A hospice has received over £45,000 in charitable grants to help fund a new community space and ongoing charity events.

St Clare Hospice in Hastingwood was given £35,491 from the Valiant Trust which will be used to build to the Community Shed where people can create new social networks.

The inspiration comes from a resident called Stephen Barclay, who died in the Hospice’s care on New Year’s Day 2016.

Community engagement manager at St Clare, Sally Muylders, said: “We’re delighted to have received £35,491 from the Valiant Trust to create a new Community Shed at our Hospice.

“Modelled on the idea behind ‘Men’s Sheds’, our Community Shed will provide a space for our patients and their relatives to undertake craft and DIY activities, talk, play music and relax away from the clinical environment.

“There will also be a timetable of programmed activities, which will help to open up the Hospice as a community space.”

“Steve’s family kindly pledged to fund our Community Shed in Steve’s memory,” explained Ms Muylders. “So that our future patients, and their families and carers, can benefit from this wonderful new space at St Clare.”

Epping Forest Guardian:

Stephen’s wife, Sue Barclay, said: “All the family would like to say a big thank you to the Valiant Trust for making this project possible.

“Everyone who worked at the Hospice enabled my family and I to come to terms with what had happened, and they have been a fantastic support to us all.”

The Community Shed is set to open in Autumn 2019, with work is currently underway to build the space within an existing location in St Clare’s Taylor Centre building.

The Hospice’s current Bereavement Café service also received £10,000 which will ensure the current events continue and enabling new ones.

The café launched in February 2019, and since then the service has grown to accommodate five regular events throughout Dunmow, Ongar, Nazeing and Harlow.

“As death and bereavement are normal life events, we are keen to move away from ‘treating’ grief and provide opportunities for people to find ways to support each other.” said Ms Muylders.

“Now, with the generous £10,000 in funding we have received, we will be able to continue developing the project so we can reach even more local people.”

For more information on St Clare’s Bereavement Café events, visit:

stclarehospice.org.uk/bereavement-cafe