Zipline to run through city's iconic crescent

A new zipline is being set up to run through a city's iconic crescent to raise money for charity.

The zipline will be in place from 28 February until 2 March on the lower lawn of Bath's Royal Crescent in order to raise funds for Dorothy House Hospice Care.

Everyone taking part has been asked to donate £150 to the Wiltshire charity which supports people living with long-term illnesses.

Hospice chief executive Wayne de Leeuw said: "With an ageing population causing ever increasing demand for end-of-life care, our ambition remains to ensure we are there for everyone who needs us."

Unlike the wider NHS, hospices and GPs are not exempt from the government's National Insurance rise which was announced in the latest budget.

"The additional National Insurance cost of this scale just adds to the perfect storm facing hospices at a time when we already desperately needed more support," said Mr de Leeuw.

Despite dwindling resources, between April 2023 and April 2024, the charity looked after 2,986 patients which is 5% more than the previous year.

It said 90% of its care takes place in the community.

The charity has a 10-bed Inpatient Unit (IPU) at Winsley which is a specialist care environment for people whose palliative symptoms cannot be successfully managed at home.

Just 20% of the hospice's costs come from the NHS, with charity bosses saying they need "the community's support now more than ever".

Mr de Leeuw said: "It is vital that the community understands the wide ranging and vital services the hospice offers.

"Without their generosity, Dorothy House could not offer families in the community the support they deserve at the most vulnerable period in their lives."

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