elcome
to your first St Wilfrid’s 2026 newsletter!
I hope you had a lovely festive season and that this new year brings you lots of wonderful moments.
In this edition, you’ll be able to read about how you can get involved in 2026 – plus, we’ve included a recap of 2025, highlighting some of the key achievements and milestones, none of which would have been possible without you, our kind and generous supporters.
As always, there are many ways you can continue to support St Wilfrid’s - from our fundraising events to our shops, and the many volunteering opportunities we have available, alongside your own fundraising activities and donations.
You’ll also be able to read about the new location of our In Memory Tree, and the lovely leaves you can make a
Get in touch
Address: St Wilfrid’s Hospice, Walton Lane, Bosham, PO18 8QB
Tel: 01243 775302
Email: general@stwh.co.uk
Website: stwh.co.uk
Registered Charity No: 281963
@stwilfridschichester
@StWilfridsHospice
donation for and remember a loved one.
We’ve also included a reminder about Make a Will Fortnight, which returns from 9th to 20th March. This is a brilliant opportunity to write a new Will or review your existing Will with the support of our helpful, local solicitors.
Lastly, I’m pleased to be able to tell you that we launched our brand-new raffle in January, and you can find out more about this and how to enter inside. With a top prize of £1,500, it’s definitely worth a ticket or two!
I hope you enjoy the read, and I look forward to seeing you at our various events this year.
Thank you, as always, for your support.
Lois Howell Chief Executive
A snapshot of the year
The last year has been full of moments that mattered, from meaningful conversations at home to joyful gatherings at our events. Here’s a look at the impact you made possible.
Every figure tells a story of a life touched, a hand held, a moment of dignity.
1,047
people received direct care and support from St Wilfrid’s this year.
1,015
people were referred to St Wilfrid’s for care and support this year.
772
Our Bereavement Support Team made 772 contacts with people coping with loss.
4,821
Our Hospice Community Team made 4,821 visits, ensuring people could be cared for in the place they felt most comfortable.
Fundraising and events brought in ÂŁ2.5 million, thanks to the extraordinary efforts of our community, corporate partners and event participants.
Retail and eCommerce generated over 25% of our total income, with 320,000 transactions completed across 12 shops and online.
The High Sheriff of West Sussex highlights the critical challenges facing the county’s hospices
The High Sheriff of West Sussex, Dr Tim Fooks, who is the first medical Sheriff in the history of the county, has been deeply impressed by the outstanding levels of care and compassion our local hospices provide to patients and their families.
However, he is also greatly concerned by the unprecedented and exceptional threat that each of them is now facing. In this article, Dr Fooks has asked the CEOs of the hospices in West Sussex and Hove to explain the situation across the county. Their message is, they are at the limit.
Hospice care is more than you think, but funding gaps put it at risk
By Lois Howell, CEO at St Wilfrid’s Hospice, Giles Tomsett, CEO at St Catherine’s Hospice, and Stuart Palma, CEO at Southern Hospice Group (St Barnabas House, Martlets and Chestnut Tree House).
Hospice care in Sussex is under increasing strain, despite being one of the most valued services in our
communities. The High Sheriff of West Sussex, Dr Tim Fooks, is speaking with hospice leaders about the challenges facing care across Sussex, and what must change.
Hospice care is about dignity, choice and comfort. Our teams help people live well for as long as possible – at home, in the community and in our hospices – and families value this care, yet demand is rising and costs have surged. Government funding covers only a small share of true costs and charitable income fills the gap, but it is no longer enough.
Across Sussex, hospices face growing deficits. Some inpatient rooms cannot open, teams are stretched and every budget decision has a human impact. We’re calling for fair, long-term funding that reflects the real cost of the essential services we provide.
Together, we can protect hospice care for our community.
Our amazing volunteers
Volunteers are the heartbeat of St Wilfrid’s. They bring warmth, skills and thousands of hours of time - helping us to deliver care, run shops, greet visitors, support fundraising and keep events running smoothly.
This year, volunteers gave more than 58,000 hours of their time - the equivalent of 1,120 hours every week. In Retail alone, they provided 47% of total hours worked in our shops, directly helping to raise vital funds for patient care.
We value diversity - and creating an inclusive workplace is a core part of our aim to ensure St Wilfrid’s is a great place to volunteer, and a compassionate and caring place to be. Our induction and training programme ensures every volunteer feels supported and part of the hospice family from day one.
This year, our volunteers’ contribution was recognised publicly when they received the Chichester City Council Community Award for outstanding service to the city; a well-deserved celebration of the difference they make every day.
We have several volunteering opportunities this year, including helping at our fundraising events and in our shops, particularly over weekends.
If you can spare a couple of hours each week, please visit stwh.co.uk/volunteer/our-vacancies or call 01243 755815 to find out more and apply.
99% of respondents to the 2024 volunteer annual survey stated they would recommend volunteering at St Wilfrid’s.
Our volunteers contributed hours of support during the year.
58,000
We’d also love to hear from any corporate volunteers!
Perhaps you’d like to help as a small group as part of your CSR initiatives? Options include helping to maintain our gardens and helping at our large donation centre in Chichester.
Please contact fundraising@stwh.co.uk if you’re interested.
March
Sahara Trek information evening
Join us at the Hospice to find out more about our bespoke Sahara Desert Trek taking place in October 2027.
April
12
Brighton Marathon
The incredible Brighton Marathon is once again taking place, giving you the chance to tie your laces and take on a 26.2-mile run. The route will take you through the lovely city of Brighton and along the stunning seafront, where you will experience an amazing community atmosphere.
May
Golf Day
Join us at our Annual Golf Day at Cowdray Park Golf Club.
Fun local events
Keep an eye on our website for more local events in 2026: stwh.co.uk/events
June
Moonlight Walk
We are once again inviting hundreds of walkers to take on a 5 or 10-mile in-memory walk around Chichester that helps make a difference to local lives.
London to Brighton
September
December
Pedal through the heart of London before winding along scenic country lanes and into the South Downs, where there are some beautiful views to be seen on this challenging 55-mile bike ride.
London to Brighton
Light Up a Life
Join us for our Light up a Life Service at the historic Chichester Cathedral – a special evening of carols, readings and reflection, where we come together to remember and celebrate the lives of our loved ones.
Check our website soon for more info and to book for this amazing experience Coming soon!
October Firewalk returns!
Light Up a Life
Moonlight Walk
Spotlight on Trekking and Marathons
We’re thrilled to share that our challenge events programme for 2026 is set to be bigger and better than ever.
Whether you’re aiming for the iconic streets of London or the stunning South Coast views in Brighton, there’s something for every kind of adventurer.
Or why not join us in October 2027 for a once in a lifetime opportunity to trek across the Moroccan Sahara.
Not only will you get an insight into this vast and diverse landscape, but you will also get to experience the Berber way of life. You’ll spend two full days and two half days trekking across ancient dried-up riverbeds, sand dunes and vast sun-baked plains - camping each night under the stars.
Take a look at all the treks we have on offer at:
stwh.co.uk/events
What’s on offer in 2026
Brighton Marathon
Take on this challenge in April and be part of an unforgettable experience
Chichester Harbour Run & Witterings Runs
New routes for 2026, showcasing beautiful coastlines and fresh challenges
Tough Mudder Challenge
Fancy something rugged? Get ready to test your grit and determination
Isle of Wight Ultra Challenge
Take on the island with amazing views, cliffs and sandy beaches, marinas and historic towns as you trek up and down the coastal paths.
March 11
Ready to take part?
We can’t wait to see you at the finish line.
Spotlight on our Corporate Partners and Major Donors
Jim Stokes Workshop Ltd raised a phenomenal ÂŁ7,500 in 2025 from several events throughout the year including its annual Classics and Coffee event held in July.
JSW Classics & Coffee welcomes the owners of all classics, whether cars, bikes, bicycles, commercials or 4x4’s, plus visitors to join for a free coffee and doughnut while enjoying unrestricted access to the JSW Historic and Classic car workshops.
We are very grateful to Jim, his team, and everyone who came along to support the event on the day.
Dates for the 2026 JSW Classics & Coffee will be announced soon so watch this space!
Thank you to the David Hunt Trust
David founded his Charitable Trust after retiring from his furniture business in Surrey and moving to the Sussex Coast. He had always intended to give money to charity, so he started The David Hunt Trust, supporting local people and projects.
David is committed to carrying on his philanthropic work and is excited to continue with his annual ÂŁ100,000 giveaway community grant scheme for the people of Sussex.
St Wilfrid’s Hospice were delighted to be awarded a community grant of £11,116 in November at The Awards Ceremony held at Ham Manor Golf Club, which will support the vital care delivered by our Hospice Community Team.
Visit stwh.co.uk/events to find out more about all of our events, or sign up to our email to be the first to hear
Welcome to our Shops!
Your support, either as a donor, shopper or volunteer, has made a real difference to local lives. Each purchase, item donated or hour volunteered has helped us to provide end-of-life care to people in need.
We hope you enjoy shopping with us in 2026. We have several events planned throughout the year, so look out for these in your local shop or on our website.
Our 2025 Highlights
43 tonnes of goods were recycled and diverted from landfill.
ÂŁ114,000 raised through
ÂŁ2,631,231 made in sales thanks to our generous shoppers.
Sunday 27th September Fill a Bag dates
Saturday 28th March
Sunday 29th March
Saturday 6th June
Saturday 26th September
See our website for more details
We have 350 volunteers working within the Retail Team. Thank you to each and every one of them!
350
320,000 transactions made across our high street shops and e-commerce.
Did you know?
We raised just under ÂŁ4,000 from our Fill a Bag events in 2025, which is fabulous! Thank you for this contribution to the care we provide.
We need your quality furniture!
Due to demand, we’ve space at Terminus Road Chichester and our Furniture Outlet in Chalcroft Bognor, for more of your pre-loved furniture.
By giving furniture a new home, you can contribute to the valuable cycle of reusing and recycling instead of buying new – as well as knowing that your donation has helped to provide expert care to local people with a life-limiting illness.
We just ask the items are in good, saleable condition for our shops - and that fire labels are attached, where applicable.
Did you know that we can get an extra 25% through Gift Aid?
If you’re a tax payer, you can Gift Aid your donations at no extra cost to you.
As a charity, we are able to claim an extra 25p for every £1 you donate. So long as you’re a tax payer and have paid the basic rate of tax, you can increase the value of your donations by 25%. Last year, our shops claimed an extra £114,000 for the Hospice through Gift Aid.
Ask in-store or visit stwh.co.uk/shop when donating goods to fill in a Gift Aid form and start adding 25% to your donations!
Do you have a large item of furniture to donate?
We understand that furniture can be difficult to transport, especially large items, so please ask us about our delivery and collection service and we’ll do what we can to take the burden away.
Terminus Road: 01243 530518 | Chalcroft: 01243 837766
The latest from our Education Centre
We’re here to share our expertise. St Wilfrid’s Education Team provides all aspects of palliative and end-of-life care education for health and social care professionals.
We offer a wide range of education and training opportunities to support health and social care professionals in delivering high quality end-of-life and bereavement care. We are very happy to discuss bespoke training needs if you are unable to find what you need here.
Most courses are virtual, which provides flexibility - but we’re also able to offer face to face delivery when it’s felt more appropriate.
Our March Courses
End-of-Life & Learning Disabilities
Delivered virtually via Teams on 03/03/26
Verification of Expected Adult Death
Delivered virtually via Teams on 11/03/26
Management of Syringe Drivers
Delivered virtually via Teams on 17/03/26
Advanced Communication Skills Training
Delivered at St Wilfrid’s Hospice over two days on 23 & 24/03/26
Your Memory Tree at St Wilfrid’s Hospice
Our stunning Memory Tree is a place of love, remembrance and hope. By dedicating a leaf, you’re creating a lasting tribute to someone special and supporting the vital care we provide to patients and families in the local community.
Each engraved leaf can have up to 26 characters for a name or short message and will remain on the tree for the first 13 months, after which you can choose to renew your dedication for a further 12 months.
The tree was moved recently so that it has pride of place in our main reception area, where you are welcome to visit.
