The Forever Friends Appeal has been awarded close to £80,000 from The Sperring Trust, managed in Midsomer Norton, to fund an innovative three year pilot project designed to support end of life care at the Royal United Hospitals (RUH) Bath.

The Compassionate Companions Project will be delivered in partnership with RUH’s Palliative Care Team and Dorothy House Hospice Care to provide companionship support to patients, ensuring no one spends their final days alone and in an unfamiliar environment.

Edward Hassall, Trusts and Foundations Officer, The Forever Friends Appeal, said: “As well as fundraising for new builds and campaigns, we also explore opportunities with trusts and foundations where there is a real synergy with our aims to fund specialist equipment and innovative projects.

“Thanks to this significant grant from the Sperring Trust, patients nearing their final days will have a companion with them, which we hope will help make a real difference to them and their families.”

The funding will enable a new companion support worker role with Dorothy House Hospice Care to support coordination of volunteers at the RUH. These volunteers will provide compassionate companionship to patients during their last days or hours of life on the hospital wards.

Helen Meehan, Lead Palliative and End of Life Care Nurse and Project Lead, RUH, said: “We are so grateful to The Sperring Trust for choosing to support this much-needed companionship service for our patients.

“This means that thousands of hours of volunteer time will be given to patients on our wards, seven days a week.

“Caring for people nearing the end of life is one of the most important things we do in hospital, as well as being able to give respite support to patients’ families, so that loved ones can recuperate during what is an emotionally and physically exhausting time.

“Often the last sense patients lose during end of life care is their hearing. Being able to provide a compassionate companion during their final days or hours to read to them, provide comforting words, or hold their hand is very much the support these patients need at this time.”

Michelle Jorden, Administrator of the Sperring Trust, said: “The Trustees are very happy to support such a worthy project. Ralph left his estate in trust to benefit the local community, and we are delighted to help make his wishes possible, as this project will have a big impact on so many people, including those who live locally to where the Sperring Trust is based. We look forward to working with The Forever Friends Appeal.”