The Hospice of St Francis

19/06/2026

19/06/2026

We wanted to say a huge final thank you to the nearly 2,000 people who supported us at our bubbliest event last Sunday, raising over £50,000! This amount could fund specialist nursing care for all patients on our Inpatient Unit for 18 days!

We’re so grateful for the incredible support of our community, who help us to raise over £6 million each year to keep our vital services running. Thank you also to the volunteers who helped on the day and to our event sponsor, British Gas

Extra shoutout to fabulous volunteer photographer Ian Phipps, who captured so many magical moments on the day - thank you!

18/06/2026

A huge THANK YOU to the customers at Waitrose Berkhamsted, Chesham, and Leighton Buzzard for supporting the Hospice of St Francis through the Green Token Scheme.

Thanks to your votes, an incredible £3,500 in total has been donated from these three shops to help fund our free care for local people and their families when they need it most.

It was a pleasure to receive the cheque from the Berkhamsted store today, presented by Waitrose team member and long-term Hospice volunteer, Kevin. We are so grateful for the continued support from Waitrose and its customers across all three stores.

Thank you for helping us make a difference in our community. ❤️

17/06/2026

For Alan, who looks after the Hospice's hives, beekeeping is more than a hobby – it is a passion rooted in nature, science and community. What began as a Christmas beekeeping course from his wife 23 years ago has grown into a commitment to protecting pollinators, producing award-winning honey and sharing knowledge.

Today, Alan cares for hives locally and in France, bringing decades of expertise to every colony he tends. Since 2022, Alan has established eight hives at the Hospice, with plans to expand as demand for our artisan honey grows. The honey produced here raises valuable funds for hospice care and sparks conversations about sustainability, education and the role bees play in our environment. As Alan notes, “You don’t keep bees, we’re just guardians creating the best possible environments for them to thrive.” That ethos ties in beautifully with the Hospice’s values of care, compassion and community.

For Alan, who often speaks at local schools, beekeeping is also about education and our own interactions with local nature, “If we can get people to make one change in what they do,” he says, “the second change comes far more easily.”

At the Hospice, our bees do more than produce honey. They create opportunities for connection and conversation, while reflecting the Hospice’s commitment to caring for people and the wider community.

If you’d like to purchase our honey, you can pick up a jar at Shop for Good at number twenty or online at https://shop-for-good.org.uk/

16/06/2026

The weather’s lovely – won’t you join us for a walk? ☀️

With the sun shining, now is the perfect time to sign up for our Walk Your Ridgeway Challenge on Sunday 28th June. 👉stfrancis.org.uk/ridgeway

Gather your friends, neighbours and four-legged friends and get ready to trek through ancient woodlands and open countryside all to benefit your local Hospice. 😇

15/06/2026

Sharon wrote a really moving dedication on our Father’s Day dedication page.
👉stfrancis.org.uk/fathersday

She shared: “My third Father’s Day without Dad, and it still doesn’t get any easier. Dad was cared for at the Hospice in May 2023. The calm, peaceful environment and the love shown by every member of staff made an unbearably difficult time feel a little lighter."

"I will never be able to thank the Hospice enough for everything they’ve done for my family. For Father’s Day, I’m making a donation and dedication in Dad’s name. I want the Hospice to be there for other families when they need it most.”💜

To share a favourite photo, message or memory of your dad, grandad or father figure, visit our Father’s Day dedication page👉 stfrancis.org.uk/fathersday

13/06/2026

Good luck to all our Bubble Rushers taking on the bubbles this Sunday.

Missed online sign-up? Don’t worry, you can still join the fun! 🫧

Grab your crew, come along on Sunday from 10am and sign up at the new registration desk to be part of the colourful bubbly fun 🌈

📌Gadebridge Park, Hemel Hempstead
📅Sunday, 14th June 2026
⏰10am

We look forward to seeing you all.

Big thanks to our event sponsor British Gas!



Bubble Rush 5K

👉stfrancis.org.uk/bubblerush

12/06/2026

Dr Chadwick was in Manchester on Wednesday at the NHS Excellence Awards, representing the Hospice as Regional Champions in the 'Working in Partnership' category!

Although we narrowly missed out on the national award (we were in the top 6 from 430!), Sharon shares, "It was a huge honour for Maria, Adam and I to attend and an opportunity to meet other teams across the country."

"We're hugely proud of what we have been able to achieve, improving care for patients with pulmonary fibrosis, working in partnership across the Hospice, the Hospital and the community Respiratory team.

It is a testament to what can be achieved when you have people with the same objective of improving care for patients and who are willing to do things differently."

The Hospice was regional champion in collaboration with Central London Community Healthcare NHS Trust (CLCH) and West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. You can read more about it here - https://www.stfrancis.org.uk/award

11/06/2026

This week, the Hospice hosted an afternoon tea for carers, offering them a place to relax while enjoying cake and live jazz, away from their daily caring responsibilities.

Whether looking after an unwell partner, family member or loved one, carers can become socially isolated due to the nature of their duties. Events like these offer a welcome opportunity for connection and friendship.

Claire Hewitt, who supports carers at the Hospice, explained, “To me, it’s about giving carers a safe space to be in the moment. For them to be able to switch off from their responsibilities and be cared for and connect with others.”

With a mouth-watering spread served by volunteers from The Alford Arms, upbeat tunes played by Secondary Modern Jazz, and a variety of craft activities to engage in, carers were able to enjoy some time for themselves while connecting with others in similar situations.

As one carer shared after the event, “I met some great carers and made new friends and came out feeling more positive.”

Another commented, “I’ve had a bad time and arrived feeling low, but I’m leaving feeling much better.”

Thank you to our volunteers, the team from the The Alford Arms and Secondary Modern Jazz who helped to make the afternoon so special for carers.

10/06/2026

💜Remember Dad with a smile 💜

As we look ahead to Father’s Day, we’re offering a place where you can remember your dad, granddad or father figure on our dedicated Father’s Day webpage.

Share a favourite photo, message or treasured memory to honour their life and legacy.

Visit our dedication page here👉 stfrancis.org.uk/fathersday