A charity supported by Queen Camilla has shared an upsetting update after significant financial pressure has forced them to close one of their shops. The Prospect Hospice provides dedicated end-of-life care to those across the North of Wiltshire and has been supported by the Queen ever since she became their patron in 2013.
In a message sent out from the charity, they wrote: “The decision to close has not been an easy one, but continued financial pressures across the charity sector, including rising costs and changing shopping habits, mean Prospect Hospice has to focus our resources where they can have the greatest impact on funding patient care.”
The shop, which is located on Marlborough High Street, will close on Saturday, September 6.
Stuart Necrews, Head of Commercial Income at Prospect Hospice, said: “We are so thankful to the staff, volunteers, donors and customers who have supported this shop over the years. Closing the doors is not a decision we wanted to make, but it is a necessary one to ensure we can continue providing outstanding care to local people at the end of their lives.”
The Queen, who has many personal ties to Wiltshire and the surrounding area, has supported the charity ever since she became their Patron in 2013.
She made her most recent visit earlier this year and made an impromptu speech where she said there “aren’t nearly enough” hospices in the country.
After she received a tour around the hospice, the Queen said: “Every time I come here, I come away feeling so impressed and feeling so lucky actually that Wiltshire has something like this to look after people who are at the end of their life.”
She then went on to express her concerns about the lack of provision and the continuing issues faced by charities and hospices across the country: “As I’ve said time and time again, I wish we could clone these places because there aren’t nearly enough.
“We just have to keep them going, I know a lot of people help out but we need a lot more help than that.”