A Garden of Comfort and Care at The Prince of Wales Hospice
Derbyshire
Hospices
Jun 2025
The Reimagining of Ashgate Hospice’s Day Centre
Ashgate Hospice provide specialist palliative and end of life care to the people of North Derbyshire. They help improve the quality of patients’ lives after receiving a terminal diagnosis, when every single day is precious. The hospice supports patients’ families, practically and emotionally, whilst they care for their loved ones and following bereavement, for as long as they need.
In 2023, CRASH helped ensure that the day services at Ashgate Hospice were made accessible for all patients, their loved ones and other visitors. Creating equal access to therapeutic services, training, café and the wellbeing courtyard. Read more about this project here.
As well as an in-patient unit, the hospice also provides day services including activities and peer support, occupational therapy, complementary therapy, spiritual care and counselling.
Watch the official opening:
The Need
Various areas within the Ashgate Hospice Inpatient Unit had remained unchanged since the Hospice first opened 30 years ago. They were therefore dated, clinical and more like a hospital. There was a growing need amongst patients of a warm welcoming space to spend quality time with family and friends that was separate from their rooms.
Due to this need, Ashgate Hospice reached out to CRASH for help reimaging their day centre to create a homely, modern and dignified environment to match their outstanding quality of care. Additionally, there were critical works needed on the roof of the day hospice, repairing the roof and waterproofing.
The Project
CRASH Corporate Patron, Arcadis joined the initial visit, and their project advisors produced a detailed report highlighting the hospice’s next steps for the reimaging of the day centre.
Corporate Patron Bauder played a crucial role in waterproofing the flat roof of the day centre, these works were essential and had to be carried out before any renovations to the inside of the day centre could begin.
Additionally, CRASH Corporate Patrons, Dulux Decorator Centre, British Gypsum, Geberit, Johnson Tiles, Knauf and Knauf Insulation also supported with this project, providing pro bono or discounted materials and professional expertise.
The total Gift in Kind value for this project was £135,054 for professional expertise and pro-bono products. This includes a grant from CRASH, that is only made possible thanks to generous donations and fundraising of the construction industry.
The Outcome
- The Inpatient Unit was transformed into a light, modern, and spacious space, providing a homelier atmosphere with features like piped oxygen, hoists, and outdoor access for each room.
- Patients will experience increased privacy, with private spaces for conversations, and better comfort, including more room for personal belongings, family visits, and recliner chairs.
- The new design allows patients more control over their time with family visits, being able to have more visitors at one time and having the appropriate environment to interact with them.
- The transformation means that the Inpatient Unit is now fit for purpose for the future, improving the overall quality of care provided and ensuring the facility meets the needs of patients for years to come.
- The flat roof of the day centre is now 100% waterproof and guaranteed for the future safety of the building.
- This project directly addresses fundamental needs, enhancing the quality of life of patients and their families during a difficult and crucial time, ensuring every day is meaningful.
“We are incredibly grateful to CRASH Charity and their Patrons for making the refurbishment and reconfiguration of our Day Hospice, clinic and therapy rooms, toilet facilities, and reception areas possible. Their generosity has helped us create a more welcoming, accessible, and functional space for those who need our care. The redesigned spaces will enable us to fulfil a key strategic aim: reaching more people earlier in their life-limiting diagnosis. By partitioning areas, we can offer a wider range of wellbeing activities tailored to individual needs. The creation of a fully accessible toilet with changing facilities and a hoist system ensures equitable access for all, while the reconfiguration of the space allows us to run multiple activities and support services simultaneously. This will significantly increase our service capacity, opening up our holistic care to even more people across North Derbyshire. Now, when patients and their loved one’s step through our doors, they will be met with an environment that truly reflects the warmth, compassion, and holistic care that Ashgate Hospice provides. This transformation helps reinforce that hospice care isn’t just for those at the end of life—it is here to support people with life-limiting illnesses and their families at every stage of their journey. From myself, the Day Service Team, and everyone at Ashgate—thank you so much. Your support is making a lasting difference.”
Day Hospice Manager at Ashgate Hospice
Before:
Before Image of Ashgate Hospice Day Centre
Before Image of Ashgate Hospice Day Centre
Before Image of Ashgate Hospice Day Room
After:
The Grand Opening of Ashgate Hospice attended by CRASH, Geberit & Knauf
Reimagined Day Centre at Ashgate Hospice
Dedicated Quiet Room for private, sensitive or counselling conversations
New Physiotherapy Gym Room
New Clinic Room
New Complementary Therapy Room for Relaxation and Wellbeing
Dinning Area for patients and their families within the day centre
Dual Purpose Room for Meetings, Yoga, Thai Chi and Armchair Exercises
“Bauder are incredibly proud to Support CRASH and their fantastic work. It has been a pleasure working with the amazing people at Ashgate Hospice and seeing the huge difference they make to the people who rely on them. This project has created a welcoming space for patients to spend time with families and loved ones.”
Area Technical Manager at Bauder Ltd.
“The Bauder team is always grateful for the opportunity to be an active CRASH patron and to play a role in the reimaging of Ashgate Hospice Day centre. It has been our privilege to witness the outstanding work that Ashgate’s staff provides in giving its residents the support and dignity they deserve. We’re confident that the improvements made provide the perfect space for patients to spend time with their loved ones.”
Managing Director at Bauder Ltd.
“As part of the Arcadis team providing support to CRASH, I am incredibly proud to have been involved in the early stages of this project to reimagine day services at Ashgate Hospice. Working alongside the CRASH charity team, I visited the hospice, engaged with the wonderful staff there, and provided recommendations to help progress their vision for reimagining spaces within their day centre. Seeing the project come to life and knowing it will have a lasting positive impact on those who rely on the hospice’s vital care has been truly rewarding.”
Associate Project Manager at Arcadis
