St Clare Hospice

St Clare Hospice St Clare Hospice is a local charity and each year we care for hundreds of people across West Essex and the East Hertfordshire border.

We provide free, compassionate care and support to adults with life-limiting illnesses, their families and carers.

“As Sue became frailer, the nights felt longer and lonelier. I was so tired, but worried about what would happen if I cl...
20/11/2025

“As Sue became frailer, the nights felt longer and lonelier. I was so tired, but worried about what would happen if I closed my eyes. What if Sue needed me and I didn’t hear? What if she was in pain, or scared? And if something happened, what would I do? Who would I turn to?

“Then Pauline from the St Clare Hospice at Home team came into our lives and brought something we didn’t expect – specialist, expert care through the night for us both. At the most difficult time of our lives, St Clare eased the path. The night-sitters are just wonderful.”

Our night-sitting service is often the difference between exhaustion and relief, fear and comfort. But we can’t keep this vital support going without you.

Help us raise £75,000 by Christmas to fund nights of care, compassion and calm for families like Sue’s.

Donate now and bring a light in the darkest hours: https://bit.ly/3WztdEN

DON'T MISS OUT! Santa Claus is coming to Town - are you booked in to meet him this Christmas?! 🎅A magical Christmas ex...
19/11/2025

DON'T MISS OUT! Santa Claus is coming to Town - are you booked in to meet him this Christmas?! 🎅

A magical Christmas experience awaits you as Santa's Grotto opens at Harlow Garden Centre this Christmas. Come along to meet Santa on...

• Saturday 29th November - Spaces available
• Sunday 30th November - Spaces available
• Saturday 6th December - Spaces available
• Sunday 7th December - LIMITED SPACES LEFT!
• Saturday 13th December - Spaces available
• Sunday 14th December - LIMITED SPACES LEFT!
• Saturday 20th December - LIMITED SPACES LEFT!
• Sunday 21st December - Spaces available

Every ticket includes:

• Entrance to Santa's magical grotto
• A chance to gather food for Rudolph ready for Christmas Eve
• A visit to Father Christmas - including entry for up to two accompanying adults.
• Photo opportunities
• A special gift

All ticket sales help to raise vital funds for St Clare Hospice ❤️

BOOK NOW BEFORE TICKETS GO!: https://bit.ly/460fT1T

Our Santa’s Grotto is in partnership with Harlow Garden Centre, part of Blue Diamond Garden Centres

Imagine watching over someone you love at the end of their life, worried about falling asleep in case they need you. The...
18/11/2025

Imagine watching over someone you love at the end of their life, worried about falling asleep in case they need you. The uncertainty. The exhaustion. The endless nights.

£21 could pay for 1 hour of specialist night-sitting care from St Clare Hospice, giving families comfort, reassurance and the space to breathe when they are most vulnerable. That hour can change everything.

Donate today and help us reach £75,000 by Christmas so no-one has to face the night alone: https://stclarehospice.org.uk/night-sitting/

It’s , and we’re proudly recognising the importance of supporting children through grief – and shining a light on the e...
17/11/2025

It’s , and we’re proudly recognising the importance of supporting children through grief – and shining a light on the expertise that exists within our own team here at St Clare Hospice.

We are thrilled to share that our children’s therapist Amanda was specially invited to take part in a new CBeebies podcast episode dedicated to one of the most sensitive topics families face – how to talk to children about death, dying and loss.

Amanda brought her wisdom and specialist insight to a national audience, helping parents, carers and professionals understand how to support children with honesty, compassion and confidence.

The episode also features McFly's Tom Fletcher who talks about his book, Pudsey and the Thread of Hope, created for BBC Children in Need, and tying together two powerful conversations about childhood grief and hope. The story has also been adapted into a new animated film, airing on BBC One next month - and we were proud to be consulted as advisors on the script 📃

At St Clare Hospice, we know that children grieve differently and they deserve specialist guidance as they make sense of their feelings, and we’re proud that Amanda’s voice represents our work in supporting bereaved youngsters and their families in navigating their loss. Being asked to share her knowledge on such a respected platform reinforces our role as experts at a time when families need it most.

Listen to the podcast here: https://bbc.in/43CXy9s and join us this Children’s Grief Awareness Week in opening conversations and helping children feel seen, heard and supported after losing someone they love ❤️

17/11/2025

Big news in darts! 🎯 Luke “The Nuke” Littler is now world number one after beating Luke Humphries yesterday!

What’s that got to do with St Clare Hospice? Well… we’re roaring with excitement because Target Darts - Luke’s equipment supplier and management team - has joined us as a sponsor for Lions on the Loose! 🦁

We even explored their trophy cabinets at their Harlow HQ last week whilst on a publicity shoot!

Our free art trail launches summer 2026 across Harlow & Epping. Want your own lion? There’s still time to become a sponsor!

Learn more: https://bit.ly/3K2S80G

16/11/2025

“When I walk into someone’s home at night, I see the strain in their face before they even say a word. Families caring for a loved one at the end of their life are so tired, holding everything together with pure love and not much sleep.

“My role is to ease that weight. To sit beside their loved one with gentleness and skill so they can finally close their eyes without and get some much-needed rest. I saw that with Doug. He just needed to know Sue was safe, cared for and not alone. Being that reassurance is something I’ll never take for granted.”

But Pauline can’t deliver this exceptional care without you. Help us raise £75,000 by Christmas to make sure families aren’t left to cope alone next year.

Please give what you can and help us bring calm, care and compassion into homes when it matters most. Donate today: https://bit.ly/3WztdEN

“Some of the hardest moments are the struggles no-one sees. When I arrive at someone’s home in the middle of the night, ...
15/11/2025

“Some of the hardest moments are the struggles no-one sees. When I arrive at someone’s home in the middle of the night, I’m stepping into a family’s world of worry, exhaustion and relief all at once.

“I know that feeling. When my mum was very poorly, I cared for her at home, and in those last days she told me she was proud of what I was doing. She said I could do it for others. And that stayed with me.

“Supporting families, like Sue and Doug’s, is an honour. Sitting quietly beside someone who is dying, reassuring their loved one that they can rest, it matters more than people realise.”

St Clare Hospice needs to raise £75,000 by Christmas so we can keep bringing specialist night-sitting care to local families next year.

Please donate and help us be the light someone desperately needs in their darkest hours. Donate today: https://bit.ly/3WztdEN

Want to make your kids Christmas extra special? Meet Santa at Santa's Grotto in Harlow! 🎅Step inside Santa's cosy grotto...
12/11/2025

Want to make your kids Christmas extra special? Meet Santa at Santa's Grotto in Harlow! 🎅

Step inside Santa's cosy grotto at Harlow Garden Centre this November & December and enjoy a festive treat they whole family will love!

Every ticket includes:

• Entrance to Santa's magical grotto
• A chance to gather food for Rudolph ready for Christmas Eve
• A visit to Father Christmas - including entry for up to two accompanying adults.
• Photo opportunities
• A special gift

This is more than a festive family outing - it's a chance to make lasting memories while supporting your local hospice as all ticket sales help fund specialist hospice care.

Spaces are limited - so booking in advance is essential! Secure your spot. Book now: https://bit.ly/460fT1T

Our Santa’s Grotto is in partnership with Harlow Garden Centre, part of Blue Diamond Garden Centres

There's still a chance to remember someone special at Light up a Life this December ✨Our Light up a Life services, held ...
12/11/2025

There's still a chance to remember someone special at Light up a Life this December ✨

Our Light up a Life services, held across this November and December, offer a gentle space to come together and honour the memory of loved ones.

With music, readings, and refreshments, each gathering is a chance to reflect, remember, and celebrate the people who meant the world to us. Meanwhile supporting St Clare to light the way for families in need of hospice care 💛

Feel the warmth of remembrance at your local service:

• Saturday 29th November - Loughton
• Wednesday 3rd December - Saffron Walden
• Thursday 4th December - Dunmow
• Saturday 6th December - Stansted
• Thursday 11th December - St Clare Hospice, Hastingwood - limited availability
• Thursday 11th December - Waltham Abbey
• Sunday 14th December - Hatfield Heath
• Wednesday 17th December - Ongar

If you would like to request a Light up a Life star to put on your tree at home, dedicate a name in the hospice Book of Remembrance or make a donation to St Clare you can learn more: https://bit.ly/4n5PqoD

This year’s services are kindly supported by Laser Electrical Central Limited.

11/11/2025

This Remembrance Day, we wanted to share St Clare Inpatient Unit Team Leader Sue's poem titled 'Remember Me' ❤️

St Clare Hospice has signed the Armed Forces Covenant - a promise from the nation that those who have served in the armed forces, and their families, are treated fairly.

Respect, compassion and excellence are at the centre of St Clare care, and we are committed to improving the ways we engage and support our local armed forces community.

Learn more about the Armed Forces Covenant: https://bit.ly/47S2Or0

As the world drifts off to sleep, a family member caring for a loved one living with an incurable illness stays awake, e...
11/11/2025

As the world drifts off to sleep, a family member caring for a loved one living with an incurable illness stays awake, exhausted but afraid to rest 😟

Your £21 could cover the cost of 1 hour of specialist night care - vital support during the hardest hours 🧡

Please donate to our appeal today and be the light in someone’s darkest hour. Donate today: https://bit.ly/3WztdEN

08/11/2025

“Sue faced her cancer treatment the way she lived her life – with strength and fortitude. But eventually, her body couldn’t take any more. When she told me she wanted to die at home, I promised we’d do our darndest to make it happen.

“Looking after Sue was an absolute privilege. But nothing prepares you for the physical and emotional strain, especially through the night. Without the St Clare Hospice at Home night-sitting service, I’m not sure how we would have managed.”

No one should face the night alone. Your gift can bring peace, rest and expert care to families like Doug and Sue 🧡

Help us raise £75,000 by Christmas to keep this vital service running all through 2026. Donate now: https://bit.ly/3WztdEN

Address

Hastingwood Road
Hastingwood
CM179JX

Telephone

+441279773700

Website

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About St Clare Hospice

St Clare Hospice is a charity providing specialist palliative care to improve the lives of people living with a terminal or life-limiting illness in West Essex and East Hertfordshire, including Bishop’s Stortford and Sawbridgeworth.

Our approach to care gives patients, their families and carers, the confidence to cope so that, together, they can enjoy the best possible quality of life, whether at home or in the Hospice.

With limited NHS funding, we need to raise around 60% of our costs each year to provide our vital services; this year our costs were £4.8m and we forecast this will rise to over £5m next year.

We therefore rely on our local community to help us raise money each year so we can continue being there for local families facing one of the most difficult journeys in life.