Published on: Monday 17 Feb 2025 at 13:00
St Clare Hospice is proud to be one of over 143 hospices taking part in the “This is Hospice Care” campaign, a national initiative facilitated by Hospice UK. The hospices are joining forces to highlight the vital role of hospices in communities and challenge public perceptions of hospice care.
The campaign, launching on February 17th, has already captured hearts and minds through a powerful TV advert based on real life hospice stories. The goal is to encourage people to consider leaving a gift in their will to support their local hospice, ensuring that these essential services can continue to provide their compassionate and specialist care for future generations.
Sarah Thompson, St Clare Hospice, CEO said: “We are incredibly proud to be a part of this vital campaign, which not only highlights the essential work we do but also emphasises the profound, lasting impact that gifts in wills can have. If you leave at least 10% of your taxable estate to charity, the inheritance tax rate on the rest of your estate decreases from 40% to 36%, making a lasting impact on both your community and your legacy.”
She added: “By 2040, the number of annual deaths in the UK is expected to rise by 130,000, with 90% due to natural causes—these are the people who could benefit from the care hospices like St Clare provides.
“If we don’t start planning now, the gap in hospice care could become very real. In West Essex and eastern Hertfordshire, the increase in demand will place unprecedented pressure on our hospices, which already rely on support and funding from supporters to provide their services. This is why we’re urging people to consider leaving a gift in their will to ensure we can continue to support our community in the years to come.”
In West Essex, legacy giving has made a significant difference. Last year, legacy gifts accounted for 23% of St Clare Hospice’s income, enabling them to care for their patients and family members.
To support St Clare Hospice, please:
- Visit – stclarehospice.org.uk/giftinwill
- Call – 01279 773750