The Hospice of St Francis

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The Hospice of St Francis

We help 2,000 local people and their families to live their precious lives well.

03/04/2026

Want to get running but not sure where to start? Join our fun and friendly group led by Erica and Heather – perfect for complete beginners who want to get from couch to 5k!

10 years of Jog On has achieved these amazing milestones:

- 50 Couch to 5k courses
- Approx. 800 participants
- £35,209.85 raised

So, if you feel ready to challenge yourself, a new course starts on Tuesday 14th April:

⏰ Tuesdays 10:30–11:30am
📍 Berkhamsted area
💷 £30 for 10 sessions
👉 Sign up: www.jogonrunning.com

All proceeds support specialist care at The Hospice of St Francis.

02/04/2026

With a long-standing career in both gastroenterology and aesthetics, Kay has built a meaningful connection with charitable work for the Hospice through her personal experiences and professional values.

After opening her second Regents Park Aesthetics Berkhamsted clinic in Berkhamsted, Kay sought to partner with a local charity whose mission resonated deeply with her. Having seen first-hand the importance of hospice care through her father’s experience, she felt strongly about supporting a cause that provides such vital compassion to local families. “I really appreciate the value and important work that the Hospice does,” she explains.

Since then, she has taken part in multiple fundraising activities and has now established this April’s ‘The Art of Wellness’ event to be held at Champneys Tring, designed to bring women together for wellbeing education, community, and rejuvenation. The event will feature an hour-long panel with four experts in menopause care, nutrition, hormone balance and aesthetics, followed by a champagne afternoon tea, goodie bags, charity raffle and use of Champneys’ facilities. Attendees can choose between a £149 day ticket or an upgraded overnight stay package for £249 which includes breakfast and a £30 credit towards dinner.

“We wanted to create something informative, enjoyable, and truly meaningful – an event that supports women’s wellbeing while benefitting the Hospice,” Kay says. With every penny raised going to the Hospice, Kay’s dedication continues to make a genuine difference to the local community.

For further information and early bird tickets, please visit: https://www.stfrancis.org.uk/events/fundraising/the-art-of-wellness

01/04/2026

A huge thank you to Team Goonies from JFK School, Hemel Hempstead for nominating the Hospice to receive the profits from their recent Dragons Apprentice Challenge, supported by Community Action Dacorum and their mentor Lawrence Geere from Hybrid Software Helix.

Their fantastic fundraising ideas which included a raffle at our December Corporate Partner Network event, made £1190.32 profit which will help fund our free care. Thank you SO much for supporting us Team Goonies!

If you attend or work in a local school and feel inspired by Team Goonies or are interested in joining our expanding Corporate Partner Network, we’d love to hear from you at fundraising@stfrancis.org.uk

30/03/2026

After George developed heart, liver and kidney failure, his devoted wife Audrey nursed him at home. But when Audrey needed support, the Hospice’s Community and Family Support Teams rose to the challenge.

George benefitted from visits by the Hospice’s carers and heart failure specialist nurse. Meanwhile, Audrey found that whenever she had a problem, she could turn to the Family Support team for guidance. “They were so straightforward and honest with me,” Audrey said. “I could relax and be myself.”

When George became more unwell, he stayed on our Inpatient Unit. Audrey shared: “In his second week there, I could see a definite improvement in his health. Everybody was lovely with him, and you could see him lifting up – a smile on his face.”

George returned home with the support of the Community Team, but at the very end of his life, he wished to be back in the Hospice. Audrey remembers being touched when they arranged to give George the same room he’d originally had. “There were so many thoughtful little touches: it was very emotional, but lovely,” Audrey said.

Audrey remains grateful for everything the Hospice did for George and her family. “He was well-cared for, well looked after, and they gave us all the care and support we needed,” she said. “If the Hospice wasn’t here for the community, it would break my heart. I don’t know what I would’ve done without them.”🥰

Every year, we need to raise over £6 million pounds to continue delivering vital care to families like George and Audrey’s. To support the Hospice today 👉stfrancis.org.uk/donate

29/03/2026

🍳 Recruiting Now – Casual Cook

We’re looking for a Casual Cook to join our small, friendly kitchen team on an ad-hoc basis. This is a rewarding opportunity to help prepare meals for our patients, visitors and staff—making a real difference at the Hospice.

🕒 Shift times:
• 08:00 – 14:00
• 16:30 – 19:30

📅 Closing date: Thursday 30th April

If you’re passionate about food and want to be part of a caring and supportive environment, we’d love to hear from you.

👉 Apply here: https://www.stfrancis.org.uk/work-with-us/careers/casual-cook

💙 Join our team. Make a difference. Support your local hospice.

28/03/2026

25, 50 or 75 miles - which challenge are you choosing?

Join us on 6th September for Ride: St Francis Sportive 🚴‍♀️

Whether you’re a seasoned cyclist or just love a scenic ride, we have the perfect route for you to join us.

Every mile you ride will help us continue making a difference in the local community.🥰

For more information visit 👉https://www.stfrancis.org.uk/events/fundraising/ride-st-francis-sportive

27/03/2026

Happy Friday! Don’t our shop windows look fresh and bright for spring? 🌷

If you can’t wait to put the winter behind you then our shops are the place to be this weekend. Whether you’re looking for a new outfit, furniture or spring read – we’ve got plenty of stock to bring some colour and energy into your life.🌺

Did you know we have shops in:
-Abbots Langley
-Amersham
-Berkhamsted
-Bovingdon
-Chesham
-Greenway
-Highfield, Hemel Hempstead
-Kings Langley
-Marshalswick

You can find all the details here👉stfrancis.org.uk/shop

26/03/2026

Dr Becky is gearing up for this June’s Bubble Rush event with a sense of excitement and anticipation, as it marks the first time she’ll be taking part in the foamy festivities alongside her family. The doctor, who is embedded in our Community Team and also works on the Inpatient Unit at the Hospice, sees the day as a perfect blend of fun, family time and meaningful support for a cause close to her heart.

For her children, aged five and ten, the event promises to be a real highlight of 2026, especially for her bubble-obsessed daughter, who can’t wait to throw herself into the colourful clouds of foam. Dr Becky shared, “I’m so excited to finally experience Bubble Rush with my family this year. My kids can’t wait, and it feels wonderful to be supporting the Hospice in a way that’s joyful, active and full of laughter.”

To join Dr Becky and book your tickets to Bubble Rush 👉stfrancis.org.uk/bubblerush

Bubble Rush 5K

25/03/2026

For two decades, Sarah has been at the heart of transforming our Hospice shops into the vibrant, creative community hubs they are today, and as her well-earned retirement approaches, we reflect on the extraordinary impact she has made.

For Sarah, a part-time role in our Berkhamsted charity shop grew into a remarkable journey of leadership, creative innovation and deep community connection. Drawing on her retail design background, Sarah opened beloved spaces like Shop for Good at number twenty and Returned to Glory, as well as later developing Chapter Two and Amersham Owned. She has consistently championed creativity, empowered shop teams and helped elevate the charity shop to, “a genuine destination of choice.”

Fostering a culture of creativity and independence, Sarah has afforded shop managers the freedom to respond to their own communities. “Giving shops the headroom to manage themselves has been key,” she says. She has also been a driving force behind sustainability, nowhere better encapsulated than at Returned to Glory where donated items are repaired and restored ahead of sale. Most of all, Sarah’s commitment to the 500-strong army of volunteers who bring our shops to life every day has been unflagging.

Optimistic for the Hospice’s ability to innovate and sustain its position, Sarah is looking forward to time with her two grandchildren, travelling and simply taking a much-deserved break. Our shops today are a testament to her vision and drive, and the Hospice wishes her a rich future and joyful retirement.

24/03/2026

A huge thank you to the wonderful members of Watford Philharmonic Society for supporting Coffee for Care by hosting a coffee morning. We’re delighted to share that the event raised an incredible £400.90 to help fund our free care. 🍰☕

It’s not too late to support Coffee for Care by hosting your own coffee morning. Whether it is through a coffee break at work, a gathering with a few friends or a local group you are part of, we would LOVE to have you onboard. 🥰

Full details here👉 https://www.stfrancis.org.uk/events/fundraising/coffee-for-care

23/03/2026

For just over a year, The Good Grief Café has offered a space for people to talk about grief and loss. The group was developed by Nicola Duffell and is co-facilitated with Reverend James McDonald and the Hospice. It is held at All Saints Church in Kings Langley on the first Friday of the month and is open to everyone.

Nicola, who volunteers at the Hospice, shared her motivation for setting up the group. “When someone we love dies, our foundations fall away,” she explained. “In a society where grief is hidden in the shadows, I wanted to offer a place where people could come together and feel less alone in their grief.”

Each gathering at The Good Grief Café starts informally with a cup of tea and a biscuit. Then, one of the group facilitators brings in a gentle theme – for instance, how the seasons impact grief. Anyone can share, but there’s no pressure to speak. “If you come to listen, that’s just as valuable as if you speak. We need listening in our grief, too,” Nicola said.

Different generations, from young to old, attend the Café, and some have shared their relief at finding a place where they can speak freely about grief.

The Café doesn’t aim to ‘fix’ grief but instead provides a space where people can share their deepest heartbreaks and develop an ongoing relationship with grief. “We wouldn’t expect our love to have a finite end, and grief comes from love,” Nicola said. “The Grief Café is a place where everyone is welcome.”

All Saints' Church, Kings Langley

21/03/2026

Join our thriving Community Team as a Clinical Nurse Specialist 👉 stfrancis.org.uk/nurse-vacancy

"As part of this incredible team, my colleagues and I take great pride in being a part of what the Hospice stands for. The care here isn’t just about medicine - it’s about thoughtfulness in every detail. Each gesture helps turn care from acceptable to exceptional.

No two days are ever the same, and every patient I visit is a privilege to care for. Our focus is always on helping people live as well as they can, supporting not just the patient but those who love them too" - Wendy, Community Nurse Specialist

Make a move that's

Address

Spring Garden Lane
Berkhamsted
HP43GW

Telephone

+441442869550

Website

https://www.stfrancis.org.uk/

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Every Life is Precious

The Hospice of St Francis is here to help people live their precious lives well. Our free care has many meanings and is defined by each person's need, needs that may change many times. We care for the whole person or family unit for however long we are needed – days, weeks, months or years.

We love what we do and we love your support too. Volunteering, sharing stories from your preciouslife, shopping with us (@ReturnedtoGlory / http://www.stfrancis.org.uk/shop-with-us), taking part in a fundraising challenge or simply donating to us, from coins in a home box to leaving a gift in your Will, all helps us raise over £5 million annually to fund our free care. Every penny is needed to do what we do.