Farleigh Hospice, Havens Hospices, St Clare Hospice, St Helena Hospice, Saint Francis Hospice and St Luke’s Hospice are partnering again for the ‘This is Hospice Care’ campaign led by Hospice UK. This year’s campaign comes as new data from Hospice UK reveals that gifts in wills provide vital funding for the nation’s hospices, supporting the equivalent of 400,000 nights of hospice care every year.
Essex hospices are joining 121 other hospices across the country to highlight the vital importance of gifts in wills in providing their specialist and compassionate care for future generations. Without this support, 30,000 nights of hospice care every month could disappear – that’s 7,500 every week.
The importance of hospice care is undeniable, with UK hospices having supported 310,000 people facing incurable and complex conditions last year. The demand for palliative care is projected to increase by 25% nationwide by 2048.
However, these figures tell only part of the story. Data from Hospice UK also reveals that 82% of palliative care now takes place outside the inpatient unit, including in people’s homes and in the community, showing that hospice care is much more than offering a place for someone to spend their final days.
Many people aren’t aware that hospices provide services free of charge, with only around 40% of the cost of care funded by the government. This varies by hospice; some receive lower levels of government funding.
Last year, 450 beds were out of use in UK hospices, primarily due to insufficient funding and financial pressures forcing hospices to scale back services. Many hospices have waiting lists, and demand for end-of-life care is rising. Hospices desperately want to reach everyone who needs them, but financial pressure is holding many back.
Through powerful real-life stories, the This is Hospice Care campaign shows how hospices support their community through their hardest days and how people in their local area can make giving back part of their legacy. From helping people manage their pain to planning birthday parties or delivering grief counselling, hospices provide comfort when it matters most.
A spokesperson on behalf of the Essex hospices said: “We’re proud to be part of this important campaign for a second year. The new data highlights how critical legacy gifts are to our ability to continue providing specialist care and support to people of all ages across the county living with incurable conditions. Hospices like ours help them make the most of every day, offer personalised care tailored to their individual needs and wishes, and support loved ones during difficult times.
“With demand for hospice care increasing year-on-year across the county, it’s never been more important to consider supporting your local hospice with a legacy gift. These gifts ensure we can continue to be there for you, your loved ones and those who may need us in the future. Without them, thousands of vital hours of care across Essex could disappear.”
Catherine Bosworth, Director of Income Generation and Grants at Hospice UK, said: “Gifts in Wills are the lifeline keeping our hospices open. Every single hour, someone receives care that wouldn’t exist without the generosity of people who choose to support hospice care in their Will. That’s the reality we’re working with and it’s becoming increasingly fragile, as funding pressures threaten hospice services, right when demand is rising. Our ageing population means demand for hospice care will only continue to grow, so it’s vital that we do what we can to secure hospice care now. A gift in your will to a hospice doesn’t require parting with your money today, anyone can leave a legacy. Gifts of any size can make a significant difference – just £30 can fund a home care visit, £200 a specialist palliative care visit, it all helps hospices be there for people who need them.”
For more information about the ‘This is Hospice Care’ campaign or to find out how you can support your local hospice with a gift in your Will, please visit thisishospicecare.org.uk
Published 16th February 2026
