Helping Hospices Champion Care

HOSPICE UK has welcomed a £500,000 award, thanks to players of People's Postcode Lottery, marking the start of a long-term funding relationship.

The charity says the money raised will help its work as the national champion for hospice care across the country and its mission to promote and protect hospice care for all.

The news was revealed at a special event at St Christopher's Hospice in London attended by comedian Tom Allen, ambassador of St Christopher's and the face of a new People's Postcode Lottery campaign.

St Christopher's is widely recognised as the first modern hospice, providing care and support for people across south-east London.

Catherine Bosworth, Director of Income Generation and Grants at Hospice UK, said, "The support from players of People's Postcode Lottery is invaluable, especially during these challenging times for many hospices.

"With their support, we will make sure that hospices across the UK can continue to deliver the compassionate care that patients and their families need. This will help us achieve our goal of hospice care being available to all who need it, in every community across the UK."

Hospice UK represents a community of more than 200 hospices working to support those with long-term illnesses or approaching the end of their lives. The charity plays a crucial role in ensuring that these hospices can continue their life-changing work, offering quality care and support to patients and their loved ones.

It costs around £1.6 billion a year to run the UK's hospices, who in turn care for around 300,000 people in communities across the country every year.

Tom Allen has helped support the work of St Christopher's for a number of years and has also run comedy and quiz nights to raise vital funds.

Tom said, "Both of my parents are from this part of London, and for me it has a real sense of community. I have always found it to be a place where people know each other to say hello and look out for one another. St Christopher's represents this to me, it is a beacon of kindness across the area, offering support and care for people when they most need it. Their services are provided free of charge, regardless of faith or background because, as their founder Dame Cicely Saunders said, 'You matter because you are you and you matter until the last moment of your life.'"

St Christopher's has also been there for Tom's family.

Tom explained, "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. 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, 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.

"Everyone comes to the hospice with their own experiences and stories, all of which are beautiful. The last time I was there I met the bereavement team who work with children who are going through grief - often at the death of a parent. When their sessions conclude each young person is given a handmade quilt to keep as a reminder of the work they have done and as a comfort for the times when grief is difficult. Details like this strike me as very thoughtful.

"Everyone you meet at the hospice is so passionate about what they do, and they are amazing. 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 PT sessions to spa treatments, art classes to music workshops. Oh, and the chefs make the best bacon sandwich going."

"I have loved being part of the quiz nights and comedy shows we have done - they bring together the community which St Christopher's is so proud to support. Every contribution helps but for me it was a no-brainer to work with People's Postcode Lottery when they said their players are supporting Hospice UK. Bringing together People's Postcode Lottery and the hospice movement has been truly brilliant. When I heard Postcode Lottery players had raised £500,000 - I started crying!

"To my mind, caring for people goes beyond the point at which it is delivered; it inspires us to pay it forward, to make a difference in the world beyond. The modern hospice movement, which started at St Christopher's, epitomises this to me and I hope it might inspire others too."

Jan Noble, Director of Quality and Innovation, St Christopher's, said, "At any one time, we're caring for more than 1,800 people across Lewisham, Lambeth, Southwark, Croydon and Bromley. We're also supporting their families and their loved ones, as well as the bereaved. We ask every person who is referred to us, 'What matters to you?' and then we try to and support them to achieve that, whether it's being able to go outside, getting their hair cut, to walk again to the local pub or going to the rugby world cup.

"Dame Cicely Saunders launched the modern hospice movement with the establishment of St Christopher's in 1967 and we're proud that almost 60 years later, we're providing high-quality rehabilitative care at the end of life, helping people live well until they die.

"But that isn't possible without the continued support of the public."

Catherine Bosworth added, "We want to say a huge thank you to players of People's Postcode Lottery. Hospices are a big part of our communities, and the 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.

"With the support of players of People's Postcode Lottery, we'll make sure hospice care is there for all, for now, and forever."

Making A Difference

People's Postcode Lottery players are helping deserving causes like Hospice UK make a difference every single day. Read more about the range of Charities that our players support.

Related Links

• Hospice UK website