St Elizabeth Hospice chosen as Ashtons’ Ipswich Charity of the Year.

Ashtons Charitable Trust, the charitable trust set up by law firm Ashtons Legal in 2014, has recently chosen St Elizabeth Hospice to be the Ipswich office’s charity of the year.

The money will be raised throughout the year and supported by corporate and charity fundraising events via internal activities such as raffles and social events, as well as through the Ashtons Legal Wills Campaign, where the firm donates £10 for every new Will created throughout the year. These charities and causes are supported by staff nominating and voting for their Charities of the Year, who then go on to receive an annual donation.

St Elizabeth Hospice is an independent charity that was founded in the 1980’s and began treating individuals in 1989. Every year, they deliver care in East Suffolk, Great Yarmouth and Waveney to over 4,000 patients and their families that are living with a progressive or life-limiting illness. They assist people in many ways, offering expert care and support that is centred around the individual’s needs.

St Elizabeth Hospice has a specialised intensive support inpatient unit where their nurses can relieve pain and other distressing symptoms – there are also beds for family members or carers to stay if needed. The charity has Community Health Care Assistants, Community Clinical Nurse Specialists, and volunteer homesitters who all support patients close to or in their homes. They also provide a Community Care Unit as well as hosting a “helping you care day” which provides a range of emotional and physical support for patients including therapy and support groups.

Chair of Ashtons’ CSR Committee, Natalie Westgate says: “It is always a pleasure to support such worthwhile causes in our local communities and I thank all our staff for their support and fundraising efforts.”

“Looking ahead, we really want to form meaningful and lasting relationships with our Charities of the Year, so we have decided to increase the term we support them to two years. I am therefore delighted to announce that in 2024 and 2025 we will be working with Children’s Heart Surgery Fund, FoodCycle Cambridge, St Elizabeth Hospice, Young Lives vs Cancer and YMCA Norfolk.”