Protecting the future of hospice care in Sheffield
As we mark our 55th year, we’re choosing to speak more openly and confidently about the importance of hospice care - what it really is, why it matters, and the difference it makes to families every single day.
ST LUKE'S AT 55 - quick links
For 55 years, St Luke’s has been part of Sheffield’s story. We’ve supported thousands of people through some of the most difficult moments of their lives, offering expert care that brings comfort, dignity and choice when it matters most.
This anniversary isn’t about looking back. It’s about making sure this care is still here for the next generation.
This year is our chance to reset how we talk about our work, to build understanding, and to show Sheffield the impact hospice care has on the whole health system.
Because while death is certain, good care isn’t.
even today, 1 in 3 people who need end of life care still don't receive it.* That's something we're determined to change.
*Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee, January 2026
Why this year matters
Our 50th year fell during the pandemic. We couldn’t celebrate, couldn’t gather, couldn’t share our story in the way we hoped. Five years on, the pressures facing hospice care have only grown.
Across the country, hospices are struggling. Some are reducing services. Others are closing beds. The NHS is under the same strain, and families are feeling the impact long before they reach us.
Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, St Luke’s has not had to reduce its clinical services or the number of people we support – something which we are incredibly proud of. We’re still here, still providing the same level of expert care, because Sheffield has always stood with us.
However we are far from immune to the severe financial pressures affecting the sector. Without long-term, fair funding, hospice care remains at risk.
We will continue to stand with the wider hospice sector in calling for fairer funding - because hospice care is not a luxury. It is essential, and everyone who needs it should be able to access it.
Our funding
Only a small part of our funding comes from the NHS. To keep our nurses on the road, our helpline open through the night, and our support available when people need it most, we must raise over £11 million every year. That’s over £200,000 every week - and every week, it’s donations that make the difference. Your support doesn’t just fund care.
Your support prevents crisis
Your support protects the NHS
Your support gives families comfort, dignity and choice.
what your support makes possible
This year marks a shift for St Luke’s - a moment to be clearer and braver about the reality of end of life care and the difference it makes. We’re using our 55th year to strengthen the services people rely on today, while building the care Sheffield will need tomorrow. Everything we’re doing is about reaching people earlier, supporting families more fully, and making sure expert hospice care remains a stable part of our city’s future - because although death is certain, the quality of care should never be left to chance.
Thanks to recent grant funding, we’ve kicked off our 55th year by opening our 24/7 support helpline, begun to develop e‑prescribing to speed up medication for patients at home and on the ward, upgrading our In Patient Centre with air‑conditioning and moving to an electric vehicle fleet. These improvements make a real difference to comfort, safety and wellbeing .
We’ve also launched a new website designed for anyone unsure where to turn - clear language, warm images and simple routes into support.
As part of our 55th year, we’ve opened a new charity shop in Darnall with an information hub inside. A place where people can ask questions, find support and understand our services long before they think they need the support of a hospice . We hope to open more hubs like this to help us reach people earlier and more confidently.
Our founder, Eric Wilkes, believed hospices should be “dynamic and outward looking centres of skill.” To mark our 55th year, we’re bringing all our education and research together under the banner of ‘The St Luke’s Wilkes Institute’ - strengthening our role as a place that trains, teaches, and shares best practice across the region and beyond.
Our new 24/7 helpline and expanding social prescribing that offers early access support means that we are reaching more people than ever, much closer to their point of diagnosis. These services prevent unnecessary hospital admissions, give families confidence and ensure people feel supported and connected throughout their journey.
Every one of these changes is powered by people who choose to support us. And every one lays the foundation for the next 55 years.
How you can support St Luke’s future
There are many ways to support St Luke's and be part of this anniversary year
Help us keep caring – ways to SUPPORT US
Host a Coffee Morning
A simple way to raise funds and bring people together.
Enter our Birthday Raffle
Every ticket helps fund patient care.
Visit our new Darnall shop
And see our first community information hub.
Take part in an event
Join one of our upcoming events to raise vital funds.
Leave a gift in your Will
And help future generations receive the care they deserve.
Support a St Luke's Nurse
By setting up a monthly donation.
Contact St Luke’s
Need help with fundraising? Contact our Fundraising Team today.
Email: fundraisingevents@hospicesheffield.co.uk
Call: 0114 2357 495
Everyone deserves a good death. Your support helps make that possible.
For 55 years, St Luke’s has been the difference between crisis and calm, fear and reassurance, pain and comfort. With your help, we can make sure that continues - for everyone in Sheffield.