February 2012
Prospect Hospice in Swindon welcomed the Duchess of Cornwall to their facility on Wednesday 25 January.
Art was the focal point of the day for Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall as she was visiting the hospice specifically to hear about their art therapy programme. She was given a tour of the whole facility and spoke at length to patients.
Prospect Hospice provides care and support for people living with progressive and life-threatening conditions in Swindon and north Wiltshire. At any one time, it can care for up to 450 patients, some of whom take part in the Prospect art therapy programme.
The programme is currently involving day hospice patients, staff and volunteers working together to create a range of mosaics to be placed in the hospice’s garden.
The Halcrow Foundation has an on-going relationship with the hospice. They supported the construction of a new patio for the Prospect’s garden back in 2009, following an application put forward by a Halcrow employee.
After the day hospice was originally extended, it became clear that a new patio was required. This new larger patio creates an area that is sympathetic with the serene environment created by the newly-refurbished day hospice.
Since then the foundation has also paid for the refurbishment of the bathrooms in 2010 and new televisions in 2011.
The hospice invited supporters to come to the reception and have the opportunity to meet the Duchess. The Halcrow Foundation’s accountant Sam Jenks was invited to attend.
Sam said: “It was an absolute honour to be invited to the hospice on such an occasion. Prospect Hospice is a very popular charity in Swindon and a worthy recipient of the Halcrow Foundation funds.
I wasn’t expecting to personally meet the Duchess, but she came over and shook my hand and had a genuine interest in the Halcrow Foundation and what we do.
Most importantly she told me what a brilliant facility Prospect Hospice was and its lovely atmosphere. It’s certainly a day I won’t forget”.
The Halcrow Foundation’s vision is to bring tangible and sustainable improvements to the lives of people in need by mobilising the goodwill and expertise of Halcrow employees and people associated with the company or the charity.
It aims to alleviate poverty and suffering around the world caused by natural disaster or as a result of people’s social and economic conditions. It does this through the development of education, health and other social services, the improvement of transport infrastructure, water supplies and other communal facilities and the promotion of self help activities.