St Mary’s announces South Lakes expansion through new partnership with Kelsick Grammar

St Mary’s is delighted to announce a new partnership with Kelsick Grammar in Ambleside, establishing this historic school building, owned and managed by Impact, as the official South Lakes base for St Mary’s Hospice services.

This marks the beginning of a bold, community-focused chapter for both organisations, one rooted in a shared vision to bring support closer to the people who need it, in the places they live, work and connect.

For more than 35 years, St Mary’s has supported the South Lakes community with expert care, compassion and dignity in fact, 2 in 10 of our patients come from the South Lakes. Our vision is simple, that everyone living with illness and death in South Lakes receives the kindness, love and expert care we would wish for ourselves.

Impact’s redevelopment of Kelsick Grammar, guided by the strap line “More than a Building”, brings that same belief to life, that place, people and purpose can come together to create something transformative.

This partnership is therefore much more than a location. It is a strategic commitment to working side-by-side to improve quality of life, increase access to support, and help more people live well and die well wherever they call home.

Kelsick Grammar has served the community for over three centuries, originally founded to widen access to education and opportunity. Today, following extensive restoration, it stands once again as a place shaped by learning, connection and community life.

Catherine Burn BEM, CEO of St Mary’s Hospice, said: “This partnership allows us to bring hospice care into the communities we have served for over 35 years, reaching people earlier and supporting families more effectively. Establishing our South Lakes base at Kelsick also reinforces the building’s long tradition of learning and opportunity for young people, while extending its purpose to include compassionate care, community outreach and professional development for partners across the area. Together, we can work with neighbourhoods, challenge the impact of rurality and make high-quality care accessible to everyone.”

David Williams, Founder and CEO of Impact said: “We are delighted to host St Mary’s here at our Ambleside headquarters. Doing well by doing good has always been our objective and we look forward to further developing our partnership with St.Mary’s. We will be seeing a lot more of each other over the coming months which will only help to strengthen our relationship further.”

A phased soft launch begins this month, with St Mary’s teams beginning to deliver services from Kelsick Grammar as part of the first rollout. Key dates include:

· January 2025 – Phased launch activity begins.

· Early February 2025 – First community-based programmes delivered from Kelsick Grammar.

· From April 2025 – Monthly community education sessions and bereavement support groups begin.

· 22 April 2025 – Partnership celebration event, showcasing services and support, and welcoming the community to learn more.

Further announcements will follow as the hub develops and new services come online.

As a light-hearted addition to the launch period, the onsite Force Café will also begin offering “invisible fries” — a fun, optional way for visitors to support the ongoing development of the hub.

For more information please call St Mary’s Hospice Compassionate Communities Team Lead, Lynsey Lawson on 01229 444407 or you can email her at lynsey.lawson@stmaryshospice.org.uk