5 Ways Companies Can Support Their Local Hospice (and Why It’s a Great Idea)

There are many types of charities, and as well as providing the local community with much needed support, each one also offers companies benefits that are difficult to find elsewhere. 

A hospice charity, for example, provides more than a healthcare service; it offers a steady hand for the whole community, supporting people of all ages, including children and families, through illness, loss and the long road of caring. When a business stands alongside its local hospice, it sends a powerful message about what the company values: compassion, responsibility and belonging. That support keeps specialist services free for those who need them, right where they live.

There are good business reasons, too. Purpose‑driven involvement boosts morale and helps people feel proud of where they work. Customers notice when support is authentic and visible, especially when it is local, and they tend to remember the brands that consistently show up. In other words, the answer to why companies support charities is both simple and human: because it’s the right thing to do, and because it helps people, teams, and brands thrive together.

1) Build a values‑led charity partnership

A partnership turns ad‑hoc giving into a steady relationship. Begin by mapping where your business values intersect with hospice care,  areas like dignity, family, teamwork, and excellence,  and set a shared goal for the year. That might be sponsoring a specialist nurse shift each month, funding bereavement support for young people, or underwriting a piece of equipment that makes daily care more comfortable.

Make it visible. Add the partnership to onboarding packs, talk about it at town halls, and create simple ways for every team to take part: lunch‑and‑learns, matched‑giving windows, or a “round‑up for the hospice” option on online checkouts. A clear plan helps leaders answer how companies can support charities with confidence and consistency.

Getting started: Explore our Business Partnerships page to see what’s possible and who to contact for a quick chat.

2) Offer staff volunteer days

Time is often the most valuable gift. Volunteering days allow employees to step out of their usual routine and meet the people behind the hospice: nurses, counsellors, kitchen teams, gardeners, receptionists and retail staff. Roles range from event marshalling and warehouse sorting to garden refresh days and seasonal decorating. For customer-facing teams, it’s a brilliant ice‑breaker; for remote teams, it’s a rare chance to connect in person.

To make it meaningful, brief volunteers on the hospice’s mission and the impact of their day before they arrive. Rotate opportunities so different departments can join across the year, and ask a few colleagues to capture photos and reflections for your own socials or website. Those stories are often what colleagues remember most.

4) Run internal fundraising that unites your team

Fundraising isn’t only about totals but about the stories people tell afterwards. Choose activities that suit your culture: a company‑wide step challenge, a bake‑off league, a pay‑it‑forward coffee cart, or a friendly competition between offices. Match employee donations during a launch month or around World Hospice & Palliative Care Day to build momentum.

Make participation easy. Provide a simple toolkit (posters, email copy, QR codes, a JustGiving link), set a clear target and keep everyone updated with small wins. The most successful campaigns feel inclusive, celebratory and lightly structured with enough guidance to get going and room for teams to make it their own.

5) Share hospice stories on your platforms

Stories turn support into understanding. With permission and sensitivity, amplify hospice updates across your comms: a volunteer’s day in the garden, a nurse’s perspective on children’s care, or a family’s reflection on how respite care helped them breathe. Short videos, behind‑the‑scenes photos and quote graphics travel well on social media and give your audience a genuine sense of the work their community is funding.

Be thoughtful. Keep language compassionate and avoid clinical detail. Always link back to the hospice website so people who need support can find it quickly, and those who can give can do so in a click.

Final word – start close to home

There’s a poem by the venerable Davide Whyte titled “Start Close In” that reads, “Start close in, don’t take the second step or the third, start with the first thing close in”. For those wondering how businesses can support charities in a way that really matters, the answer is to start locally and act consistently. 

Pick one pathway, try it for a quarter, and listen to what your team and the hospice tell you. With each step, you’ll deepen community ties, strengthen your culture and help ensure compassionate care is there for every family who needs it.

If you’re ready to talk possibilities, the Hospice in the Weald Business Partnerships team would love to hear from you!