In 2026, Dove Cottage Day Hospice will celebrate a remarkable milestone: 30 years since they first opened their doors to support local families living with life-limiting conditions. Three decades on, their vision, mission and values remain unchanged. They continue to provide care and compassion. They continue to offer hope. And every week, they continue to support up to 100 families when they need it most.
When the hospice opened in 1996, it was the result of a phenomenal community effort. Yes, there was an incredible team behind the project, but it was you – the supporters – who made it possible. You helped raise the funds that enabled the hospice to open and care for the first families. And when demand for the service grew, you were there again to help fund – not one, but two – extensions to the building. Even during the Covid pandemic when the doors were closed for over a year, your generosity enabled the staff to continue supporting families remotely.
It is, in every sense, a service created for the community, sustained by the community.
As Dove Cottage looks ahead to 2026, celebrating and reflecting on how far they have come, the core values remain the same but the landscape in which it exists has changed dramatically. Government funding now covers less than 4% of the running costs (which currently stands at a staggering £705,000) and projections show that this is set to decline even further.
To help the hospice continue to provide its lifeline services to rural families, they are asking their community to help once again.
Could you arrange a fundraising activity to help reach their targets? Do you belong to a golf club or social group that could hold a fundraising event? Are you a business that could nominate them as your charity of the year? Could you take on a sponsored challenge for a good cause? Could you sign up to give a monthly financial donation? However large or small, every effort really makes a meaningful difference to local lives.
This year the charity has secured places in the local Tough Mudder event to be held at Belvoir Castle on 4th & 5th July and is offering them at a fantastic discounted entry fee of £30 per person (reduced from over £100!) Limited spaces are available so why not get a group of friends together and embrace the muddy chaos whilst supporting local hospice care? Register your interest at www.dovecottage.org/teamdove.
If you would like to support the hospice in your own way, give the fundraising team a call on 01949 860303 or you can visit www.dovecottage.org/thirtymoreyears for ideas and guidance on getting started. With your help, the hospice can ensure that it is able to continue serving its community for the next 30 years and beyond!