Hospice in Wrexham Celebrates 30 Years of Care and Community Support
Nightingale
House
Hospice
Wrexham’s local hospice was warmly welcomed as a beacon of care and community spirit to the whole of Wrexham when it first opened its doors some 30 years ago.
Visit Wrexham were invited in March to get an understanding of what they do and offer today, along with raising awareness about their latest fund-raising events taking place this summer. We had a lovely greeting upon our arrival by Helen Paddock and the friendly reception team. The site exudes warmth, with a well-stocked on-site shop offering locally crafted gifts—helping to raise vital funds—and a popular café serving affordable, home-cooked meals to visitors, staff, and patients alike. Pets are made most welcome, adding to the relaxed and inclusive atmosphere.
Olivia Beckett, Events and Communications Director—known as Liv—and pictured above - welcomed and guided us on a tour of the modern, thoughtfully designed facilities. The layout prioritises wellbeing, creating a calm and healing environment for all who come through its doors.
The hospice, which officially marked its 30th anniversary last year, relies heavily on fundraising, with only 20% of its £5.6 million running costs coming from the Welsh Government. The remainder is self-funded through donations, events, and community support and this means huge efforts each year are required to ensure high standards are maintained year after year.
A key highlight of the hospice’s calendar is its growing events programme. This year’s schedule is their busiest yet, with live music events being hosted in the main fields under a big top behind the nearby Wrexham Council Headquarters, located some 150m south of the Hospice.
This year, their events calendar features major acts like Ocean Colour Scene, whose upcoming concert scheduled in early May has already sold two-thirds of its tickets. The Snuts, another billed act taking place on the same week have also sold over 500 tickets despite being slightly less well-known.
Organised in conjunction with the team behind Focus Wales, the big tent music experience is becoming a mainstay in the calendar of popular events that Liv and the team plan and organise. All profits from these events will benefit the Hospice directly.
EVENTS FOR YOUR DIARY Nightingale 10k & 5K (Alyn Waters) 18th April
Focus Wales (Llwyn Isaf)
2nd & 4th May
Ellesmere Art Exhibition
27-30 May
Kids Festival (Llwyn Isaf)
1st August
Liv, a Wrexham local who lives in nearby Penley, emphasised that raising awareness of what they do is just as crucial as raising funds. “We support hundreds of individuals and families across Wrexham, Flintshire, and into Shropshire,” she said, underscoring the hospice’s wide catchment area.
The facility offers comprehensive on-site care, including rehabilitation, treatment rooms, and diagnostic tests—minimising the need for patients to travel between NHS sites. A dedicated wellbeing centre runs tailored 12-week programmes, supporting up to 15 patients at a time with weekly sessions combining therapy-based sessions with informal activities like crafts, art, and music.
Additional support includes respite care for both patients and their carers, onsite physiotherapy, a gym, and social events such as pub quizzes and bingo.
The hospice employs 140 staff and is supported by 450 volunteers, with further funding from organisations like Children in Need.
Adrian Bellwood, Medical Director, reaffirmed the hospice’s mission: “Despite challenging situations, our mission is to help people live their lives as best as they can.”
With Visit Wrexham helping to support and promote their busy schedule of events beyond the summer season, Liv concluded our meeting by highlighting in addition to the events and fundraising efforts, the hospice continues to work at a national level for a fairer funding framework for all UK hospices.
This means by doing so, the organisation can continue to expand its services and reach, benefiting all those in Wrexham who may need them —rooted in compassion, community, and care.
We look forward to sharing further news and updates later in the year.
