Somerset hospice joins national campaign to protect future of palliative care
Hospice UK has brought together 143 hospices across England, Scotland and Wales
A hospice in Somerset has joined a coalition of sites across the country fundraising to protect the future of their sector.
Hospice UK said it has brought together 143 hospices across England, Scotland and Wales to shine a light on the "critical role of gifts in wills".
Legacy giving of around £294 million funds the equivalent of hospice care for 30,000 people a year across the four nations of the UK or 6,000 hospice nurses annually, the charity said.
Now in their 45th year, St Margaret’s Hospice has been supporting individuals and families across Somerset with end-of-life care.
Last year, 72% of St Margaret’s funding came from charitable donations, including gifts left in Wills, with one in three patients cared for thanks to gifts left in wills.
"Hospices are in crisis," said Hannah Roberts, head of fundraising at St Margaret's Hospice.
"A lot of hospices have had to close or make staff redundant but if we know that someone is thinking of leaving a gift in their will it helps us plan and be here long into the future, but nothing is guaranteed.
"It's a challenging time. It's challenging trying to secure funds but it's also challenging that we're not reaching enough people.
"We want to reach more people and we want to reach them much earlier in their journey but that is going to come at a cost," Hannah added.
Funding of end-of-life care has hit the headlines in recent times amid public debate over proposed legislation to legalise assisted dying, with many arguing there is a need for better access to and quality of palliative care.
In its polling of 2,000 UK adults last month, Hospice UK said that while almost three quarters (71%) said hospices deserve greater support, half currently cannot afford to donate to charity and only 27% have considered giving to a charity in their will.
Comedian Jo Brand, whose brother died at a hospice in 2021, said it had been a "welcome sanctuary for us as a family at the end of his life".
She added: "I'm so grateful for the kindness and care shown to us by the hospice staff and that's why I'm delighted to be supporting such an important cause.
"Legacy gifts, no matter how small, make a huge difference - so I'd encourage you all to consider supporting your chosen hospice."
Catherine Bosworth, from Hospice UK, said: "Hospices support people at the most vulnerable time of their lives, easing the physical and emotional pain of death and dying, letting people focus on living right until the end.
"They provide choice, dignity and help families create lasting memories. They make life's most difficult moments less scary - but they can only do this with enough funding.
"While the injection of government funds has provided much-needed support for the sector, hospices rely on gifts in wills to continue offering the exceptional care people need.
"Leaving a gift in your will is a powerful and heartfelt way to recognise your chosen hospice for all that they do."