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Every year around 3,000 people turn to our hospice for care. Around 400 of them need the kind of specialist, round-the-clock support that can only be provided in our Inpatient Unit (IPU), the Woodlands Ward.

Our ward is a very special place where patients and loved ones spending valuable time together and where special memories are made.

But, it's showing its age. The shared bays, outdated furnishings and cramped staff facilities no longer match the extraordinary care our team delivers every day. Families and patients consistently tell us how skilled and reassuring our staff are and now it’s time to update our environment to reflect that same standard of excellence.

We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to change our ward

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Thanks to additional government funding, we can invest £440,000 towards improving our IPU but the funding comes with a deadline. We must use it by March 2026 or lose it.

To unlock its full potential, we need to raise an additional £400,000 by March 2026. Planning has already begun, and work must start as soon as possible.

If we act now, together we can transform our IPU into a modern, uplifting and inclusive space - one that feels like home at life's most difficult time.

You can make a difference.

"We need to raise an additional £400,000 by March 2026. Planning has already begun, and work must start as soon as possible"

Phase 1 of our redevelopment will:

  • Transform shared bays into private, ensuite bedrooms giving patients dignity, privacy and independence
  • Open rooms onto our gardens and terraces, so patients can connect with nature and families can share special moments together
  • Introduce smart technology, allowing patients to control their environment and stay connected with loved ones even when too unwell to move
  • Create a wellbeing hub for our staff - a place to rest, reflect and support one another during demanding shifts
  • Design welcoming, family-friendly spaces where relatives (including young children) can stay overnight and be together right to the end
  • Reduce our environmental impact with energy-efficient systems, and freeing up more resources for patient care
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Why this matters

For patients, this redevelopment means dignity and choice: a private room, an ensuite bathroom, control over their environment, and a peaceful space to spend their last days.

For families, it means privacy, comfort and the ability to stay close, not in shifts, but together at a time when it matters most to be close.

For staff, it means the space and facilities to keep giving their very best, day after day. And for our community, it means a hospice that truly reflects the diversity, values and compassion of the people we serve.

This is about more than bricks and mortar. It’s about fairness, dignity, and making sure that every patient and family has the space they need, when they need it most. With your support, we can make sure no one misses out on the care, comfort and peace they deserve.

Total cost of Phase 1:
£840,000
*********************
Government funds
to be invested:
£440,000
(must be spent this
financial year)
*********************
STILL TO RAISE:
£400,000
******************

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What all this means for patients, families, staff and our community

- A private ensuite room isn't a luxury. It's about dignity, privacy and choice at the end of life

- Smart technology (lighting, temperature, communication) to restore independence and control when illness takes so much away

- Nature, light and space. From beds by the window to direct access to gardens - bringing people closer to nature and helping to ease pain and anxiety, bringing moments of calm and joy

- Families can share precious final moments together, not in shifts, they can stay overnight, partners don't have to leave, and goodbyes happen in comfort and privacy

- A warm, welcoming environment with touches like a hot drinks station nearby and easier access to show families they are cared for too

- Our staff work 12-hour shifts, mostly on their feet, supporting patients an families through distressing times. A dedicated wellbeing hub will give them space to rest, reflect, and find support when they need it

- A modern unit means staff spend more time caring and less time problem-solving (like moving patients around to meet single-sex accommodation rules in our bays)

- It reflects the respect and gratitude our community feels for them, enabling them to give their very best

- 14 modern bedrooms instead of 13 outdated spaces means fewer people waiting for hospice care and smoother transfers from hospitals under pressure

- The hospice will reflect the rich, diverse communities we serve including Nigerian, Vietnamese, Nepalese, and LGBTQ+ families, as well as younger patients with children

- A dementia-friendly, inclusive design ensures no-one feels excluded

- Environmentally sustainable features reduce our impact on the planet and save precious resources, allowing more investment in care

Amount raised so far

  • £61,000

    We're on track but still have a long way to go. Thank you to everyone who has supported us so far.

Help us to build a ward for the future

By donating to our ward improvement project, you're helping to make sure that people get the support they need, in the space they deserve. Thank you.
Donate now