Impact Report 2024/25: We Care Because You Do

Willen Hospice is Milton Keynes' only independent hospice, providing free specialist palliative care entirely funded by community generosity — with just 12.7% of costs met by the NHS. Their 2024/25 impact report covers their 'Care at home? Who cares?' campaign (10,000 signatures, MP support), the Willen at Home service saving the NHS £3m+ annually, 88% of patients cared for at home, and a new three-year strategy to secure financial sustainability in one of England's fastest-growing cities.

Report snapshot
88% of patients cared for in their own home; Willen at Home estimated to save the NHS at least £3 million annually by preventing avoidable hospital admissions Key Metric 1
Only 12.7% of running costs met by NHS funding — less than half the national hospice average; Willen at Home receives no recurrent NHS funding despite community palliative care being funded in neighbouring counties Key Metric 2
Local businesses donated £350,000+ in unrestricted funding and provided 9,700 hours of volunteer time; nearly 10,000 people signed 'Care at home? Who cares?' campaign for fair NHS funding Key Metric 3
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📋About

Willen at Home (only specialist community palliative care in Milton Keynes; 365 days a year, often visiting within an hour); Inpatient Unit; Therapeutic and Wellbeing service; Lymphoedema service; Education programme; carer support groups; bereavement support; charity shops and retail; fundraising events; volunteer programme Custom geography from upload: Milton Keynes

📊Key Metrics

88% of patients cared for in their own home; Willen at Home estimated to save the NHS at least £3 million annually by preventing avoidable hospital admissions Key Metric 1
Only 12.7% of running costs met by NHS funding — less than half the national hospice average; Willen at Home receives no recurrent NHS funding despite community palliative care being funded in neighbouring counties Key Metric 2
Local businesses donated £350,000+ in unrestricted funding and provided 9,700 hours of volunteer time; nearly 10,000 people signed 'Care at home? Who cares?' campaign for fair NHS funding Key Metric 3

Key Outcomes

  • 60% of patients receiving same-day Willen at Home care would likely be hospitalised without the service — costing the NHS £3m+ annually; 88% of all patients cared for in their own home, reflecting strong community-first care model
  • Three all-party Milton Keynes MPs publicly backing Willen Hospice funding campaign — applying political pressure on the BLMK ICB to deliver a fairer, recurrent NHS funding settlement
  • New three-year strategy 'Ready for Tomorrow Today' launched — focused on financial sustainability, high-quality care for underrepresented groups, and workforce development; Board strengthened with expertise in AI, digital transformation, finance and people services

📍Geography

Other

2025

Annual Report 2024/25

£20.8m raised in 2024/25 (up from £17.4m in 2023/24)
Key Metric 1
£9.6m raised from 176 legacy gifts; £14m committed to new Total Body PET-CT scanner
Key Metric 2
49,000 active supporters; 3,857 running participants (doubled in 3 years); 83p in every £1 goes directly to patients
Key Metric 3
MyChristie-MyHealth ePROMs system reduces clinician time on routine reviews by up to 23% and enables earlier symptom detection
2026

Impact Report Year Ending April 2026

2,829 children, parents, siblings and grandparents supported; 506 families with a child in treatment
Key Metric 1
220 bereaved families supported; 424 individuals on 93 boat trips; 692 individuals in 165 cabin breaks
Key Metric 2
£71,935 unlocked in essential support; 1,320 social work hours; 188 creative therapy sessions and 271 counselling sessions delivered
Key Metric 3
Families show average 0.7 point improvement across five Mo's Outcomes after support begins; biggest gains in social participation and accessing emotional support