Category: Fundraising

A major project is under way to transform the Sunflower Wellbeing Centre at East Cheshire Hospice.

Work on the £1.25m refurbishment began last month and is expected to be completed in January 2024.

The modern stylish complex will be much better equipped to meet a rapidly growing need for the charity’s services.

A computer image of the new Sunflower Wellbeing Centre.

Patient and carer capacity is expected to more than double from a current weekly rate of 179 to 400 within two years of completion.

Crucially, more services will operate simultaneously and in the evenings and at weekends.

The extended seven-day working will facilitate greater community engagement, improving integration with the local healthcare strategy of everyone living well for longer.

The Sunflower Centre – the hub of the Hospice’s outpatient services – opened as a day care centre with the Hospice welcoming its first day patients in May 2000. The facility has been extended since but is now outdated and unable to meet demand.

Rachel Allcock, Income Generation Director at the Hospice, said: “The new Sunflower Wellbeing Centre will be a valuable resource for the community. We anticipate being able to accommodate local support groups and other community activities.

“It’s an exciting project and something we’ve wanted to carry out for a long time, but just haven’t been able to do.

“The previous centre served us well, but was no longer fit for purpose. We’ve saved money over time to fund the project, knowing that at some stage we wanted to undertake this work.

“We’ve also applied for specific grants and trust donations so that no income from fundraising which covers day-to-day running costs will be used.”

Rachel Allcock, Income Generation Director at East Cheshire Hospice.

The Sunflower entrance is located to the side of the main reception which is unaffected by the changes.

The radical new design was developed over three years, based on patient, staff and volunteer experiences.

The refurbishments have sustainability in mind, with running costs not expected to increase significantly since the operational floor space is only slightly extended.

The new-look Sunflower Wellbeing Centre.

Any increased heating costs due to extended opening hours will be partly offset by using more efficient heating/cooling systems and a solar-panelled roof.

The projected number of users excludes off-site programmes co-ordinated by the Sunflower team. It also excludes separate work to expand dementia services into community venues.

In total, the Hospice will reach an estimated 1,360 people, some 80 per cent of those living with, or dying from, a life-limiting illness.

Day hospice services have been temporarily moved to other areas for six months during refurbishment work.

The Hospice is adapting facilities, including using the Chapel to accommodate patients.

Some will access outpatient services remotely as happened successfully during Covid. The experiences from that crisis period have been invaluable planning contingencies during the building phase.

The pandemic put a major strain on the Hospice with the effects of the virus still being felt.

Rachel Allcock, Director of Income Generation, said: “We are getting patients coming to us much later in diagnosis who are really poorly because they didn’t want to burden the NHS with their symptoms during Covid.

“It’s a similar story at other hospices although the after-effects of Covid should be temporary. The main reason, though, for a projected rise in patient numbers is an ageing population.

“The refurbished Sunflower Wellbeing Centre will give us the perfect opportunity to re-launch existing services, promote new activity and collaborate with health care professionals, faith and community groups to increase our overall support for the communities we serve.

A glimpse of the future at East Cheshire Hospice.

“We’re hoping to cater for people at every stage of their journey and for all disease groups, including drop-in facilities for the newly-diagnosed.

“Our aim is to encompass that whole need rather than the limited need in a building only able to host one thing at a time.”

Many more volunteers will be needed to help deliver the expanded services.

A glimpse of the future at East Cheshire Hospice.

A beautiful Memory Tree will be unveiled shortly at East Cheshire Hospice to honour lost loved ones.

Supporters are invited to dedicate a leaf engraved with a short message to someone special.

The metal sculpture will be easily accessible in a discreet location within gardens at the back of the Hospice on Millbank Drive.

The subscription cost is £10 a month, or £120 for a year.

The tree also marks the 35th anniversary of the charity which cared for its first patient in February 1988.

Employees from AstraZeneca, which has supported the Hospice throughout its history, have gifted the new memorial.

Some 400 copper, silver and bronze leaves are available and subscribers do not need a link to the Hospice.

Typical leaves for the Memory Tree.

Individual Giving Fundraiser Beth England said: “The Memory Tree is a wonderful way to leave a lasting tribute to the lives of those we wish to celebrate and remember.

“The tree can be reached without going through the main entrance. There is parking at the back of our building and visitors can come along at any time.

“There are benches and privacy, making it the perfect place to reflect and remember a loved one.

“The tree is there for family, friends and supporters and will raise vital donations to the Hospice. Each leaf can be inscribed with a short message if donors wish.

“Your leaf will remain on the tree for a year, at which point you can choose to either renew its place for a further year or we can return the leaf to you to treasure forever.”

Adult bereavement services manager Helen Wilkinson said: “The Memory Tree is a unique way of remembering lost loved ones.

From left, volunteer chaplain Chris Newton, chaplain Marion Tugwood, fundraisers Beth England and Amy Williams and adult bereavement services manager Helen Wilkinson at the Memory Tree launch at a soggy Starlight Walk.

“We all have our own way of looking back on the lives of those dear to us and the tree is a focal point in a lovely quiet setting. ”

Helen attended the Memory Tree launch at last month’s Starlight Walk, with chaplain Marion Tugwood and volunteer chaplain Chris Newton.

The walk attracted around 400 walkers, raising more than £27,000 for the charity.

* To sign up to the Memory Tree visit www.eastcheshirehospice.org.uk/memory-tree.

For queries, contact amy.williams@echospice.org.uk or call 01625 665688.