Record-breaking giveathon sees Hospiscare raise £500,000 to keep care at home

Devon-based charity Hospiscare is celebrating after smashing its fundraising target during a 36-hour giveathon, raising a record-breaking £500,000 to support patients with life-limiting conditions across Exeter, central and east Devon.

The people-powered appeal, titled Keeping Care at Home, aimed to protect and expand the charity’s specialist end-of-life services delivered in patients’ own homes. Thanks to generous match funding, every pound donated during the campaign was doubled, helping the total soar beyond expectations.

Hospiscare provides free specialist palliative and end-of-life care for people living with terminal illnesses, supporting around 600 patients every day. While the charity runs an inpatient unit in Exeter, the majority of those it supports are cared for at home, where teams of nurses, doctors and support staff provide medical care, symptom management and emotional support.

Head of Public Fundraising Sarah Smith said:

“We didn't dare to dream that we would raise anything like this amount. The community has responded in a way we could not have imagined.

“The appeal was entitled ‘Keeping Care at Home’ and that's exactly what it's going to do. Across the heart of Devon, we care for around 600 people every day, most of whom are cared for in the comfort of their own homes, surrounded by their loved ones, belongings and pets.

“As a local charity, this will go a long way to making sure that more people can be cared for in this way.”

The £500,000 boost will help fund a range of essential services delivered directly in patients’ homes, including:

• Visits from Hospiscare specialist nurses, providing expert pain relief, compassionate care and reassurance

• Dementia Nurse visits, offering practical and emotional support for families navigating dementia

• The Rapid Response Team, delivering urgent care when it is needed most

• Home bereavement visits, supporting families through grief

• Complementary therapies to aid relaxation, pain relief and stress management

Like many hospices across the UK, Hospiscare relies heavily on donations and fundraising to sustain its services, with only part of its funding coming from the NHS. Community events, individual donations and legacy gifts form a significant part of its income.

Sarah Smith added:

“The fantastic fundraising total sums up the way that our community really cares about Hospiscare and what we’re trying to do.

“It's been the most incredible example of community power. I’d like to thank our match funders and community ‘champions’, without whom this campaign simply wouldn’t have been possible, and all the supporters and donors who have done us proud and helped to keep care at home.”

The charity says the success of the giveathon demonstrates the strength of local support and will help ensure more families across Devon can continue to receive specialist end-of-life care in the comfort and familiarity of home.