Lindsey Lodge Hospice has received £5,000 to help fund a therapeutic gardening academy for people affected by life-limiting illness in North Lincolnshire.
The donation was provided by the Santander Foundation, which offers Discovery Grants to UK registered charities for projects that help disadvantaged people in local communities.
Lindsey Lodge Hospice is run as an independent charity which provides specialist palliative care to people with any progressive life-limiting illness and supports their family and carers during illness and into bereavement.
The grant will help the charity to buy polythene green houses and raised vegetable beds. Lindsey Lodge Hospice’s plan is to use gardening and horticulture to promote wellbeing and quality of life for patients, their carers and families, as well as staff and volunteers at the Hospice.
Kate Conway, Director of Business Development at Lindsey Lodge Hospice, said: “It can be very isolating for families affected by a life-limiting illness; their time and emotions are taken up with dealing with the diagnosis, attending appointments and managing symptoms. People can often think that their gardening days are over and may not even get to go outside and enjoy nature again.
“This project aims to provide people with practical outdoor activities and skills development to increase their wellbeing, as well as provide companionship and support for those who are facing difficult times and feeling isolated or alone during illness or bereavement.”
Robert Brunton, Branch Director at Santander’s Scunthorpe branch said: “The Santander Foundation makes hundreds of donations to local projects every year with the aim of assisting organisations, communities and vulnerable people throughout the UK. The staff at our branch know the great work Lindsey Lodge Hospice does in our community and we hope this grant will help them in their support for local people.”