Saint Francis Hospice secures £38,550 grant from Freemason’s Charity to tackle financial hardship

Saint Francis Hospice has been awarded £38,550 from the Freemason’s Charity, via Hospice UK, to pilot a part-time specialist Welfare Rights Advisor within its Family and Individual Support Services (FISS) team.

The 12-month pilot will provide dedicated support to people living with an illness that cannot be cured, and their carers who are experiencing financial stress. The new role will help individuals access benefits, apply for grants and receive practical advice at a time when many face sudden and significant financial challenges.

“Saint Francis Hospice is grateful to the Freemason’s Charity and Hospice UK for recognising the increasing financial pressures facing people and carers, and for supporting the development of more holistic, person-centred care,” said Shahina Haque, Family and Individual Support Services Manager at the hospice.

“We see every day how the strain of financial worry can sit alongside the emotional impact of illnesses that cannot be cured. Individuals and loved ones often face impossible choices at a time when they should be focusing on being together. This funding allows us to offer specialist advice earlier, helping people access the support they are entitled to and easing some of that burden.

“By embedding a Welfare Rights Advisor within our team, we can take a more proactive approach, supporting people and carers with practical guidance, benefits and grant applications, while working closely with local partners to ensure no one feels they are facing these challenges alone.”

Chris Hicks, Provincial Charity Steward for Essex Freemasons said, “St Francis is one of the hospices in Essex that Freemasons have supported over a number of years. The hospice movement is one of the important pillars of our engagement with the local community and being able to make a difference. The Freemason’s Charity donates around £25 million each year and the partnership with Hospice UK in one of the important ones for this year”. 

Alongside the emotional and physical impact of living with a serious illness, loved ones often experience loss of income, rising household and energy costs, and additional expenses such as travel to appointments. Many carers also reduce or give up work, leaving some struggling to pay for essentials like food, heating or housing.

According to Marie Curie’s Dying in Poverty report, more than 300 people are now dying in poverty every day in the UK.

The introduction of a Welfare Rights Advisor will enable Saint Francis Hospice to identify financial hardship earlier and offer timely, specialist support across Havering, Redbridge, Barking & Dagenham, Brentwood and parts of West Essex. The role will also strengthen partnerships with local Citizens Advice services and community organisations, helping create a more connected support network.

This new initiative reflects Saint Francis Hospice’s commitment to supporting not only the clinical needs of those it serves, but also the wider social and financial challenges that can affect quality of life at the end of life.