Martlets Hospice awarded £50,000 in grant aid from the Cabinet Office

Martlets Hospice has been awarded £53,813 by the Cabinet Office to help it provide compassionate support to patients and their families.

The hospice in Wayfield Avenue, Hove, will use the money to develop the Martlets Home Visitors Service, which provides social contact and practical support to people living at home.

The service also helps people through the process of leaving a hospice to return home.

A Cabinet Office fund of £800,000 is going to seven organisations around the country to tackle loneliness and isolation, which people at the end of their life can often experience.

Volunteers will provide companionship and emotional support, as well as practical support to help people reconnect with their own communities.

A Cabinet Office spokesperson said: 'The support offered by winning projects include providing transport to community groups and teaching people how to contact distant family members online.'

Rob Wilson, the minister for civil society, said: 'I am delighted to announce the recipients of the Social Action End of Life Fund.

'Often medical appointments, care needs and financial considerations can obscure the emotional needs that people face at the end of their lives.

'These projects are great examples of how we can use volunteers within communities to make sure that nobody feels alone or unsupported, helping people live with compassion and dignity.'

Imelda Glackin, chief executive of Martlets Hospice, said: 'We're thrilled to have been awarded a Social Action End of Life Fund grant which will expand our existing home visiting service using more volunteers to help more people at the end of their lives.

'Our volunteer visitors will provide social contact and practical support to patients living at home.

'The service will promote wellbeing for patients and their families reducing isolation and meeting emotional needs.'

Hospice UK, the national charity for hospice care, will manage the £800,000 fund, which will also support Sue Ryder National Befriending Service; Compassionate Communities in East London; Aquarius in the West Midlands; St Michael's Hospice in Hampshire; The Herts Neighbour's Network; and St Michael's Hospice in Harrogate.

For more information, visit: www.themartlets.org.uk