Sue Ryder Palliative Care Hub in South Oxfordshire has received £1,500 from Cala Homes as part of the housebuilder’s Community Bursary initiative.

The hub near Wallingford provides expert end-of-life care and support to local people living with life-limiting conditions such as cancer, heart failure and lung disease, and neurological conditions including Motor Neurone Disease, as well as supporting their families.

Its team of Sue Ryder Nurses, doctors, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, family support and befrienders provide a Hospice at Home service, Day Service and Care Coordination and Advice Line.

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Care is completely free to patients and can be used by anyone aged 18 and over in the South Oxfordshire area who is living with a terminal diagnosis.

Cala, which is building Wolvercote Mill in Oxford, invited entries for the Community Bursary scheme last year, providing organisations, charities and community groups in the area with the opportunity to apply for a share of £10,000 to help fund local projects.

Sue Ryder Palliative Care Hub was chosen as one of the recipients, with money going towards the care it provides to patients across South Oxfordshire. The charity only receives approximately one third (37%) of the cost of its palliative care from the government. The remaining costs are funded by the generosity of its supporters who ensure that the charity can be there when it matters.

Across the UK, Cala’s Community Bursary initiative awarded over £100,000 in 2021 to good causes, bringing the total donated to more than £400,000 since the initiative was launched in 2016.

Gemma Wise, community fundraising manager at Sue Ryder Palliative Care Hub South Oxfordshire, said: “We’re incredibly grateful to Cala for choosing us as one of the beneficiaries of this generous bursary, which will support the compassionate end-of-life care, advice and support we are so well-known for in the local community.

"We’re reliant on supporters donating and fundraising for us, and every pound will ensure we can continue to be there when it matters for people going though the most difficult time of their lives.”

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Stala Thomson, sales and marketing director at CALA Homes (Chiltern) said: “We are delighted to be supporting the work of Sue Ryder Palliative Care Hub South Oxfordshire, which has a huge impact on patients living with a terminal diagnosis. At Cala, we are committed to making a lasting contribution to the communities in which we build, and the Community Bursary is a way of supporting those projects that matter most to local people.”

For more information visit sueryder.org/southox.