Serious questions around the sustainability of the current care system - Helen Knowles

Wakefield Hospice is one of the 260 hospices delivering free end of life care across the UK, providing a vital local service for patients and their families and also a much-needed relief to the overwhelming demands placed on the NHS.

We are here to provide the highest quality care and support to patients with a life-limiting condition and their families, across the Wakefield district. Yet to be able to do this effectively, we must continue to fundraise year in, year out, regardless of the financial climate we find ourselves in.

It costs £4.3m each year to run the hospice and provide our services, with just 25 per cent of this income coming from government sources.

With such a reliance on the financial support of the local community, it is understandable that during times of nationwide financial crisis, we experience our own financial challenges.

Wakefield Hospice began providing care in 1990 and throughout the past 33 years we wouldn’t have been able to survive if it wasn’t for the incredible support received from our local community.

People are having to consider every penny they are spending but with the variety of ways to support Wakefield Hospice, it is important to highlight how we can all still play our part in looking after this vital care service, whilst remaining sensible and secure with our own personal finances too.

Local MP Simon Lightwood visited Wakefield Hospice recently to voice his appreciation and support to the hospice, adding: “Wakefield Hospice has been a pivotal player in the local end-of-life care conversation here in Wakefield for more than three decades.

“The exceptional care provided by the charity, both to patients and their families, is both a credit to the dedicated team at the hospice and also to the generous support of our local community who continue to champion local hospice care.

“We are incredibly fortunate to have such an outstanding free care provider here in our local district and even during these challenging times, we must continue to do what we can to ensure the services remain available for those who need it most.”

Our dedicated team of staff are supported by an army of volunteers, without whom we simply wouldn’t be able to operate.

With almost 400 volunteers on our books, covering a variety of roles across clinical services, facilities, fundraising, admin and retail, they provide over 40,000 hours of voluntary support every year. We are always on the lookout for new volunteers, a terrific opportunity for those wanting to support Wakefield Hospice through giving the gift of time, whether that be on a structured or an ad-hoc basis. We have recently opened two new shops in Wakefield city centre to take our total number of retail outlets to eight, alongside a Dress Agency and our first ever Bistro, both located at Charles Waterton House in Walton. During this cost-of-living crisis, our shops can provide a valuable resource for many families in need of quality clothing, homeware or other items, sought at affordable prices. Whether shopping in our stores or donating preloved items, you can support Wakefield’s hospice.

The aforementioned Bistro and Dress Agency are examples of the diversification of income streams which we have had to undertake in the current economic climate, whereby we are providing new services to raise new income. Our new House Clearance service launched just this month is another example of this, as is the opportunity to rent out our bespoke Catering Trailer for private events.

Of course there are the traditional fundraising opportunities too – taking part in our events, leaving a gift in your will, simply taking a donation box for your local pub… it all makes a difference.

In fact, around £1m, or 25 per cent, of our funding, is made up of the thousands of smaller donations, showing our reliance on bringing in the pennies to ensure the pounds take care of themselves.

Over 33 years our care services have continued to evolve to meet the demands and expectations of patients and families and our income streams have continued to develop and grow. But through all the challenges and changes we have faced, community has remained at the very core of our charity in everything we do.

Now, in 2023 and with the challenging financial climate showing no means of ending, perhaps it is time for a greater nationwide look on the over-reliance of charitable donations providing such vital and essential end of life care services?

Helen Knowles is director of income generation at Wakefield Hospice.