Changing the way we trade to protect the future of our Hospice

Like many hospices across the UK, we’ve faced increasing challenges in generating the level of profit needed from our 11 stores to support our growing clinical services. The long-term effects of COVID-19 and the ongoing cost of living crisis have had a significant impact on retail, with fewer customers, lower spending, and reduced donations.

For years, our Trading Company has operated with minimal investment, focusing on passing as much profit as possible to the Hospice. While well-intentioned, this model has become unsustainable. Shop standards declined, maintenance was delayed, and many of our stores no longer reflected the quality of our brand and care we’re known for.

It became clear that change was needed.

We took a step back and asked important questions:

Can we - and should we - develop our Trading Company beyond traditional retail? Could we explore new business opportunities that align with our values while delivering greater financial returns to the Hospice?

The answer was yes.

We have since developed a bold and aspirational three-year strategy for our Trading Company - one that looks beyond pure retail and opens the door to future innovation and income generation. We have also given a much overdue transformation to four of our flagship stores, enhancing the shopping experience, boosting footfall, and creating a safer, more welcoming environment for our staff, volunteers, and customers.

As part of this transformation, we are formally separating our Trading Company from Garden House Hospice Care, allowing it to operate as a standalone business. This change gives the Trading Company greater freedom and flexibility to explore new ventures while maintaining our core mission: to support Garden House Hospice Care through sustainable financial contributions that fund the outstanding care we deliver.

Our ethos and purpose within Trading remain unchanged: every pound of profit still supports our patients and their families.

We are confident this is the right step forward.

Thank you for standing with us. Your support helps ensure we can continue to deliver exceptional care to those who need it most, for generations to come.