Transforming First Impressions: Hospice’s Reception Renovation Project

Thursday 7th May 2026

Bright hospice reception with "Reception" desk, armchairs, and art.

At St. Michael’s Hospice, we understand that the environment in which we provide care is just as important as the care itself. Our reception area is the first space our patients, families, visitors and volunteers.

Our old reception area had not undergone improvement works for a long period of time, and it looked uninviting. For many experiencing hospice care for the first time, it may have given an impression of a clinical and impersonal atmosphere. Our goal was to transform this reception area into a warm and friendly space, ensuring that everyone who walks through our doors feels valued and at ease.

We launched the Reception Renovation Project in 2024 and thanks to the generosity and support of our trusts, we were delighted to open the doors to our new reception in March 2026.

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Thanks to the generous support of trust funding, we’ve been able to completely transform our reception at St. Michael’s Hospice. This space is often the first point of contact for patients, families and visitors, so it’s vital that it reflects the warmth, dignity and professionalism of the care we provide. The new reception creates a calm, welcoming environment that truly matches the outstanding standard of care delivered by our teams every day.

Chris, Operations Director at St. Michael's Hospice

This was made possible through the collective generosity of several charitable organisations including, The Shanly Foundation, National Highways, The Rotherwick Foundation, Four Lanes Trust, The Gerald Palmer Eling Trust and The William Allen Young Charitable Trust.

Along with the changes and improvements in our Reception area, we were able to expand our Gosling Gifts shop. This beautiful addition is essential for increasing both income and donations.

Shop shelves displaying gift items, candles, and decorative crafts.

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“By embedding community legacy work into our day-to-day operations, we can ensure that every project delivers a positive impact for the communities affected by our work. The previous bathroom facilities were outdated and no longer met the needs of patients, many of whom have complex mobility and care requirements. This is an extremely worthwhile cause, and we hope these improvements will benefit patients, their families and carers, for many years to come.

Greg Stone, National Highways Route Manager for the M3

Along with the Reception renovation, National Highways' Community Legacy fund supported the bathroom renovation adjacent to the reception area. The original grant for a bathroom renovation was £8,337.70. With discounted rates secured for a significant portion of the work and labour costs, there was an underspend that National Highways agreed to put towards improvements to the reception area.

We only receive 22% funding from the NHS, which means we have to raise an additional £15,000 every day to continue providing our care to the North Hampshire community. With limited financial resources, it is challenging to undertake such projects without the support of our local community, donors, and charitable organisations. Thank you.

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