Stunning completion of St. Richard's Hospice Build 2020 project

We're delighted to share the news with you that our £5.2m building project is now finished and say ‘a huge thank you’ to everyone who helped make the vision become a reality.

We embarked on the Build 2020 Appeal to grow hospice care for Worcestershire three years ago and construction work was able to continue throughout the pandemic with Covid-secure measures in place. As you will see from these photos, the finished result is stunning and will provide a beautiful, therapeutic and supportive environment for our patients, loved ones, volunteers and staff. We're now getting ready to furnish and kit out the rooms with specialist equipment.

St Richard’s Hospice Fundraising Director, Tricia Cavell said, “Although the pandemic has caused financial challenges as fundraising events were cancelled and our shops temporarily closed in lockdowns, we were very fortunate that the money needed to complete the build project was secured and committed before the impact of Covid-19.”

Malvern-based construction company, Speller Metcalfe, completed stage two of the building programme and with John Christophers of Birmingham-based Associated Architects, officially handed back the development to the retiring Chair of Governors, John Bawden and hospice Chief Executive June Patel this week. (pictured above)

John Bawden, who steps down from his role at the end of this month after 17 years of dedicated service to the hospice, said he was incredibly proud of the build project and the benefits it would bring to patients and families across Worcestershire.

John said, "I’ve been honoured to work on the Build 2020 project and it’s been a massive team effort with hospice staff, supporters, volunteers and the community coming together to achieve a fantastic result. Now we have a bigger hospice we can better support our current patients and reach the unmet need of thousands of local people in the future, offering the right care and support when they need it most.”

The extended and renovated hospice now includes The Green, pictured, in the central courtyard at the heart of the hospice and which will be a place to meet others, connect, relax, support, sit and eat for patients, families and carers as well as visitors to enjoy. The Green will be surrounded by Living Well therapy rooms including an exercise studio, art studio, horticultural therapy room as well as an occupational therapy training kitchen and music and film therapy room.

The bigger, multi purpose spaces will mean our teams can support more patients and their families and offer a wider choice of activities to help people manage their illness, such as sessions to cope with breathlessness and fatigue; exercise-based groups and therapies which can increase confidence and independence; bring relief from symptoms; reduce stress, anxiety and depression as well as improve sleep.

St Richard's Chief Executive June Patel said the government’s roadmap to easing lockdown in England offers the hospice team a chance to look ahead and plan how we might safely welcome out-patients, loved ones, volunteers and visitors back to the hospice.

June added, “We are keen to welcome everyone in to see this stunning new building and make use of its fantastic spaces as soon as it’s safe to do so.”

Currently most of the out-patient care and support is provided virtually – over the phone and by video call – and face-to-face where essential to ensure the hospice team is there for those who need them most.

Fundraising events continue to run virtually with plans being made to hold face-to-face fundraising events again later in the year.

Fundraising Director Tricia Cavell said, “The challenge now is to continue to raise funds to run all our much-needed services, and we’re hopeful that with the ongoing support of our community we will do just that.”