This is Hospice Care: Hospice UK’s legacy campaign re-launches

St Mary’s Hospice is proud to be taking part in the national Hospice UK Legacy Campaign – This is Hospice Care – joining 127 hospices across the UK as the campaign returns to TV and radio this September.

The campaign, led by Hospice UK, aims to challenge perceptions of what hospice care is and showcase the breadth of support available to people facing serious illness, end-of-life and bereavement. It also highlights the importance of protecting the future of hospice care, encouraging people to consider leaving a gift in their Will to their local hospice.

Following the success of the campaign’s first year, which reached 18.1 million adults through national TV advertising and generated a significant increase in visits to participating hospices’ gifts in Wills pages, Year Two has expanded its broadcast activity to include radio alongside TV. The campaign is running nationally again in September, with local hospices bringing the message to their own communities.

For St Mary’s, the campaign is an opportunity to highlight the difference hospice care makes every day across Furness and South Lakes.

At St Mary’s Hospice, we’ve been here for local people for more than 35 years, supporting patients and families at some of the most challenging times in their lives. From specialist clinical care and symptom management to emotional support, counselling and bereavement services, hospice care can make a significant difference to both patients and those around them.

Alison Alger, Gifts in Wills Manager at St Mary’s Hospice, said: “Hospice care is about so much more than many people realise. It’s about being there when people need us most – providing expert care, compassion, reassurance and practical support to patients, families, friends and carers.

“We’re incredibly proud to be part of this national campaign alongside hospices across the country. It gives us the opportunity to help people understand what hospice care really looks like and why it matters to so many families.”

The need for hospice care across the UK is significant. Hospice UK figures show that as many as 90% of people who die in the UK could benefit from palliative care. In 2024–25, hospices across the UK provided palliative and end of life care to 310,000 people, while in 2023–24, hospices supported 89,000 family members, friends and carers through services including counselling, complementary therapy and bereavement support.

All of the care provided by St Mary’s is free of charge and relies on the generosity of the local community. It currently costs more than £6.2 million every year to keep our doors open, and gifts in Wills are an important part of securing the future of hospice care.

Legacy gifts help St Mary’s plan ahead, invest in our services and continue providing care and support for local people and their families for generations to come.

Alison added: “Leaving a gift in your Will is a powerful way to help make that possible. Whatever the size of a gift, it can help ensure that St Mary’s is here for local people and their families in the future, just as we are today.”

The This is Hospice Care campaign will be supported by national TV and radio advertising, alongside local activity from participating hospices. St Mary’s is encouraging local people to find out more about hospice care and the different ways they can help support its future.

Statistics supplied by Hospice UK from its 2024–25 and 2023–24 surveys.

To find out more about leaving a gift in your Will to St Mary’s Hospice, visit our Gifts in Wills page.