A message from our Chief Executive, Chris Wheway

The last year saw us reach our 40th birthday at St Barnabas Hospice. This is a truly remarkable milestone and a wonderful legacy of all those who have supported the hospice throughout this time. From small beginnings, with the staggering support of the people of Lincolnshire, we have undoubtedly changed thousands of lives.

As an organisation who serves the wonderful Lincolnshire community, we have worked hard to maintain our services throughout difficult times, as a result of external factors affecting our world.

Over the last year, we have provided more services within our Wellbeing Centres, contributing to the re-emergence of our wonderful sense of community. This is largely thanks to our dedicated Volunteers who do so much for the hospice.

The year ahead will see us expand our impact, care for more people and change more lives with the excellent services we provide. We will continue to provide the highest quality care and support for our patients and their families, whilst aiming for excellence in all we do. I look forward to another year working with the wonderful St Barnabas community.

Download the report

Our care and support

Our clinical teams have worked tirelessly over the last year to ensure patients achieve their preferred place of care, while our Hospice Community Service Teams have maintained home visits to patients.

In November 2022, after a five-month renovation programme to meet new health and safety measures as well as a significant upgrade of the interior of the building for the benefit of patients, visitors and our staff, our Inpatient Unit in Lincoln re-opened for admissions.

Our team of physiotherapists and occupational therapists continue to work as part of our specialist multidisciplinary team, supporting people to live well.

The specialist dementia care service that was commissioned the previous year has been expanded upon, with two nurses currently delivering this vital care in patients’ own homes. In line with St Barnabas Hospice’s aim to provide holistic care for the whole family, these clinicians support not only dementia patients but also their loved ones.

Since the opening of our Wellbeing Centre in Boston, named Novak House, in June 2022, it has become a thriving community hub, with multiple support groups running on a weekly and monthly basis. These include Coffee Mornings, Bereavement Cafés, Creative Wellbeing Groups and support groups in collaboration with other charities such as the MND Association and breast cancer charity Breast Friends.

Donate today
Two women in dark blue nurses outfits chatting and smiling

Our Achievements

Throughout a challenging year, St Barnabas staff have been remarkably resilient and adaptive, and have been able to keep our excellent care and support operational and available.

The clinical teams have continued to work on the front line delivering round-the-clock, specialist care to people who are terminally ill. They have supported each other through difficult circumstances and still delivered the same outstanding care.

Our fantastic team of staff and volunteers providing counselling, emotional support and bereavement care continued to adapt to growing demand. They provided psychological and emotional care to 2,900 patients, families, and bereaved clients over 2,500 hours of face to face, Zoom and phone support.

The Welfare & Benefits team have taken 6,500 referrals into the service and contacted each and every one within four days of the first contact. These referrals are from patients and their families needing help to apply for benefits and grants to ease the financial burden of palliative illness. Their hard work and dedication realised benefits of £9,830,929.

After being voted as the 2nd best charity to work for in the UK last year, beating many national organisations to this lucrative position, we are currently placed as an ‘Outstanding’ organisation to work for, for the second year in a row.

Despite the cost-of-living crisis and increase in interest rates, 2022/23 resulted in a fantastic year for retail, with strong growth and a noticeable reduction in costs, resulting in record profits. St Barnabas Hospice’s flagship charity shop, The Warehouse in uphill Lincoln, celebrated its first year in business on 10th February, and what a year it’s been – over 120,000 items were sold, generating £410,000 in sales, which goes towards supporting hospice care.

Donate today
Young boy smiling while holding white Christmas bauble and photograph
Young boy and woman wearing sunglasses and orange top

Jonah's Story

A real superstar, Jonah from Market Rasen raised an incredible £333 for St Barnabas by making Christmas baubles in memory of his aunt Natalie Watson, or as Jonah calls her, Auntie NatNat.

Jonah says: “I started making baubles about a month ago with her name on and family and friends bought them, they are very excited to have them in their Christmas trees. Auntie NatNat loved Christmas and so do I, we have four trees in our house and baubles with her name on!

“I always had fun with her, we used to dance together and she always smiled. I’m very proud and happy that people like the baubles and that I can help St Barnabas by giving this money. I wanted to raise £100 but I got £333, and now I want to raise even more by doing other things!”

Jonah also wrote a special letter thanking St Barnabas doctors and nurses for looking after Natalie, who sadly died of brain cancer on 9th July of this year at the age of 34.

The letter has been given to nurse Emma Rogers, one of the clinical staff that cared for Natalie. She was delighted and honoured to be able to share the letter with her whole team.

Read more of Jonah's story

More touching stories

“To mark four decades of dignified, compassionate care, we've shared the storied of some of the incredible people who have helped make it possible, with ’40 Faces of hospice care’.”
40 faces of hospice care's story
“Louise Southgate laced up her trainers recently and ran the St Neot’s Half Marathon in support of the Hospice, whose team of nurses gave vital end of life care to her mother Pam Burton.”
Louise Southgate's story
“24-year-old Laura from Lincoln is a famous name in care homes and day centres around Lincolnshire, as she regularly brings smiles to patients’ faces by performing her classic rock repertoire. This year, we were honoured to welcome Laura as she performed for our Patients. ”
Laura Chester's story
“Earlier on this year, heaven gained a beautiful angel – my mum and Oscars grandma – Samantha Gibbins. Throughout her fight, she was surrounded by the most amazing people who supported and fought with her. ”
Sam Gibbins's story
““St Barnabas made the most awful eleven days of my life, that bit less awful.” Michelle McKinnon recently experienced first-hand the high quality, compassionate care St Barnabas provides at its Inpatient Unit in Lincoln.”
Michelle McKinnon 's story
“Eight-year-old Ruby recently braved a haircut of her beautiful long hair to raise money for St Barnabas Hospice to thank the nurses for looking after her grandfather Ray during the last weeks of his life.”
Ruby Reynolds's story

At our core

1

Vision

Our Vision is a world where dying with dignity, compassion and having choices is a fundamental part of a life.

Support our Vision
2

Mission

Our Mission is to ensure all individuals facing the end of their life in Lincolnshire receive dignified, compassionate care when they require it and where they ask for it.

Our care services
3

Values

Aiming High Being Courageous Doing it Right Having Heart Working Better Together

Share these values? Join us!
Top