Alice House Hospice

Charity Details

History and Activities

Alice House in Hartlepool was the product of tenacious, visionary and determined mum-of-four Alice Bendle. When Alice was told she was facing a life-limiting illness in 1969, her first thought was of her family and who would take care of them. When she recovered, Alice made it her mission that families experiencing terminal illness or death should have the care and support they need in such a difficult situation. Alice spent the rest of her life campaigning political and business leaders to establish and develop a hospice. In 1985, two Macmillan Nurses were employed and Alice’s charity was able to offer hospice services. Alice passed away in 1993 but her daughter, Lorna remains vice-chair of the charity's Board of Trustees. Alice House has grown from a single house purchased in 1983 to an 18-bed hospice providing inpatient and outpatient care, community services, support for carers and provides training in collaboration with Teesside University.

Over the years the charity has expanded the range and capacity of the services it is able to offer. From 1999 the charity started operating a home-based service, offering the chance for patients to be treated in their own homes. In 2017 Alice House provided 7,321 such visits. In 2004 the charity raised £2.4 million to build a state of the art new hospice and 10 years later in 2014, a Holistic Wellbeing Centre was opened from where all day services and outpatient services are delivered.

Alice House Hospice relies on philanthropy for just over half of its income. A large amount is derived directly from donations (£658,709), with a further £258,487 being received from legacies. The charity received £320,748 from a Lottery it operates, which has been running successfully for 21 years.

Vital Statistics (year to 31/03/2017)

Website

http://www.alicehousehospice.co.uk/

References