Hospice charity celebrates bumper £500,000 fundraising bundle

A hospice charity is celebrating receiving a vital £500,000 worth of funding – and they want to use the moment to bust some of the common myths about hospice care. 

Hospice UK represents more than 200 hospices around the country caring for 300,000 people every year, a number that is set to grow due to our ageing population.

However, hospices are facing growing financial pressures, and at least a fifth of them have either cut services in the last year or are planning to do so in the near future – raising the risk people in need of help will not be able to get it. 

This has prompted local communities to step in, with the players of People’s Postcode Lottery raising half a million pounds for Hospice UK as part of a new long-term fundraising partnership.

Catherine Bosworth, Director of Income Generation and Grants at Hospice UK, said people often assume hospices are fully funded by the NHS, while in reality they rely mainly on the public’s generosity. 

‘Hospices are roughly two thirds funded by charity, and a third by the government,’ she said. ‘It costs around £1.6billion a year to run the UK’s hospices, with most of that used to pay the brilliant doctors, nurses and others who provide such excellent care.

‘Hospices also rely heavily on a fantastic army of volunteers who support various aspects of hospice care, for example, providing companionship to patients, helping with administrative tasks, or looking after beautiful hospice gardens.’ 

But this belief about how hospices are funded is just one of many misunderstandings people have about them, according to Ms Bosworth. 

‘Another common misconception is that hospice care is only for the very end of life,’ she said. ‘In reality, it can be beneficial for many years of someone having a life-limiting illness, focusing on improving quality of life rather than just end-of-life care. 

‘People also tend to think that hospice care is always provided within the hospice. This isn’t true – a large majority is provided in people’s homes, which is very often where they prefer to be cared for.

‘Hospices offer holistic care that addresses physical, emotional, spiritual, and social needs, helping people live as fully as possible, right until the end. Hospices are a vital partner to the NHS and relieve pressure on hospitals and GPs.’

The new ongoing fundraising partnership between People’s Postcode Lottery and Hospice UK was announced at an event at St Christopher’s Hospice in south-east London attended by comedian Tom Allen. 

The 41-year-old was born in nearby Bromley and shares a special connection with the hospice. 

‘My dad’s aunt, Josie, was cared for there and I know that for her family it meant such a great deal to know she was being so well looked after,’ he said. 

‘As ever, true kindness is often in the smallest details. For her son I know it meant the world to him that when he accompanied his mum to the hospice they took him aside, gave him a cup of tea and asked how he was. 

‘He said it was such a moment of humanity, and he was quite taken aback because no one had done that for him until then. For me that epitomises how St Christopher’s operates. They are full of human kindness – the real humanity of what ”care” means.’

Tom has supported St Christopher’s for a number years due to it being his local hospice, and over time has got to know some of the staff. 

‘Everyone you meet at the hospice is so passionate about what they do and they are amazing,’ he said. ‘More than that though they have such a great sense of humour – the team are always smiling and ready to have a laugh. 

‘Perhaps people might assume the hospice would be a serious place but actually it’s a place bursting with joy with everyone working so hard to make the patients’ experience so positive – from personal training sessions to spa treatments, art classes to music workshops. 

‘I think my favourite thing is the drinks trolley making the rounds throughout the day. Oh and the chefs make the best bacon sandwich going.’

St Christopher’s was established by Dame Cicely Saunders in 1967, marking what is now considered to be the start of the modern hospice movement. 

Today only around 34 per cent of its income comes from the NHS, with the remaining 66 per cent raised through public fundraising, including sales in its 24 charity shops. 

But like other hospices, St Christopher’s is coming under growing financial pressure as rising costs and demands on its services are not matched by similar increases in government funding. 

‘We’re proud that almost 60 years after St Christopher’s was founded, we’re still providing high quality rehabilitative care at the end of life, helping people live well until they die,’ said Jan Noble, its Director of Quality and Innovation.

‘But that isn’t possible without the continued support of the public. We increasingly rely on donors, marathon runners, gifts in wills and those fundraising through other methods to provide our services. 

‘That support is fantastic and so welcome but our funding is not growing in line with the increase in demand.’

Hospice UK’s Catherine Bosworth says encouraging the public to support hospices is more important now than ever. 

‘We believe that hospice care should be there for all, for now, and forever. But we know that many people are already missing out on it – very often people from communities and groups that are already marginalised in society,’ she said. 

‘Hospices are a big part of our communities, and Postcode Lottery players should know that they are helping to safeguard the future of hospice care. 

‘They’re helping to make sure that vital services can continue to support patients and their families during some of the most challenging times in their lives.’