospice

Caroline Belloni, from Barking, is a Tropic Skincare Ambassador who has been raising funds and collecting donations to create Kind and Care packages for carers supported by Saint Francis Hospice. Inspired by the charity's work and the experiences of people close to her, Caroline brought together customers from across the local area and beyond to make the project possible.

I've been creating Kind and Care packages for carers supported by Saint Francis Hospice because I wanted to find a meaningful way to give something back to a charity that is close to my heart.

I love Tropic, not just because the products are beautiful, cruelty free, and 100% naturally derived, but because of the ethos behind the brand. Tropic gives 10% of its profits to charities around the world and that made me think about what I could do personally to help others.

I had a few charities in mind and Saint Francis Hospice was one of them for many reasons. The hospice cared for one of my closest friend's auntie and also for one of my former colleagues. Another former colleague volunteered there, so I had already heard a lot about the wonderful work they do. When I asked my customers to vote on which charity they would like me to support, Saint Francis Hospice received the most votes – and that's how this project began.

I decided to start by focusing on carers because they do so much for everyone else and are often forgotten about. They spend so much time looking after others that they don't always get the chance to look after themselves. I wanted to create something that would remind them that people care about them too.

To make the project possible, I asked my customers to sponsor a product or make a donation, and I selected items for the care packages on their behalf. I also invited everyone who donated to write a personal message, and those messages were included in each package.

Thanks to the generosity of customers from Barking and Dagenham, Havering, Essex and across the UK, I was able to put together 40 care packages. Each one contained a variety of body care products and a voucher for a free facial.

Recently, I had the pleasure of visiting Saint Francis Hospice to present the care packages to the fundraising team. It was lovely to see first-hand the work that goes on there and to know that the packages will help bring a little comfort to carers who do so much for others.

Some customers have been incredibly generous and I'm so proud of what we've achieved together. It makes you feel good to do something kind and caring for others. This is just the start, and I hope to do even more to support Saint Francis Hospice in the future.