Napthens has confirmed its support for one of south Cumbria’s key charities, with a three-year funding partnership.
The firm has committed the support to St Mary’s Hospice in Ulverston, which costs £4.9m to run, by joining the Compassionate Companies project, to celebrate the hospice’s 35th birthday.
Compassionate Companies was launched this week and is a made up of a small group of companies and local businesses who have come together to support the hospice, pledging to donate £35 every month for 35 months and helping the charity continue providing care for at least another 35 years.
St Mary’s is the local hospice for the Furness and South Lakes area, providing free end-of-life care, comfort, and emotional support for those living with life-shortening illnesses and their loved ones.
The charity’s care is provided at the hospice, out in the community, and in people’s homes, across the region 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
This support and care have been felt by our very own senior associate solicitor, Georgina Smith and her family over recent years.
Georgina, who was at the launch event on behalf of the firm, said: “St Mary’s Hospice is a charity that is very close to my and my family’s heart.
“A year ago, the hospice helped my family and allowed us to say goodbye to my grandad in the way he wanted. They were so wonderful throughout the process, and I don’t know what we would have done without their support.
“I feel privileged to work for a firm that supports such an amazing charity, because it’s only through support from the South Lakes community that it can continue to support patients and their families.”
The hospice also provides essential services including bereavement counselling, dementia support, hospice at home services and in-patient services.
While these services are free for patients, they are not cheap. It costs £4.9 million a year to run the hospice, around £13,600 a day, but it only receives around one fifth of its funding from NHS support, the rest comes from donations.
This is why the projects such as Compassionate Companies are necessary, providing donations every month to help ensure that all patients and families get the care that they need.
Annabelle Holloway, corporate partnership manager at the hospice, said: “We are extremely grateful to all of the businesses who have signed up to join our Compassionate Companies Network.
“Their support will provide us with sustainability for the future of the hospice and allow us to plan our services and care ahead.”
Our charity foundation at Napthens aims to support wonderful charities like St Mary’s Hospice and support our local community the best we can.
