A charity which cares for people with life-limiting illnesses will continue its vital work over the holidays thanks to a donation the Foundation has awarded.

A £10,000 donation was given to The Shakespeare Hospice in Stratford-upon-Avon to help its Hospice at Home team make around 100 visits to patients this Christmas.

A team of registered nurses and healthcare assistants provide personal care, support and advice and carried out 2,534 visits in 2016/17.

The 24/7 service is vital in responding to people’s needs, reducing anxiety and avoiding unnecessary emergency admissions – enabling patients to be at home with their families.

The Shakespeare Hospice, which supports more than 1,000 patients with its palliative care, has a fundraising target of £50,000 to allow the home service to carry on this Christmas.

Angie Arnold, Chief Executive of The Shakespeare Hospice, said: “It is hugely important to keep families together at home during the Christmas period and that’s why our Hospice at Home team is so important.

“Our day hospice runs over five days per week and the 24/7 Hospice at Home Service is crucial in providing support to patients who are in their last few weeks or days of life, and enables those who wish to die at home to do so in the comfort and with dignity.”

“The demand for the services has increased by 35 per cent from the previous year and we’re very grateful for the grant from the Heart of England Community Foundation to help support the service this festive season.”

Foundation Chief Executive, Tina Costello said: “The Hospice at Home Service, provided by the team at The Shakespeare Hospice, is invaluable to these patients and helps their families at what can be a very vulnerable time.

“We’re very happy that this donation has helped the Hospice to continue offering this service and provide their exceptional standard of palliative care in to patients in their own homes.”