History of the Duchess of Kent House Charity

In 2001 the charity was registered with the Charity Commission to fundraise for the NHS Duchess of Kent House.  Called simply the Duchess of Kent House Charity (Charity Commission's registration number: 1085912) its objectives are to provide a new focus for all fundraising associated with palliative care in our area, and to build on the excellent work done since 1992 and before. All new donations should now be made payable to Duchess of Kent House Charity.

Trustees include David Murby (chair) businessman, Maureen Mosley, senior accountant with BDO Stoy Hayward, Julian Walker of AB Walker & Son Ltd,  Irene Dallas an international corporate solicitor, Sue Moore, marketer and Tony Cobb retired corporate executive.

The charity appointed George Solly in 2001 as the full-time fundraising manager. George has a broad fundraising, marketing, commercial, education and not-for-profit background.
Particular areas of interest include schools, associations, affinity groups, local businesses and institutions, grant-making trusts and medium to large firms based in the Thames Valley.

Background to the Charity

The new Charity was founded in March 2001 to provide a point of focus for all the fundraising activities, both existing and planned, that are needed to support Duchess of Kent House. The Charity Commission's registration number is: 1085912.  Our legal status is also defined as 'a Company Limited by Guarantee: registered in England, number 4032552.'

Aims

The aim of the Charity is to raise sufficient funds to

1. Continue the provision of specialist services and facilities not paid for by statuary funding. These include the psychologists, the aromatherapists, the dietician, the chaplain, patient transport, gardeners, the bereavement service, patient outings and so on. These services cost £1300 per day to run and we are entirely dependent on kind donations to ensure that they continue to the benefit of day and in-patients.
2. Re-open beds previously available but not now open due to funding and staffing shortfalls.  NHS Duchess of Kent House had an original configuration of 22 beds but this was reduced to 18 in order to provide a much needed family suite for patients and their close relatives. In 2000 the number of available beds was reduced to 14 temporarily. By January 2003, the Trustees of the new Duchess of Kent House Charity were able to announce that they would fund a further two beds at a cost of £100,000 each per annum, bringing the number up to 16 beds.

Other ways to support Duchess of Kent House will be considered by the Trustees, within the terms of the charity's Memorandum of Association, see following.

Mission Statement

To support the NHS Duchess of Kent House serving west and central Berkshire in its provision of holistic and multi-disciplinary specialist palliative care, focusing on quality of life and the alleviation of distressing symptoms and to provide counselling for the bereaved families of patients who have received such care.

Memorandum of Association: Objects

The objects of the charity are to relieve sick and infirm persons and those suffering from bereavement and in particular to provide palliative care and associated services and facilities for the relief of patients with the West Berkshire Priority Care Service NHS Trust and successors to the said Charity and to provide or assist in the provision of counselling for the bereaved families of patients who have received such care.