19 February 2026
This is Hospice Care
This week saw the start of Hospice UK’s campaign, “This is Hospice Care”.
The campaign highlights new data that shows that gifts in Wills are the lifeline keeping the nation’s hospices open, funding the equivalent of 400,000 nights of hospice care every year.
The Demand for Hospice Care
This comes as 127 hospices across the country unite for a second year behind the This is Hospice Care campaign – urging members of the public to leave a gift in their Will to their chosen hospice. Without this support, 30,000 nights of hospice care every month could disappear - that's 7,500 every week. The importance of hospice care is undeniable, with UK hospices having supported 310,000 people facing terminal illness last year alone – and demand for palliative care is set to jump by 25% by 2048. However, these figures tell only part of the story.
Data from Hospice UK also reveals that 82% of palliative care now takes place outside the inpatient unit, including in people’s homes and in the community, again showing that hospice care is much more than offering a place for someone where they can spend their final days. Whilst over half of people (54%) would opt to receive palliative care in the comfort of their own home, over a quarter (26%) still assumed that hospice care on an inpatient ward would be their only option. Despite nearly half (45%) of those polled knowing someone who has received hospice care (whether that’s at home, in the community or within a hospice setting), 26% still did not know what support is available from hospices to make at home and community care possible. What’s more, a majority of the public (59%) aren’t aware that hospices provide their services for free – with only around 40% of the cost of the incredible care hospices provide funded by government.Financial Pressure
Last year, 450 beds were out of use in UK hospices, and many had to reduce or close some of their community services, primarily due to insufficient funding and financial pressures forcing hospices to scale back services. Many hospices have waiting lists and demand for end-of-life care is rising, so it’s not a case of lack of demand. Hospices desperately want to reach everyone who needs them, but financial pressure is holding many back. The reality is that hospices must raise more than £3.8 million every single day to keep their services going.
Community Support
Through powerful real-life stories, the This is Hospice Care campaign shows how hospices help support whole communities through their hardest days, and how people in their community can make giving back part of their legacy. From helping people get their pain under control, to planning birthday parties or delivering grief counselling; hospices create moments and bring comfort when it matters most. These stories highlight how critical gifts in Wills are in keeping this vital support available for everyone, now and for generations to come.
What Support from Noah's Ark Means to a Family
One couple who received support from Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice are Mariam and Devang. When Mariam and Devang's son Reiaan was born prematurely at just 25 weeks and two days, they found themselves thrust into the overwhelming world of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Amid the beeps of monitors and uncertainty, they spotted a flyer from Noah's Ark Children's Hospice, offering music therapy and decided to get in touch.
"It helped us feel like active participants in Reiaan's life rather than just passengers,"
Devang explains. The therapy helps babies relax, settle and regulate their bodies, which protects their brain development. For parents, it provides a way to reclaim their parental identity in an environment where medical professionals necessarily take over much of their baby's care.
For Mariam and Devang, the impact was life changing. Whilst Reiaan died on 29th July 2022 - his due date - after fighting complications from his premature birth, the connection forged through music therapy continues to help his parents. When their daughter Amaira was born, Mariam and Devang also brought their music therapy experiences with them.
The Impact of Leaving A Gift In Will to Your Local Hospice
Many people aren’t aware that hospices provide their services for free. In 2024/25 it cost over £7m to run Noah’s Ark, 76% of which comes from voluntary donations. Holistic services such as music therapy and bereavement counselling are not funded by government and are only possible through the generosity of our supporters, including those who leave a gift in their Will.
Catherine Bosworth, Director of Income Generation and Grants at Hospice UK, said:
“Gifts in Wills are the lifeline keeping our hospices open. Every single hour, someone receives care that wouldn't exist without the generosity of people who choose to support hospice care in their Will. That's the reality we're working with and it's becoming increasingly fragile, as funding pressures threaten hospice services, right when demand is rising. Our ageing population means demand for hospice care will only continue to grow, so it’s vital that we do what we can to secure hospice care now. A gift in your Will to a hospice doesn’t require parting with your money today, anyone can leave a legacy. Gifts of any size can make a significant difference - just £30 can fund a home care visit, £200 a specialist palliative care visit, it all helps hospices be there for people who need them.”
Raj Bhayani, Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice’s Head of Supporter Engagement, said:
“Noah’s Ark provides excellent clinical and holistic care for the children and families we support. This specialist care is only possible through the generosity of our community which includes Gifts in Wills. These gifts ensure that we can continue to provide this vital support and allow us to reach more children and families in our catchment area, providing not only moments of normality but of magic and joy.”
Find out more about leaving gifts in Wills at Noah's Ark HERE.
