Hove hospice wins £50k from government

A hospice in Hove has won a £50,000 from the government to help people at the end of their lives.

The Martlets, in Wayfield Avenue, Hove, has been awarded £53,813 by the Cabinet Office to help the hspice provide compassionate support to patients and their families.

The money is for the Martlets Home Visitors Service which provides social contact and practical support to people living at home.

It also helps people through the process of leaving a hospice to return home – often a time of worry and distress.

An overall fund of £800,000 is going to seven organisations around the country to tackle loneliness and isolation, which people at the end of their life can often experience.

Volunteers will provide companionship and emotional support, as well as practical support to help people reconnect with their own communities.

The Cabinet Office said: “The support offered by winning projects include providing transport to community groups and teaching people how to contact distant family members online.”

Hospice UK, the national charity for hospice care, will manage the £800,000 fund.

Minister for Civil Society Rob Wilson said: “I am delighted to announce the recipients of the Social Action End of Life Fund.

“Often medical appointments, care needs and financial considerations can obscure the emotional needs that people face at the end of their lives.

“These projects are great examples of how we can use volunteers within communities to make sure that nobody feels alone or unsupported, helping people live with compassion and dignity.”

Martlets chief executive Imelda Glackin said: “We’re thrilled to have been awarded a Social Action End of Life Fund grant which will expand our existing home visiting service using more volunteers to help more people at the end of their lives.

“Our volunteer visitors will provide social contact and practical support to patients living at home.

“The service will promote wellbeing for patients and their families reducing isolation and meeting emotional needs.”

Hospice UK chief executive David Praill said: “All of these valuable projects harness the power of volunteers to provide befriending and practical support for people approaching the end of life and their families.

“People facing this situation can often feel very isolated. This type of support can help them feel more connected and can make all the difference to their wellbeing and quality of life.”