Newcastle-based independent chartered accountancy and business advisory firm UNW has announced HospiceCare North Northumberland, a palliative care charity delivering Hospice at Home services across North Northumberland, as its chosen Charity of the Year for 2025/2026.
Based in Alnwick, and serving a population of over 65,000 people, HospiceCare North Northumberland provides end-of-life care to individuals suffering from life-limiting conditions, as well as bereavement counselling and specialist dementia services.
Established in 1995, the independent charity delivers a person-centred Hospice at Home service offering practical care and support to adults aged 18 years and over, who are living with a terminal illness requiring palliative input. The care, always tailored to meet each individual’s unique needs, is delivered all year round by registered nurses and an experienced team of hospice support workers.
Through its employee-led Charity and Communities Committee, UNW regularly raises funds for its chosen ‘Charity of the Year’, with donations being match funded by the firm; previous beneficiaries have included Maggie’s Newcastle, Gosforth-based Smile for Life and MSRRF, based in Morpeth. The announcement of the new Charity of the Year follows on from a hugely successful partnership with blood cancer support charity Bright Red, for whom the firm raised over £26,000 across two years. UNW has now raised over £125,000 for its chosen charities with that money going on to make a huge difference to a number of local causes.
Anne Hallowell, Audit and Assurance partner at UNW, said: “We are delighted that our colleagues have chosen to support Hospice Care North Northumberland as UNW’s latest charity of the year. We always seek to support a local charity that resonates with our people, and this year is no different, with the hospice having provided support to members of our team recently. It is always good to have a personal connection and to be able to see that our contribution can really make a difference in the region.
“We are all extremely excited to be working with HospiceCare North Northumberland over the next 12 months, with both fundraising and voluntary activities, starting off with our three summits challenge in September.”
Chris Orife, CEO of HospiceCare North Northumberland, said: “HospiceCare North Northumberland is delighted to have been selected as UNW’s Charity of the Year. We recognise that being chosen for this partnership was as a result of an employee nomination following care our Hospice provided to a family member. This gives us a welcome endorsement regarding the value of the care we provide for people in North Northumberland.
“It costs the Hospice £1.3 million to deliver nursing care to people in their own homes at end of life, and to provide specialist dementia services, daily support to patients and families, and bereavement support and counselling. We receive £46,000 from the NHS. The remainder of our costs are generated via fundraising, legacies, our 4 charity shops, applications to trusts and grant funding.
“The money raised by UNW will help enable our nurses, support workers, counsellors and our amazing team of volunteers to continue to provide quality care to people across North Northumberland at the end of life or following diagnosis with a life limiting illness.”
