St Leonard's Hospice

What St Leonard's Hospice does

St Leonard's Hospice is an independent charitable organisation, registered as a company limited by guarantee (charity no. 509294) and founded in 1985, that provides specialist palliative and end-of-life care to people with life-limiting illnesses in York and North Yorkshire. Service delivery is centred on a 16-bed In-Patient Unit at its Tadcaster Road headquarters in York, supplemented by Hospice@Home (launched 2009), the Sunflower Wellbeing Hub, a Single Point of Coordination referral function, a Carer Support Service, bereavement support, and condition-specific groups including an MND Social Group run in partnership with the MND Association. Clinical care is delivered by a multidisciplinary team (medical, nursing, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, social work, spiritual care) and is rated 'Good' by the Care Quality Commission (previously 'Outstanding' in December 2016). All services are provided free of charge at the point of use.

The hospice operates a diversified, donation-dependent funding model. Annual operating costs are £10.5 million, of which only approximately 25% is provided by the NHS; the remaining ~75% (over £7.5 million) must be raised each year through a multi-channel income stack that includes a chain of charity shops across York and North Yorkshire, a weekly hospice lottery, the Make a Will Month solicitor referral programme, legacies and in-memory giving, corporate partnerships (Business Club), community events (Moonlight Walk, Wolds Walk, Iceland trek, golf days), and direct donations. Income generation is led by a dedicated Director of Income Generation function; retail capacity is being materially expanded with a 16,000 sq ft Clifton Moor Retail Centre scheduled to open July 2026.

Strategically, the hospice is in a scaling phase: in-patient demand has risen 15% year-on-year with 63% of admissions for specialist symptom management, the wellbeing and carer portfolios were launched in 2023, and senior leadership has been refreshed (new Chair of Trustees January 2024, new Director of Finance October 2025). Governance sits with a Board of Trustees chaired by David Smith and the executive is led by Chief Executive Emma Johnson. The organisation is regionally focused with no global footprint claim and no parent company, M&A activity, or external equity ownership.

Name

St Leonard's Hospice

Legal name

St Leonard's Hospice

Website

https://stleonardshospice.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Hospice and Palliative Care Services

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Home Health Care Services (8082), Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Palliative Care, Hospice & Serious Illness Support (BPAGACAK)

Keywords

• Palliative care services
• Hospice care
• End-of-life support
• Bereavement support
• Community healthcare

Headquarters

HQ city

York

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. NHS Funding: Approximately 25% of funding comes from the NHS, representing public funding for palliative care services.
2. Public Donations and Fundraising: The majority of funding (approximately 75%) comes from public donations, fundraising events, community activities, and individual contributions. This includes one-time donations, regular giving, and event participation.
3. Retail Operations: Multiple charity shops across York and North Yorkshire selling donated goods, furniture, and other items. New Clifton Moor Retail Centre opening July 2026 (16,000 sq ft).
4. Legacies and Gifts in Wills: Legacy gifts and bequests left by supporters in their Wills, representing an important long-term funding stream for the hospice.
5. Lottery: Hospice Weekly Prize Draw providing regular income from supporters.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

St Leonard's Hospice is an independent charity delivering specialist palliative and end-of-life care to people with life-limiting illnesses in York and North Yorkshire. Core services include a 16-bed In-Patient Unit, Hospice@Home community nursing, a Sunflower Wellbeing Hub, bereavement and carer support, and a Single Point of Coordination for referrals. Care is provided free of charge to patients and families, funded through NHS grants (~25%), public donations, legacies, lottery, and an extensive retail network of charity shops.

Product overview

St Leonard's Hospice is an independent charity providing specialist palliative and end-of-life care services for people with life-limiting illnesses in York and North Yorkshire. The organization offers a coordinated portfolio of services centered around its In-Patient Unit and community-based care, including Hospice@Home for home-based end-of-life support, a Sunflower Wellbeing Hub for ongoing emotional and practical support, Bereavement Support for families after loss, and a Carer Support Service. Additional offerings include specialist services such as MND Social Groups, physiotherapy and occupational therapy, spiritual care, and social work services. The hospice generates approximately 75% of its £10.5 million annual funding through retail shops, lottery, events, and fundraising activities including its Make a Will Month service. Care is provided free of charge to patients.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• In-Patient Unit A 16-bed specialist palliative care unit at the main hospice site in York providing intensive symptom management, pain control, and end-of-life care for patients with life-limiting illnesses.
• Hospice@Home Community-based palliative nursing service that enables patients with life-limiting illnesses to remain at home for end-of-life care, with regular visits from the specialist hospice team.
• Sunflower Wellbeing Hub Wellbeing and outreach day service offering emotional and practical support, drop-in sessions, complementary therapies, and support groups for people with life-limiting illnesses and their families.
• Single Point of Coordination Central referral and coordination hub that helps patients, families and healthcare professionals access the most appropriate hospice services across the region.
• Bereavement Support Counselling and bereavement support service for families and loved ones following the death of a patient, including practical and emotional support during grief.
• Carer Support Service Support service for informal carers providing respite, practical and emotional support so they can sustain their caring role for someone with a life-limiting illness.
• MND Social Group Fortnightly social drop-in group, run in partnership with the MND Association York Group, providing peer support, wellbeing staff input, and free complementary therapies for people with Motor Neurone Disease and their families.
• Cuddle Bed Specialist hospital bed that allows loved ones to lie side by side with a patient in comfort and safety, enabling families to be physically close at end of life.
• Retail Shops Chain of charity shops across York and North Yorkshire (Acomb, Tang Hall, Pocklington, Selby, Sherburn, Easingwold, Malton and a new Clifton Moor centre) selling donated goods to generate income for hospice services.
• Lottery (Hospice Weekly Prize Draw) Weekly prize draw lottery generating recurring income for hospice care from supporter entries.
• Make a Will Month Free Will writing service delivered in partnership with local solicitor firms, with donations supporting patient care and encouraging legacy giving to the hospice.
• Events and Fundraising Range of community fundraising events including Moonlight Walk, Wolds Walk, Iceland trek, golf days, open gardens and challenge events supporting hospice care.

Quantifiable outcome

• 15% increase in patients accessing in-patient unit support
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Crombie Wilkinson SolicitorsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 October 2025Participating solicitor firm in Make a Will Month programme, offering free Will writing services in exchange for donations to the hospice. Locations in York and Selby.
• RG LawminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 October 2025Participating solicitor firm in Make a Will Month programme, offering free Will writing services in exchange for donations to the hospice. Located in York.
• Ware & Kay SolicitorsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 October 2025Participating solicitor firm in Make a Will Month programme, offering free Will writing services in exchange for donations to the hospice. Located in York.
• Ison Harrison SolicitorsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 October 2025Participating solicitor firm in Make a Will Month programme, offering free Will writing services in exchange for donations to the hospice. Located in York.
• Cowling, Swift & KitchinminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 October 2025Participating solicitor firm in Make a Will Month programme, offering free Will writing services in exchange for donations to the hospice. Located in York.
• MND Association York GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to run the MND Social drop-in group, providing fortnightly support sessions for people with Motor Neurone Disease and their families. Sessions include wellbeing staff, specialist palliative care social worker, refreshments, and free complementary therapies. No referral or booking required.
• York CVScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with York CVS to develop and implement the Volunteering Quality Mark scheme, recognising high quality volunteering practices in York. St Leonard's team also participates on the panel reviewing and awarding applications to other organisations.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Wakefield Hospice: Yorkshire-based independent hospice offering specialist palliative care, day therapy, and bereavement support. Comparable regional catchment, charity-funded model, and service portfolio to St Leonard's.
• Dorothy House Hospice Care: Independent hospice serving a defined regional catchment (Bath and surrounding areas) with in-patient, Hospice@Home, bereavement, and wellbeing services. Closely comparable operating model and service mix.
• St Gemma's Hospice: Independent Leeds-based hospice providing specialist palliative and end-of-life care. Highly comparable as a Yorkshire-region independent hospice with similar NHS/voluntary income mix, in-patient unit, Hospice@Home, and community services.
• Weldmar Hospicecare: Independent Dorset-based hospice providing specialist palliative care, Hospice@Home, day services, and bereavement support. Comparable charity-funded regional hospice with multi-channel fundraising and retail.
• Prince of Wales Hospice: Independent hospice in Pontefract/Yorkshire providing in-patient palliative care, community services, and wellbeing support. Directly comparable in scale, funding model, and service mix, and previously employed St Leonard's current Medical Director.
• Harrogate District Hospice Care: Community hospice serving the Harrogate and North Yorkshire area with in-patient beds, Hospice@Home, and wellbeing services. Directly comparable by geography and operating model.

Others

• Hospice UK: National umbrella body for UK hospices, of which St Leonard's is a member. Not a direct operator but provides sector advocacy, training, and benchmarking that shape St Leonard's operating environment; David Smith (Chair of St Leonard's Trustees) also serves as a Hospice UK trustee.

Broad incumbents

• Marie Curie: Large UK-wide charity providing hospice care, nursing services, and support for terminal illness. Comparable mission and end-of-life care services but operates at national scale with significantly larger income and brand reach.
• Macmillan Cancer Support: Major UK cancer charity providing practical, emotional, and financial support including palliative and end-of-life services. Comparable in supporting cancer and life-limiting illness patients but operates as a national grant and service funder rather than a single-site hospice operator.
• Sue Ryder: National healthcare charity running hospices and neurological care centres across the UK. Comparable palliative and bereavement services but at significantly greater scale and geographic footprint than St Leonard's.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SLHYork
• Facebookfacebook.com/StLeonardsHospiceYork
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/st-leonard%27s-hospice
• Instagraminstagram.com/stleonardshospice

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 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 Leonard's Hospice