When we learned about Ashgate Hospicecare’s appeal for help to create nine private bedrooms from existing three-bedded bays, we didn’t hesitate to get involved by offering our services completely free of charge.
Based in Chesterfield, Ashgate Hospicecare is a charity which provides end of life and respite care to people with life-limiting illnesses who live in North Derbyshire.
Redeveloping the three bedded bays, which were built when the hospice first opened 30 years ago, into nine individual, beautiful, modern and private bedrooms, means that Ashgate Hospicecare can now care for more people, cut waiting lists and allow patients and families much-needed privacy.
Ahead of construction on the £1 million project beginning in April 2019, there was months of preparation to ensure the beds could be freed to enable the work to be undertaken. This in itself was a supremely difficult challenge given that there is a waiting list already for places at the hospice.
The £1 million project was made possible and affordable for Ashgate Hospicecare by a number of suppliers, like DBCP, giving their services and materials either free of charge or choosing to forgo any profits.
Contractor G F Tomlinson, chose to forgo profit on the build, while patrons of, CRASH, a practical charity that assists homelessness and hospice charities with construction related projects, donated materials like tiles and paint. Close UK gave the services of its quantity surveyor free of charge, while DBCP waived all fees.
Through the combined goodwill of the businesses, Ashgate Hospicecare saved around £280,000 in costs.
Ali Ward-Foster, Partnerships Manager at Ashgate Hospicecare said: “We are so grateful to the businesses like Derbyshire Building Control Partnership who supported the transformation of the three old bays at the hospice into nine individual bedrooms. Without local businesses foregoing profits, donating their time and expertise we would not have been able to afford to create the bedrooms to such a high standard.”
DBCP worked closely G F Tomlinson, a Derby-based family run business, on the project which was undertaken within the confines of a fully operational hospice and in close proximity to patients and their loved ones.
Given the onsite limitations and special circumstances under which building works would be taking place, ahead of the start of construction DBCP met with G F Tomlinson’s site manager Pete Widdowson on site to explain our involvement and inspection requirements.
John Taylor, DBCP’s Building Control Surveyor who was responsible for the Ashgate Hospicecare project said: “Meeting with G F Tomlinson ahead of the start of the project enabled me to fully understand the needs of the hospice and how we needed to work with the contractor to undertake the work and make sure it went as smoothly as possible and the project was delivered on time. ”
Throughout the project communications between Peter Widdowson and our own John Taylor were excellent. John explained: “Everyone involved with the project worked as a team and we all had the sense of pride in our jobs. Information from the architect was provided well in advance. Everyone understood why the work was being undertaken and the importance of it.”
The redevelopment of the bed bays has created modern, private and comfortable spaces for patients. The glazed areas in the new bedrooms allow plenty of natural light into the room and doors will open directly onto the garden area, so patients can easily get outside to the fresh air and enjoy peaceful surroundings.
Ali added: “I am thrilled to say that we have been able to provide patients with the privacy they deserve and the space to spend precious time together with those they love.”
Funding and donations have never been more important than now for Ashgate Hospicecare. As the Covid-19 lockdown continues, Ashgate Hospicecare is unable to fundraise through events and its network of shops. The independent charity must raise £8 million annually to fund its services. In response to the lockdown, Ashgate Hospicecare has launched an urgent funding appeal. To donate, please visit www.ashgatehospicecare.org.uk/donation