ellenor Hospice Reveals Exciting Extension Plans
ellenor has today unveiled exciting plans for a new, modern Wellbeing Centre. This project will expand ellenor’s existing hospice building – located in Northfleet, Kent – with a range of improved facilities for patients, families, staff and volunteers.
Once built, the Wellbeing Centre will offer improved outpatient facilities, with extended space for play therapy and counselling, multi-purpose rooms for a whole range of activities and quiet spaces for patients and their families. In addition, the new space will serve as a facility for training and education on palliative and end-of-life care for health and social care professionals.
The new Wellbeing Centre will enable ellenor to continue and enhance the support for people with life-limiting conditions, such as Cancer, Heart Failure, Dementia, Muscular Dystrophy, Parkinson’s and Motor Neurone Disease (MND) to live the best they can with the time they have left.
Andy Lowden, ellenor’s Operational Lead for Wellbeing, commented on what the impact of the new Wellbeing Centre will mean to adults, children, and babies who ellenor support.
“The new multi-purpose spaces will allow us to expand and grow the large variety of our already popular groups such as seated exercise, music and gardening, whilst introducing new activities for our patients, their families and the wider community.
The refurbishment of the therapy rooms along with additional counselling rooms will ensure patients and families are able to receive the treatment and support they need, which is vital to being able to get the most out of these sessions.”
These plans have been made possible by the generosity of Kent and Bexley communities, and beyond. ellenor has received private donations, personal gifts, and grants from charitable Trusts and Foundations including Colyer Ferguson & The Paul Rooney Foundation to contribute to the building of the new Wellbeing Centre.
Following her retirement as ellenor’s CEO, Vikki Harding will continue as the Capital Build Project Director. This will provide crucial consistency during the construction of the Wellbeing Centre utilising her skills and experience of ellenor, the community, and healthcare.
“As we lay the bricks of our new building,” Vikki commented, “we are also laying the foundation for the future. As people are living longer and with more complex diseases and conditions, we want to invest in leaving a lasting legacy for our community, ensuring end-of-life and palliative care services meet the growing need.
“For this, we are immensely grateful to everyone who has supported us to date. We continue to rely on the involvement of our incredible supporters, ambassadors, and patrons to raise not only funds but all-important awareness of our services.”
Construction and breaking ground are planned to begin in October 2022, with some staff and support functions relocating off-site. Outpatient services for patients and families will continue from an external venue, while ellenor’s inpatient ward will remain operational on-site throughout the build.
