Latest news with #DorothyHouse
BBC News
27-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Cricket club in Bath celebrates 200 years by raising £200k
A cricket club that boasts star players including William Gilbert Grace (known as WG) and Sir Vivian Richards is celebrating its 200th commemorate the occasion, members of Lansdown Cricket Club in Bath are trying to raise £200,000 for local charities with an epic bike riders will complete an 850km (528-mile) cycle to every test cricket ground in England – within just four set off from Durham on 26 May and will finish at their club house in Combe Park, Bath, on the evening of 30 May. One of the cyclists, Jonathan Green, said preparing for the ride has been "all about making sure we're used to spending hours in the saddle".Their longest day is going to be around 210km (130.4 miles), he said, which will take up to 12 hours."So, it's about building up resistance and making sure we have that endurance in our heart and lungs," he added. A support team of six is helping the riders with stays, nutrition and rest club hopes to raise £200,000 by the end of the year, with Dorothy House Hospice Care a key Maggs, who is cycling with the group, said Dorothy's House was very close to his heart after the team there cared for his wife Jess."Unfortunately my wife passed away from melanoma in November and was supported massively by Dorothy's House, and me and my family continue to be supported by them," he team is also fundraising for Royal United Hospitals Bath and will provide funds to support cricket in state schools in the Longstaff, chairman of Lansdown Cricket Club, said there was a lack of provision of cricket in state schools and it was important to change that."The game is a really valuable sport for bringing teams together and offering children a bit of self-confidence," he said. Speaking about the club's history, Mr Longstaff said there have been tales of rivalry and riots on the pitch ever since it was founded in who is one of the sport's most renowned players, "played here for well over a decade", he historic highlights include the grounds becoming a war hospital covered in tents, then post-war becoming a safe space for the community to enjoy and "regain a bit of morale".He said the 50s, 60s and 70s were the "glory years", with Sir Viv playing his first overseas stint at the club in 1973 while qualifying for 1952, the club hosted the first match played by a Pakistani side in England. The team of Pakistan Eaglets included seven future Pakistan test cricketers including the great Hanif Mohammad.
Yahoo
01-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
'Rising costs mean difficult decisions'
Hospice charities have warned "difficult decisions" could be on the horizon unless changes are made to "restrictive" government funding. On Wednesday, the government announced the release of £25 million for hospices across England, but this is reserved for facility upgrades and refurbishments only. Dorothy House Hospice Care, covering Bath and North East Somerset, is set to receive £298,000 of this funding and must spend it by the end of March. Facing a "significant rise" in demand and costs, hospices across the country have been rallying for a more sustainable, long-term funding solution for the sector. Stephen Kinnock, the minister for care, said the money would help "transform hospice facilities" across England. "Hospices provide invaluable care and support when people need it most and this funding boost will ensure they are able to continue delivering exceptional care in better, modernised facilities," he said. However, the cash is reserved for purchasing new medical equipment, improving gardens, refurbishing buildings, upgrading technology and modernising facilities. Penny Agent, chief operating officer for Dorothy House, said unless it received support with staffing costs, it would have no choice but to cut back on services. "We are really appreciative of this recent funding, however it is ringfenced, and we can only really use it on estate or capital use," Ms Agent said. "It's all well and good having a very pretty estate, but if you can't actually pay the staff who provide the care to our patients, it all crumbles." It currently costs Dorothy House £19 million per year to provide its services. Just 20% of this funding comes from government, with donations providing the rest. "The funding we receive has not kept pace with the increase in costs," Ms Agent explained. "Unless we get additional and appropriate funding, we're going to have to make some really difficult decisions around how we deliver our services." Susan Hamilton, CEO of St Peter's Hospice based in Bristol, said the charity supported around 3,000 patients per year, but that number was rapidly rising. "We welcome these ongoing discussions that the sector is having with government to achieve that sustainable solution," she said. "But this is only money for this year, the question is, what happens after that?" Follow BBC Somerset on Facebook and X. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. Zipline to run through city's iconic crescent Hospice must find £400k to cover rise in NI costs Hospices in England to receive £100m funding boost Dorothy House St Peter's Hospice
BBC News
12-02-2025
- Health
- BBC News
PM says he 'recognises pressure' as hospice faces £400k NI bill
The prime minister has said he "recognises pressure" on hospices as one facility in Wiltshire revealed it must find an extra £400,000 to cover its National Insurance (NI) contributions. From April, employers will have to pay NI at 15% on salaries above £5,000, instead of 13.8% on salaries above £9,100 House Hospice Care looks after people across Somerset and Wiltshire at the end of their lives. It says it will need to scale back its work if the government does not provide more Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the government has invested £100m into hospices and £26m more into those which care for children and young people. This funding was announced in December and is intended for spending on infrastructure. Speaking at prime minister's questions earlier, Frome and East Somerset MP Anna Sabine asked Sir Keir to meet with representatives from the agreed to arrange a meeting between her and Wes Streeting, the health and social care Sabine told MPs about the struggles Dorothy House, which has its main base in Winsley, near Bradford-on-Avon, is costs £19m a year to run the hospice, with 80% of its money coming from fundraising. Its financial director Tony De Jaeger told the BBC: "Hospices throughout the UK are facing financial crisis with the cost of living increases and then most recently the announcement of the National Insurance increase for employers which is going to hit Dorothy House to the tune of £400,000."He said the hospice is now facing "very difficult decisions" about how to prioritise "desperately needed" hospice is turning 50 next year and is facing a financial De Jaeger warned without more support, the quality and quantity of care will be impacted. "Hospices play a really valuable role in provision of care which the NHS is not able to do as much of as it would like. "Sustainable funding would provide people with the dignity and quality of care they deserve," Mr De Jaeger added.
