St Clare Hospice launches night-sitting appeal to raise £75,000 by Christmas to help care for families in their darkest hours
St Clare Hospice has launched an appeal to raise £75,000 by Christmas to help fund a year of night-sits for families caring for a loved one at the end of their life.
The Hospice’s night-sitting service, delivered by St Clare’s Hospice at Home team, provides specialist overnight care, comfort and reassurance, easing the strain many families face behind closed doors.
St Clare Hospice night-sitter Pauline Chapman said: “For people who choose to spend their final days at home, nights can be the hardest. Family members often describe the emotional and physical toll of staying constantly alert, worried about falling asleep in case their loved one needs them. Many are exhausted, overwhelmed and unsure where to turn. This is why our night-sitting service exists. It is often the difference between exhaustion and relief, fear and comfort. It brings calm into the chaos and light into the dark for families at their most vulnerable. But with demand for end-of-life care continuing to rise, the Hospice urgently needs our community’s support to keep this essential service running.”
When Doug Copeland’s (81) wife, Sue (78), was dying, he wanted desperately to be by her side, but the long nights became unbearably heavy.
“As Sue became frailer, the nights felt longer and lonelier,” he said. “I was so tired, but I worried about what would happen if I closed my eyes. What if Sue needed me and I didn’t hear? What if she was in pain, or scared? And if something happened, what would I do? Who would I turn to?”
He continued: “Then Pauline from the St Clare Hospice at Home team came into our lives and brought something we didn’t expect – specialist, expert care through the night for us both. At the most difficult time of our lives, St Clare eased the path. The night-sitters are just wonderful.”
Healthcare assistant Pauline became a lifeline for Doug and his daughters, caring for Sue with dignity and compassion during her final nights. With someone he trusted watching over his wife, Doug could finally rest, knowing she was being looked after with love.
“Looking after Sue was an absolute privilege,” said Doug. “But nothing prepares you for the physical and emotional strain, especially through the night. Without the St Clare Hospice at Home night-sitting service, I’m not sure how we would have managed.
“Yet the greatest gift St Clare Hospice gave us was the chance to be together at the end. They knew when the moment was close, and all three of us were with Sue, holding her hand and whispering to her. It was a blessing for us all.”
St Clare Hospice is calling on local people to help raise £75,000 by Christmas to help fund 365 nights of specialist care in 2026, so that more families like Sue and Doug’s can receive the compassion and peace they desperately need.
You can help bring a light in their darkest hours by donating to the night-sitting appeal today via: stclarehospice.org.uk/night-sitting.
Main image: Doug and Sue Copeland, provided by St Clare Hospice
