“We are pleased to have had confirmation that we will receive £107,466 from the £100 million one-off capital funding announced by Wes Streeting in December 2024. This one-off funding will help us pay for some urgent work needed to upgrade our heating system.

The additional £107,466 we are due to receive from the one-off capital funding for hospices is an encouraging step forward and will help offset the impact of rising costs and the increase in National Insurance contributions. However, without a sustainable increase to our annual government funding it’s not enough to ensure Bolton Hospice can sustain the £5 million running costs of our vital services long-term.

Keeping pace with the NHS pay rise to retain our staff and the increase in National Living Wage and National Insurance contributions alone will cost us an additional £295,000 this year and then there are cost of living rising costs and no increase to our 2025-26 funding from the NHS, which all exacerbates an already fragile financial situation, creating a significant real term cut to our government funding which has led to a projected financial deficit for 2025-26 of £700,000.

As a result, we continue to face an uncertain future this year but are again heartened by the incredible generosity of our local community and the government’s show of support for the hospice sector.

Together, we will continue to push for a fair and sustainable funding solution to ensure we can meet the rapidly growing demand for our specialist services and to ensure that the generosity of the people of Bolton is respected, and the value of their contribution maximised by an appropriately fair funding deal.”

How will Bolton Hospice be affected this year?

Keeping pace with the NHS pay rise and the increase in the National Living wage and National Insurance contributions alone will cost us an additional £295,000 this year and then there are rising costs and no increase to our 2025-26 funding that all exacerbate an already fragile financial situation, creating a significant real term cut to our government funding which has led to a projected financial deficit for 2025-26 of £700,000.

As a result of this combination of factors, we continue to face an uncertain future this year with no ability to plan or sustain our vital services into 2025.

In December 2024, the Government announced one-off capital funding for hospices to ease the financial pressure we are facing.

We have had confirmation that we will receive £107,466 from the £100 million one-off capital funding announced by Wes Streeting in December 2024. This one-off capital funding will help us pay for some urgent work needed to upgrade our heating system.

The additional one-off capital funding is an encouraging step forward and will help offset the impact of rising costs and the increase in National Insurance contributions but it’s not enough to ensure Bolton Hospice can sustain the running costs of our vital services long-term.

With an aging population and rapidly growing demand for specialist palliative services, Bolton Hospice needs fair and sustainable funding to ensure we can meet the rapidly growing demand for our specialist services.

With fairer sustainable funding, we can provide high-quality palliative care and support both in the hospice and at home, helping to achieve the Government’s strategy to shift more care out of hospitals and into the community and relieving pressure on the NHS.

We head into the new financial year (2025-26) facing the challenge of raising £5 million to provide specialist care and support for the local people who need us, but heartened by the government’s support for our work and by the incredible support and generosity of our community.

How can I support Bolton Hospice? 

There are lots of ways you can continue to support Bolton Hospice this year

• Join our hospice lottery or make a monthly donation to help provide a steady source of income
• Donate pre-loved items or shop locally in one of our charity shops
• Become a patron
• Gift your time as a volunteer
• Attend or organise a fundraising event
• Pledge a gift in your will
• Show your support on social media to help raise awareness

If you are able to, please continue to support Bolton Hospice this year. Your support will help us keep our vital services running.

For further information please contact us on fundraising@boltonhospice.org or stay updated here.