'The heart of our community': Thames Hospice celebrates 5 years at Bray Lake

As Thames Hospice celebrates five years at its base beside Bray Lake, the charity is reflecting on how far it has come and the people who have made it possible.

The Advertiser has taken a closer look at the importance of the milestone and the charity’s plans for the years ahead.

A lot has changed since Thames Hospice opened its purpose-built facility beside Bray Lake in the midst of a global pandemic five years ago.

But there are some things which have remained constant: an effort to provide patients and their families with the best possible end-of-life care; and the vital support of its champions.

Thames Hospice, a charity, has been providing care from its lakeside base since October 2020, offering inpatient, day and community-based services to thousands of people every year.

The state-of-the-art building was officially opened by the late Queen Elizabeth II in one of her final public engagements, marking a historic moment in the charity’s near four-decade story.

Queen Elizabeth II opened the hospice's Bray base as well as its former Pine Lodge site in Windsor

Founded in 1987, Thames Hospice has grown to support thousands of people each year who need end-of-life care across East Berkshire and South Buckinghamshire.

“We care not just for individuals, but for whole families, helping them find strength, peace and togetherness through an incredibly difficult time,” said its chief executive Dr Rachael de Caux.

“It’s not just about saying goodbye; it’s about celebrating life, embracing every moment, and making sure no one faces it alone.”

These moments are what separate the care delivered through Thames Hospice from many perceptions of what hospice care involves.

And more takes place there than people might think.

Thames Hospice patron Anita Dobson and CEO Racheal de Caux at an event celebrating the charity's volunteers

Dr de Caux said: “Our beautiful lakeside setting has become so much more than a backdrop; it’s at the heart of how we connect with our community.

“The environment creates a sense of peace and wellbeing for everyone who visits, and it’s inspired a whole range of activities and events that bring people together in support of our care.”

According to Thames Hospice, the Bray Lake site is not just a meeting point for patients, families and supporters – it is the heart of a much wider community.

Around 80 per cent of its care now takes place in people’s own homes – supported by a team of nurses, doctors, counsellors and therapists.

Community support has been equally vital.

In the five years since moving to Bray Lake, the hospice’s dedicated supporters have helped raise more than £50million through donations, events, retail, and café income.

The charity hosts remembrance events, musical performances and seasonal celebrations, as well as major fundraisers such as the Open Water Swim, Firewalk and Sunflower Walk.

It will also run a charity Santa Dash this year through Swinley Forest in Bracknell on December 7 this year. More information can be found on the charity’s website.

As cost pressures continue to rise, support through events like this gives vital funding that ensures care at Thames Hospice remains free for all who need it.

Dr de Caux said: “Our supporters are truly incredible – and quite simply, we couldn’t do what we do without our community of care.

“What motivates people to keep supporting us is that they can see, right here in our local community, the difference their generosity makes.

“Every donation, every pound spent in our shops, and every hour volunteered helps us continue to provide outstanding care for local people when they need it most.

“Many of our supporters also have a personal connection to Thames Hospice, or they’ve witnessed the compassion and dignity we offer to patients and families.

“Others maybe share our vision of quality of life to the end of life – a belief that everyone deserves comfort, peace and choice, whatever their circumstances.”

That message echoes this month’s Hospice Care Week theme – ‘hospice care is more than you think’ – which aims to challenge long-held perceptions of what hospices do.

For Dr de Caux, it is a message that reflects the reality of life at Thames Hospice every day.

The charity’s work extends far beyond end-of-life care, encompassing counselling and wellbeing sessions that support patients and families long before and after bereavement.

As Thames Hospice marks its fifth year at Bray Lake, its mission remains the same as it was when it was founded: to provide quality of life to the end of life, for everyone who needs it.