JUST days after the government's latest budget announcement, Dorothy House launched its 'Bridge the Gap Appeal', aiming to raise crucial funds for local hospice care.

On November 3, the 36-hour fundraising ‘super sprint’ was launched to raise £350,000 for Dorothy House’s local care services, covering an expansive 800-square-mile area.

Using a crowdfunding platform, more than 230 participants contributed to the campaign, reaching out to their networks for support. Their collective efforts helped raise the targeted amount for the appeal.

Every donation made during the campaign was doubled, thanks to the support of various donors, organisations, and trusts who pledged over £175,000 in match funding for the appeal.

The dedication and efforts of participants reaching out to family and friends resulted in over 3,180 donations during the 36-hour campaign, raising a total of £370,000.

Don Kennedy, head of fundraising at Dorothy House, said: “Sometimes you are part of something that leaves you speechless. The kindness and generosity of our community, our matched funders, our amazing Champions, and those that answered their call. We simply cannot thank our community enough.”

With no additional funding yet offered to the charity, the National Insurance changes announced in the budget will cost Dorothy House Hospice Care, who provide specialist care to over 3,000 people every year, an additional £422,000 per year.

Rising costs over several years have meant hospices across the UK, including Dorothy House, are facing growing financial pressure. With only 30 per cent of care funding coming from the government, and not keeping pace with rising costs and changing need, generous local communities are unable to meet the shortfall.

Wayne de Leeuw, chief Executive of Dorothy House Hospice Care, said: “With an aging population causing ever increasing demand for end of life care our ambition remains to ensure we are there for everyone who needs us. The additional National Insurance cost of this scale just adds to the perfect storm facing hospices at a time when we already desperately needed more support.”

The Hospice estimates that they are only serving 50 per cent of the population requiring end of life care. The number of people in the UK needing palliative care is also expected to increase by at least 25 per cent by 2048.

Dorothy House continues to innovate, expanding care for more patients across their 800-square-mile area. This includes a new fundraising initiative, with a Bath City Zipline planned for Spring 2025.