This year marks a milestone for St Richard’s Hospice which is celebrating 40 years of offering free, expert specialist care and support to patients, their families and bereaved people in Worcestershire.
From very small beginnings, the vision to set up a hospice in south Worcestershire became a reality in 1984. Since the hospice began, St Richard’s has received more than 73,000 referrals for people to access their services for patients, their loved ones, carers and the bereaved.
There are now 256 staff and 790 volunteers who make St Richard’s what it is today.
Chair of Trustees, Jenny Cowpe said, “Everyone within our community should feel proud of their part in ensuring St Richard’s has been able to grow and care for many thousands of people at a very difficult time in their lives. We remain an independent charity and throughout the years our total focus has always been with the patient, their carers and the people they love. This remains our top priority as we look to the next decades.”
Mrs Cowpe added, “As we celebrate it is right to thank those founders who sat around a kitchen table in Droitwich and had the vision to build St Richard’s for the benefit of local people. Their hopes and dreams have been achieved and surpassed but we have always endeavoured to hold strong to their vision that love, care and compassion should be at the forefront of everything we do.”
“St Richard’s now offers a wide range of services for adults with a serious progressive illness, and support for their loved ones and carers. Whether they need to receive 24-hour In-patient care, home care from our specialist community team, therapeutic activities in the Living Well Centre, or benefit from our Family Support Team – St Richard’s is here to help.”
Chief Executive, Mike Wilkerson added, “We have the most incredible and dedicated team of staff and volunteers at St Richard’s who work tirelessly to make our care possible.
”We cannot thank our supporters enough for everything they do for St Richard’s. It’s only with their involvement and generosity that we can make a difference to so many people.
“We know life does not stand still and St Richard’s cannot stand still. We embrace the future and look forward to caring for life, together, for many more decades.”
Everyone is invited to join a Fortieth Anniversary Service of Celebration and Thanksgiving at Worcester Cathedral on Wednesday, 1 May at 7pm.
The service will provide an opportunity for supporters and the wider community to celebrate the hospice and the four decades of dedicated care. Find out more.
What does St Richard’s mean to you?
“I could not even begin to put into words the love, care and support that my late husband was given during his stay at St Richard’s. This support was then extended to his family with bereavement counselling. The staff qualify as earth angels caring for individuals at a most difficult time. I am now privileged to volunteer at St Richard’s and remain eternally grateful for their very existence.”
Read more about the history of St Richard’s Hospice