'It is a tough climate for hospice care'

A day care hospice hopes new fundraising campaigns will help what it said was a "tough climate" financially.

Last month, Lakelands Hospice in Corby, Northamptonshire, closed its Emporium shop in the town due to rising costs.

The hospice provides palliative and end of life care for people in the town and surrounding villages.

Head of fundraising Jenny Standen said it was "very much run by the community for the community, so we don't get any government funding or support".

Several hospices in England have said they have been facing funding issues.

Ms Standen said: "It is a tough climate out there for hospice care.

"So many sectors of our wellbeing and health are covered by the NHS, but end-of-life [care] is very much out on a limb.

"There is a lot less support for it, and a lot more is picked by charities.

"It does mean at this moment in time we're feeling the pressure.

"Like everywhere else, overheads have gone up... and the cost of living and wages also going up, and it does have a bit of an impact on what we can provide and how quickly we can provide things."

Ms Standen said the decision to close the Emporium shop was "strategic", as it was no longer "balancing books" following a fire.

But she said the charity was launching several new fundraising campaigns to help support the hospice, including "Shine for Lakelands", which celebrates people in the local community.

Hospice nurses will be going in to the pubs in Corby next month to raise money, and staff will also take part in the Rutland Night Walk at Rutland Water in November.

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