What St Michael's Hospice does

St Michael's Hospice is an independent registered charity (Charity Number 288462) founded in 1987 that provides specialist palliative and end-of-life care to adults with life-limiting progressive conditions across the Hastings and Rother catchment in East Sussex, UK. Its clinical portfolio centers on an 11-bed In-Patient Unit for complex symptom control and end-of-life care, a Community Outreach team delivering home visits and outpatient appointments, rehabilitation (physiotherapy and occupational therapy), spiritual support, social work, and a 24-hour Hospice Line telephone advice service. Bereavement services span individual counselling, the R.I.S.E. therapy group (including loss of a parent, suicide loss, and Queer Grief cohorts), the GRoWS social group, Walk and Talk sessions, and bereavement first aid resources co-developed with schools and community organizations.

The hospice generates approximately £9.4 million in annual operating costs funded by a diversified mix: less than one-third from NHS grants, with the balance raised through individual donations (including Gift Aid), a weekly lottery programme generating over £500,000 annually, seven high-street charity shops plus eBay and Vinted e-commerce, legacy gifts (supporting roughly one in three patients), the Patrons Circle regular giving programme (£250–£1,000+ tiers), charitable trusts and foundations, and corporate partnerships. A 91p-to-care cost-efficiency claim and £24 million in social value generated in 2022-2023 underpin its fundraising proposition.

A recent digital initiative is the Fi AI-powered bereavement support app — a free mobile application co-developed with neighbouring St Wilfrid's Hospice (Eastbourne) and UK technology firm Whitelabel, currently in a pilot phase through autumn 2026. The hospice is also actively planning a new building project, announced March 2024, with an expected move-in date of 2031. The organization is governed by a Board of Trustees, led by Chief Executive Karen Clarke (PhD in Palliative Care), and employs 251–500 staff supported by extensive volunteer contributions.

Name

St Michael's Hospice

Legal name

St Michael's Hospice

Website

https://stmichaelshospice.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

St Michael's Hospice is a registered UK charity founded in 1987 providing specialist palliative, end-of-life, and bereavement care to adults and families across the Hastings and Rother catchment, funded through NHS grants, donations, lottery, and retail operations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Hospice and Palliative Care

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212)

SIC

Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050), Services-Home Health Care Services (8082), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Residential Hospice / Hospice House (Facility-Based) (HLADAHAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Bereavement & Grief Support Services (Hospice-Affiliated/Independent) (HLADAHAL), Community-Based Palliative Care (Home-Based Non-Hospice) (HLADAHAH), In-Home Hospice Physician / Nurse Practitioner Visits (HSABAFAM), Bereavement & Grief Support Services (Family Aftercare) (HSABAFAI)

Keywords

• Palliative care services
• Hospice care
• End-of-life care
• Bereavement support
• Specialist nursing

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint Leonards

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: Individual donations, online donations, bank transfers, cheques, and phone payments. Includes Gift Aid scheme where UK taxpayers' donations generate additional 25p per £1 from HMRC.
2. NHS Funding: NHS provides less than one third of total operating costs.
3. Lottery: St Michael's Hospice Lottery generates significant income, with the Lottery team raising over £500,000 annually. Weekly lottery draws with players supporting the hospice regularly.
4. Retail Shops: Seven high street charity shops plus eBay and Vinted e-commerce platforms selling pre-loved donated goods. Central Donation Centre handles large donations.
5. Charitable Trusts and Foundations: Grants from trusts including The Albert Hunt Trust, Chalk Cliff Trust, East Sussex County Council, Hospital Saturday Fund, and others. Individual grants typically £1,000 and over.
6. Legacies and Wills: Gifts left in wills by supporters. Approximately 1 in 3 patients are supported by these legacy gifts.
7. Patrons Circle: Regular monthly donations at three tiers: Platinum (£1,000+/year), Gold (£500-999/year), Silver (£250-499/year). Plus £30 annual membership fee.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

St Michael's Hospice is a registered charity providing free specialist palliative and end-of-life care to adults with life-limiting progressive conditions in the Hastings and Rother community. Services are delivered through an In-Patient Unit, community outreach (home visits and outpatient appointments), a 24/7 Hospice Line telephone support service, rehabilitation, spiritual care, social work, a wellbeing programme, and comprehensive bereavement services. The hospice supplements its clinical services with income-generation activities including seven high street charity shops, a lottery, a Patrons Circle regular-giving programme, fundraising events, gifts in wills, and the Fi AI-powered bereavement support app.

Product overview

St Michael's Hospice is a charitable palliative and end-of-life care provider offering a comprehensive portfolio of services to the Hastings and Rother community. The core clinical services include an In-Patient Unit with specialist palliative care, Hospice Community Outreach (telephone and outpatient appointments), Rehabilitation Support (physiotherapy and occupational therapy), Spiritual Support, Social Work and Carer Support, a 24-hour Hospice Line telephone support service, and a Wellbeing Programme with therapeutic activity groups. Bereavement Services encompass individual and group therapy including R.I.S.E. Bereavement Therapy Group, GRoWS monthly social group, and Walk and Talk Group. The hospice operates a network of seven retail charity shops plus e-commerce through eBay and Vinted, a lottery programme, and various fundraising initiatives including events, corporate partnerships, gifts in wills, and a Patrons Circle regular giving programme. A notable digital innovation is the Fi AI-powered bereavement support app developed in partnership with St Wilfrid's Hospice and Whitelabel technology company, currently in pilot phase. Education and training services support healthcare professionals across the region, and the Compassionate Communities programme builds neighbourhood support networks. The hospice is constructing a new building expected for completion in 2031.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Fi: AI-powered bereavement support app developed in partnership with St Wilfrid's Hospice and Whitelabel technology company.

Products and services

• In-Patient Unit Specialist palliative care inpatient service providing assessment of complex needs, symptom control, and end-of-life care with 11 ground floor beds and access to physiotherapy, occupational therapy, wellbeing, spiritual support, social workers, and complementary therapies.
• Hospice Community Outreach Specialist palliative care support delivered via phone and face-to-face outpatient appointments, including patient assessment, symptom management, medication prescribing, emotional support, and care coordination with GPs and other health professionals.
• Rehabilitation Support Specialist physiotherapy and occupational therapy services helping patients with life-limiting conditions remain active and independent, delivered via outpatient appointments and home visits.
• Spiritual Support Non-denominational spiritual support for patients, families, and friends regardless of religious beliefs, helping them access sources of strength and meaning.
• Social Work and Carer Support Practical advice and emotional support including finance and welfare guidance, family support, help talking to children, and legal/will signposting for patients and their carers.
• Hospice Line (24/7 Telephone Support) Free 24-hour telephone support line (03301 272161) for hospice patients, families, carers, and healthcare professionals providing specialist palliative care advice, symptom management guidance, emotional support, and service signposting.
• Wellbeing Programme Therapeutic activity groups and one-to-one sessions including Drum Together, Tai Chi, Guided Relaxation, Breathlessness Support Group, Walk to Wellbeing, and Embracing Anxiety.
• Bereavement Services Therapeutic and social support for anyone affected by bereavement in Hastings and Rother, including the R.I.S.E. seven-week bereavement therapy group, the GRoWS monthly social group, Walk and Talk Group, and individual counselling sessions.
• Community Support Volunteers Volunteer befrienders providing face-to-face and phone support to reduce isolation and increase connection, including Saturday Socials and community-led projects.
• Bereavement First Aid Resources Co-created educational resources with local partners to support people through grieving, including guides for primary schools, caregivers, people with autism, and nature-based activities.
• Education and Training Education and training for healthcare professionals covering Recognising Dying, Bereavement Training, Palliative Care Emergencies, Challenging Conversations, Symptom Management, Syringe Pump, and Verification of Expected Adult Death.
• Sara Lee Trust Partnership Services Free counselling, complementary therapies (massage, yoga, reflexology), and group activities delivered on-site by an independent charity partner for hospice patients and their loved ones.
• Retail Charity Shops Seven high street charity shops across Hastings, St Leonards, Bexhill, Battle, Rye, and Sidley plus e-commerce operations through eBay and Vinted, selling pre-loved donated goods to raise funds for the hospice.
• St Michael's Hospice Lottery Weekly lottery programme with multiple membership tiers generating over £500,000 annually through player subscriptions and regular draws.
• Patrons Circle Regular giving programme with three tiers (Silver £250/year, Gold £500/year, Platinum £1,000/year) plus a £30 annual membership fee, providing exclusive updates and events for supporters.
• Fundraising Events Annual and seasonal fundraising events including Moonlight Walk, Open Gardens, Lego Walk, Raise Your Voice, Big Sing, Christmas Market, Lights of Love, Hospice Run, and Icelandic Lava Trek.
• Gifts in Wills

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1,500 patients supported with free care and support in 2024/25
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration12 records

AI capability5 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• St Wilfrid's Hospice (Eastbourne)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2025Partnership with neighbouring hospice in Eastbourne to co-develop and pilot the Fi AI-powered bereavement support app alongside technology company Whitelabel. Both hospices recognize the gap in bereavement support and are exploring how technology can extend hospice expertise.
• WhitelabelcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 April 2025UK technology company and app developer responsible for design, build, hosting and operation of the Fi AI-powered grief support app. Develops AI-powered health and wellbeing applications with safeguarding and crisis response processes built in.
• Sara Lee TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndependent charity based within the hospice offering free counselling, complementary therapies (massage, yoga, reflexology), and group activities for hospice patients and their loved ones. Services complement medical treatment and have helped patients for over 25 years. Referrals made through health professionals. Located on-site at St Michael's Hospice.
• BoxmoveminorOthersFurniture collection partner managing all furniture donations for the hospice. Specializes in charity retail logistics ensuring safe and efficient movement of donated items while hospice team focuses on preparing and selling stock.
• Hollington Primary SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducation partner co-creating bereavement first aid resources for primary schools to help support children through the grieving process.
• Little Gate FarmminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in co-creating bereavement first aid resources, particularly for people with autism and learning differences.
• Rainbow Kitchen MagicminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in co-creating bereavement first aid resources, including caregiver resources and guides.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Macmillan Cancer Support: National cancer support charity providing palliative care information, financial support, and specialist nursing referrals. Adjacent rather than direct hospice operator, but overlaps on palliative care pathway and referral mechanisms.
• Marie Curie: National UK charity providing hospice and palliative care across multiple sites, including nursing services and a 24/7 support line. Larger and broader scope than St Michael's, but overlaps directly on palliative and end-of-life care delivery.
• Sue Ryder: National UK charity operating multiple hospice and neurological care centres. Overlaps on hospice-based palliative care, bereavement support, and charity retail network.

Direct peers

• Compton Hospice: West Midlands hospice providing In-Patient Unit, community palliative care, and bereavement services with comparable charity-shop network. Similar operating scale and NHS/charity funding mix.
• Martlets Hospice: Hospice covering Brighton and Hove area with similar In-Patient Unit, community services, and charity-shop retail model. Comparable in scale, NHS funding structure, and reliance on community fundraising.
• Trinity Hospice: London-based hospice providing specialist palliative care, In-Patient Unit, community services, and bereavement support. Directly comparable service model with similar charity-shop fundraising approach.
• St Wilfrid's Hospice (Eastbourne): Neighbouring East Sussex hospice providing similar specialist palliative and bereavement care services, and current co-development partner for the Fi AI bereavement app. Directly comparable in size, scope, and funding model.
• Pilgrims Hospices: East Kent hospice operating three inpatient sites with similar palliative care, bereavement, and community outreach services. Comparable in operational scale and mixed NHS/charity funding structure.

Others

• Hospice UK: National umbrella body for UK hospices of which St Michael's is a member. Not a service provider, but a key sector partner for standards, advocacy, and shared learning relevant to St Michael's operations.

Emerging players

• Hospice Hope: Smaller UK hospice provider focused on community-based palliative care and bereavement support. Comparable mission and patient segments, though smaller operating scale than St Michael's.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/stmichaelshospice
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/stmichaelshospice
• Instagraminstagram.com/stmhospice
• Xx.com/STMHospice

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about St Michael's Hospice