How we’re funded

Ashgate Hospice is not an NHS hospice. So, while extra funding has recently been announced by the Government for health and social care, charities like ours rely on the donations and goodwill of our supporters to provide our care as much as ever.

The specialist and compassionate care we provide has been rated as outstanding by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). It’s important that we raise as much money as we can so that more people in North Derbyshire can have the care they would want for themselves and their families. We couldn’t do this without the generosity of our supporters, and we are extremely grateful for every contribution we receive.

We are fortunate to have a wonderful community of supporters which means in the average year we hope to generate around £3m sales in our shops and around £4m income from other fundraising activities.

It is, however, a precarious funding model. We have significant fixed costs but considerable uncertainty around the scale and timing of our income.  In the most recent financial year (April 2020-March 2021), we faced significant financial challenges with our retail shops having to close and many of our large fundraising events having to be cancelled due to COVID.

In 2020, Ashgate successfully campaigned for additional funding. This came from a combination of support from Derby and North Derbyshire CCG, emergency Government funding for hospices and the fantastic response of our supporters to our urgent appeals. However, with a new year the underlying shortfall in statutory funding re-emerges and our dependency on fundraising and retail income increases. Donations are always uncertain and can’t be taken for granted.

Every £1 donated to Ashgate Hospice – whether through direct debit, a cash donation, taking part in the Ashgate Lottery, participating in an event, purchasing items in our shops or leaving a gift in your will – makes a huge difference.

Thank you for your continued support. We couldn’t provide our care without you.