Hospiscare launches 36-hour match-funding appeal to raise £400,000 for home care

Devon charity Hospiscare is preparing to launch its biggest fundraising drive yet this weekend, with a 36-hour appeal aiming to raise £400,000 to support specialist end-of-life care at home.

The “Keeping Care at Home” campaign runs on March 1 and 2, with all donations made during the period set to be doubled through match funding, offering supporters the chance to increase the impact of their contributions.

The appeal focuses on enabling patients to remain in familiar surroundings during their final days, with funds helping to cover services such as home visits from Clinical Nurse Specialists, Specialist Dementia Nurse support for families, home bereavement visits, and emergency care from the charity’s Rapid Response Team.

One patient benefiting from the charity’s work is Janet, from Tiverton, who is living with pancreatic cancer.

“I’m enabled by Hospiscare. I’m in a place where I’m cared for and loved, and it’s just amazing. You feel very much treated as a proper person, as whole person. I really, really knew that this organisation would be there for me, support me and do the very best they could and, although they’re under pressure, they seem to be able to deliver this. Without them I don’t really know what I’d do.”

Sarah Smith, Head of Public Fundraising at Hospiscare, said the campaign relies on strong community backing.

“Keeping Care at Home is bold in ambition and will be fuelled by the passion and dedication of our local community. We are asking local people to stand by us to support vital end of life services, to provide expert compassionate care to those most in need. I’d like to also thank our match funders without whom this campaign wouldn’t be possible.”

Donations can be made via the charity’s website during the appeal window, in Hospiscare shops, or in person at the hospice between 9am and 9pm on both days. Funds given after the matched funding target is reached will still support services, but will not be doubled.

Hospiscare provides specialist palliative and end-of-life care for patients and families across Exeter, Mid and East Devon, with much of its work funded through public donations and community fundraising.