Much needed cash boost for hospice

Patients at a Liverpool hospice are one step closer toward a new in-patient unit following a £37,000 donation from a charitable trust set up by housebuilder Redrow.

Woodlands Hospice, located at Liverpool University Hospital Aintree, provides palliative day care for patients with terminal illness and needs to raise £2.25 million for its much needed new bedded unit.

And after applying for a grant from the Redrow Foundation, a newly formed charitable trust, the hospice’s fundraising pot is now £37,000 heavier.

Carole Riley, fundraising manager for Woodlands Hospice says: “At the moment, patients can only attend the day hospice, and if they reach a point in their illness where they need in-patient care they’re transferred to a ward in the neighbouring hospital. Whilst the level of care they receive in the hospital is very good, the environment is not the ‘home from home’ setting which would be provided in a hospice in-patient unit.

“For a terminally ill person, spending their remaining days in a hospice like ours is often very much their preferred choice. This together with the continuity of care from people that they have become familiar with can make a big difference at a very difficult time. We can offer a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere that a hospital ward – no matter how good the treatment – just cannot.”

On hearing that the hospice had been chosen by the Redrow Foundation, Carole was overjoyed: “Being able to create a new bedded unit here is a dream come true for us and means so much to our patients, everyone is absolutely delighted.”

The planned extension includes 15 private bedrooms, each with en-suite facilities and direct access to the hospice gardens, as well as a purpose built visitors’ lounge – as there are no specific visiting facilities at present.

The money from the Redrow Foundation will go specifically towards the cost of building the visitors’ lounge, which Carole believes will be the ‘hub’ of the building.

And the hospice’s fundraising efforts don’t stop here, as although the charity receives some money toward running costs from local authorities, Carole and her team have to raise a mammoth £1,000 a day to keep the day hospice up and running.

John Lloyd, a patient says: “Woodlands really needs this donation. The amount of care they give to patients is huge – it’s a fantastic, incredible place. I put £1 on the lottery each week in the hope that if I win, I could come into the hospice and say here is a cheque - build it”

Another patient, Sheila Heslop, wholeheartedly agrees, adding: “When you come to the hospice there is a feeling of safety as everything you need is here. But it will be much better when the bedded unit is built for those who need to stay overnight with all the facilities and all the necessary care at hand.”

Carole continues: “We’re honoured to be one of the first beneficiaries of the Redrow Foundation. It can be hard to secure donations of this size, as we’re often up against large national charities, and so for a small, local organisation like ourselves to receive a donation from such a national, respected trust is brilliant.”

Paul Pedley, executive deputy chairman for Redrow – currently building in Orrell Park and Garston, in Liverpool - and a trustee of the Foundation, says: “As a company, Redrow has long been committed to getting involved with and helping the communities we build in - forming the Redrow Foundation last year seemed a natural progression of this. Woodlands Hospice does a huge amount for its patients and I’m so pleased we can help them continue their tireless work.”

The Redrow Foundation was established to celebrate the company’s 50,000th legal completion, with Redrow donating an initial sum of £100,000. Since then Redrow has donated £50 from every legal completion secured, equating to a total annual contribution of around £250,000. The continued growth of Redrow will provide even greater contributions in the future.

The Foundation is dedicated to providing financial support for the relief of poverty and sickness in the UK and, in particular, to providing accommodation and related assistance, including respite care, especially to children, the elderly and those who are sick or infirm.

To find out more about Woodlands Hospice and how you can get involved, call 0151 529 2630 or visit woodlandshospice.org.

To contact the Redrow Foundation or apply for funds, email: foundation@redrow.co.uk. Further details of the charitable trust, as well as Redrow’s new homes, also available at redrow.co.uk.