On Thursday 10 October, Stephen dropped by a pop-up charity shop in Parliament run by Hospices UK to hear about the funding crisis facing hospices.
Hospices offer care to people suffering from incurable and terminal diseases, placing a premium on a person’s dignity as they approach the end of their life. However, the hospie sector is facing its worst financial situation in over two decades, according to Hospices UK.
Only one third of hospice funding is provided by the Government, with more money spent in charity shops run by hospices than received from Government funds. The cost-of-living crisis has reduced income from charity shops while raising costs for hospices, forcing many of them to cut essential services.
Stephen visited a pop-up charity shop run by Hospices UK in Parliament on 10 October to hear about the funding crisis facing the sector.
“I am grateful to Hospices UK for raising the financial crisis that the hospice sector faces,” Stephen said. “All people deserve dignity as they approach the end of their life, and the hospice sector is vital to providing that.”