We committed £30,000 of grant funding earlier this financial year to support Dorothy House Hospice – £10,000 a year over three years. Our CEO, Beth Gardner, and Office & Operations Manager, Kate Ford, were delighted to visit in person on Tuesday 17th March to see and hear the impact that support is already making.
What stood out straight away was the atmosphere. Calm, welcoming and thoughtfully designed, the hospice and its beautiful outdoor spaces offer patients and families a sense of peace during an extraordinarily difficult time. Seeing it in person highlighted the dedication behind the work of the Dorothy House team and emphasised why their work is so very important.
Supporting care in the community
During the visit Beth and Katie met with Chief Executive, Wayne de Leeuw, and Head of Fundraising, Don Kennedy, to hear more about how the funding is being used.
“All of us at Dorothy House would like to say a big thank you to Chippenham Borough Lands Charity, who are generously funding us £10,000 a year for the next three years. This will go towards funding our Community Palliative Care Teams, who deliver our care in patients’ homes and other community settings.”
Our funding is helping Dorothy House grow its Community Palliative Care service, bringing specialist support and care directly into people’s homes and local settings. They have already successfully piloted this work within one local GP surgery and are now ready to expand across Chippenham. With no similar provision in the area, this is an important step forward.
Our £10,000 annual contribution is helping to make that expansion possible, so more people living with life-limiting illness can receive the care they need in the place they feel most comfortable. The Community Palliative Care Teams work focuses not just on patients, but also on families, carers and loved ones helping people live well, die peacefully and feel supported through bereavement.
Care is tailored to each individual, looking at the whole person and not just physical symptoms like pain or breathlessness but also emotional, psychological and spiritual needs. Support is shaped with patients, their families, and local health professionals, including GPs and district nurses.
The team provides care in people’s homes, in care homes, and through local GP surgeries. Support is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so patients and families can get help and reassurance whenever they need it.
50 years of care
This year marks 50 years of Dorothy House supporting people with life-limiting illness, as well as their families and carers.
Since 1976, they have cared for over 75,000 people across the region. Their work today continues to focus on providing free, personalised care during the last 1,000 days of life combining medical support with practical and emotional care.
Their 50 Years of Care Appeal looks ahead to the future. Demand for their services is growing, costs are rising, and only around 20% of hospice funding comes from the government. Community support continues to play a vital role in making this care possible.
Finding out more and getting involved
There are lots of ways to support Dorothy House, from donating to their 50 Years of Care Appeal to taking part in an event, hosting your own or volunteering your time.
One particularly special initiative is their Firefly Woods – a stunning outdoor light installation in the hospice grounds. Each light can be dedicated in memory of someone special, creating a powerful and peaceful space for reflection. Later this year, the installation will be expanded into a large-scale light experience, offering people a chance to come together to remember loved ones and support the hospice’s work at the same time.
If you’d like to find out more or support Dorothy House, you can visit their website and/or follow their work on social media.
A shared commitment
Our visit was a chance to see the difference this partnership is already making. It showed the value of supporting care that reaches people where they are at home, in their community, and at a time when it matters most.
We’re proud to support Dorothy House and look forward to seeing how this work continues to grow, helping more people and families across our community.
