Hospices of Hope
Hospices of Hope is a UK-registered charity founded in 1991 that develops and supports palliative and end-of-life care services across South and Eastern Europe. The organization operates from its headquarters at 11 High Street, Otford, Kent, with additional offices in Edinburgh and a branch in Moldova. Originally established as part of the Ellenor Foundation's international outreach, Hospices of Hope became an independent charity in 2000 while maintaining close historical ties to its parent organization.
History
The roots of Hospices of Hope trace back to 1985 when Graham Perolls founded the Ellenor Foundation in Dartford, Kent, inspired by the deaths of his parents Ellen and Norman Perolls. The foundation was established with a vision that those facing end-of-life should receive the best possible care, either at home or as close to it as possible. Graham Perolls was motivated to start the organization after experiencing the contrasting care his parents received - one died at home while the other received care in a hospice. The international dimension began in 1991 when Graham Perolls launched a UK fundraising appeal to bring palliative care to post-communist Romania under the umbrella of the Ellenor Foundation. This initiative was sparked by his earlier travels to Romania in 1975 and subsequent return in 1989 following the Romanian revolution, where he witnessed the dire state of healthcare for terminally ill patients. The Romanian healthcare system at the time offered little support to those diagnosed with incurable diseases, with patients typically being "sent home to die" without adequate pain management or palliative care.Transition to independence
The Romanian operations evolved rapidly throughout the 1990s, leading to the establishment of Hospices of Hope as a separate organization in 2000 with its own governance structure and identity. This transition allowed the charity to focus specifically on developing palliative care across Eastern and Southeastern Europe while Ellenor continued as an independent local hospice charity serving Kent and Bexley. Despite becoming separate entities, both organizations maintain historical connections and shared values centered on providing compassionate end-of-life care.Organizational structure and governance
Hospices of Hope is governed by a Board of Trustees comprising 11 members as of 2024. The current leadership includes:Rev. Tony Redman - Chair of Trustees.Anna Perolls - Chief Executive Officer.Dr. Alison Sarah Landon - Trustee.Denis Keefe - Trustee.Andreea Petreanu - Trustee.Dr. Sioned Evans - Trustee.The Board meets typically four times per year for two-hour sessions held in central London, with additional strategic planning and development sessions as needed. Trustees are appointed for three-year terms, renewable up to two times, and are expected to maintain high levels of engagement with the charity's work.
Operational structure
The charity operates through a hub-and-spoke model with its UK headquarters coordinating support for partner organizations across multiple countries. The organizational structure includes:UK Operations: Headquarters in Otford, Kent, and office in Edinburgh.Country Partners: Independent hospice organizations in Romania and Serbia with formal memorandums of understanding.Branch Operations: Direct presence in Moldova through Hospices of Hope Moldova.Trading Company: Operates a network of charity shops across South East England and Scotland.Geographic coverage and partners
Romania
Romania represents Hospices of Hope's longest-standing and most developed partnership network. The country hosts two major partner organizations: Hospice Casa Sperantei is the largest and most established partner, founded in 1992 in Brasov as the first Romanian charity dedicated to improving terminal illness care. The organization has grown to become the leading palliative care provider in Romania, operating multiple facilities:Brasov Campus: The original site featuring inpatient units, the Princess Diana Centre for Palliative Medicine, and day care facilities.Bucharest Centre: Opened in 2021 after five years of development, requiring an investment of over €5.7 million from donations. This facility is the first and only integrated palliative medicine unit in Bucharest, designed to serve 2,000 patients annually.Adunatii Copaceni: A specialized center for children and families affected by life-limiting conditions, completed in 2018 and fully operational by 2021.Mobile Teams: Services in Fagaras and Zarnesti serve rural populations in Brasov County.To date, Hospice Casa Sperantei has provided care and support to over 45,000 patients and more than 100,000 family members. The organization also serves as a major training center, with the Princess Diana Centre providing residential education programs for healthcare professionals across Eastern Europe. Emanuel Hospice, based in Oradea in northwestern Romania, serves as the only provider of palliative home-care services in the region. Since 1996, the organization has supported over 3,171 adults and 288 children with life-limiting illnesses. The hospice team offers teaching programs and vocational training, having trained over 250 doctors and nurses in palliative care. In 2022, Emanuel Hospice received the Diploma of Excellence for "Team of the Year" at the Romanian Healthcare Awards.
Serbia
BELhospice in Belgrade serves as Hospices of Hope's primary partner in Serbia, celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2024. The organization continues to provide palliative home care services but faces significant challenges with staff recruitment, particularly for nursing positions, and managing long-term sickness issues within the Serbian healthcare system. Despite these challenges, BELhospice has completed and opened the first palliative care center in Serbia, fully equipped for day care, outpatient services, home care, and training.Moldova
Hospices of Hope operates directly in Moldova through its branch office, Hospices of Hope Moldova, established in 2017. The organization has expanded to support a national network of five teams providing free palliative care services across the country. The network includes two new teams added in the south of Moldova, supported through funding, training, advocacy, and equipment donations. A second doctor with palliative care experience has been successfully recruited for the Chisinau team, while two local fundraisers work to build sustainable support within the country.Albania
Ryder Albania provides compassionate end-of-life care in Tirana and Durrës, serving over 200 individuals in their homes during the first half of 2024. The organization faces funding challenges and pressure from rising public sector salaries, requiring additional resources and staff to expand their reach to underserved populations. Hospices of Hope actively collaborates with the team to provide support and identify funding opportunities.Greece
Hospices of Hope has established partnerships with two organizations in Greece: Merimna and Nosilia. The charity provides strategic guidance and has submitted funding applications to establish a new palliative day care and resource center in Athens. However, operations have been impacted by wildfires in the Athens region, which affected Merimna's base and diverted local fundraising support to relief efforts.Ukraine
The organization supports palliative care in war-torn Ukraine through partnership with CF SVOYI, which provides mobile team services helping patients in Kyiv and surrounding regions. Ukraine's hospice sector has been severely impacted by the ongoing conflict, with only 5 of the original 19 independent hospices remaining operational. Traditional government funding for medical staff and essential costs has been gradually reduced, with the Ministry of Health announcing a 22% funding cut. Hospices of Hope appointed Anastassia as Country Manager in September 2024, with Oksana overseeing communications and marketing.Services and impact
Clinical services
Hospices of Hope supports comprehensive palliative care services through its partner network, including:Inpatient Care: Specialized hospital units providing symptom control, pain management, and end-of-life care.Home Care Services: Mobile teams delivering care in patients' homes, particularly important for rural and underserved populations.Day Care Centers: Outpatient facilities offering therapeutic activities and support services.Pediatric Services: Specialized care for children with life-limiting conditions and their families.Bereavement Support: Counseling and support services for families following patient death.Financial performance and sustainability
Revenue and fundraising
Hospices of Hope has demonstrated strong financial performance with diversified revenue streams. In 2023, the organization exceeded its fundraising target by raising over £1.6 million, surpassing the planned £1.5 million goal. The charity's income sources include:Charity Shops: Record financial performance in 2023, raising over £400,000 in profit from 18 retail locations, significantly exceeding the targeted £186,000.Trusts and Foundations: More than 14% of income received through grant funding.Individual Donations: Traditional donor support supplemented by legacy gifts.Corporate Partnerships: Business partnerships providing funds for key personnel roles.Events: Annual gala dinners and fundraising activities.Trading operations
The charity operates through a wholly owned trading company that runs 18 charity shops across Kent, Sussex, Surrey, London, and Edinburgh. Notable retail locations include:Clapham: New shop opened in September 2024 with international ballerina and patron Alina Cojocaru performing the official ribbon cutting.Otford: Flagship location benefiting from additional footfall driven by an associated bistro.Edinburgh: Northern operations extending the retail footprint.The retail network generated a surplus of over £400,000 in 2023, representing a significant increase from previous years. This success occurred despite challenging economic conditions and increased operational costs.
Grant funding and major gifts
Hospices of Hope has successfully secured several major funding commitments:Colyer-Fergusson Charitable Trust: £2 million contribution toward ellenor's wellbeing wing development in Gravesend, Kent.Various Trusts: Multiple grant applications approved for country partner support.Corporate Support: Partnerships providing funding for specific roles and projectsRetail operations and community engagement
Charity Shop Network
Hospices of Hope operates an extensive retail network generating significant revenue for charitable activities. The shops stock diverse merchandise including clothing, furniture, books, art, and collectibles, with a policy of never turning away donations.Notable Locations:Faversham: 19a Preston Street, described as a "true community hub" where everyone is welcome to shop, donate, or socialize.Victoria, London: 40 Warwick Way.Waterloo, London: 87 Lower Marsh.
Volunteer program
Hospices of Hope maintains a robust volunteer program supporting operations across shops, offices, medical supplies warehouse, and administrative functions. Volunteers contribute essential skills and time that enable the organization to maximize charitable impact while minimizing operational costs. The organization actively recruits new volunteers and provides recognition for their contributions through various channels including website features, social media posts, and annual impact reviews.Community events and fundraising
Hospices of Hope organizes a diverse calendar of community events designed to engage supporters and raise funds:Regular events
Quiz Nights: Held in locations like Otford and Maidstone.Wine Tastings: London events at venues such as The Ratiu Foundation.Gin Tastings: Kent-based events at The Olive Tree, Otford.Wreath Workshops: Seasonal activities in both Kent and Sussex.CEO Meetings: Annual opportunities for supporters to meet hospice partner leadership.Special events
Film Screenings: Exclusive showings such as "The Wishing Tree," a Romanian charity film supporting Casa Sperantei.Cycling Challenges: Multi-day events through Kent countryside and coastal routes.Annual Gala Dinner: Major fundraising events generating significant revenue.Controversies and challenges
2017 homeless ban controversy
In December 2017, Hospices of Hope faced significant criticism for posting signs at their Rochester charity shop banning homeless people from sleeping in the shop's porch area. The sign read: "Sleeping in the area is not permitted. Police action will be taken against anyone using the area for sleeping, leaving rubbish or any other waste". Local resident Steve Povey criticized the policy on social media, stating: "Charity shop, but no charity for the homeless it seems". The controversy highlighted tensions between the charity's humanitarian mission in Eastern Europe and its local community policies. Carolyn Perolls, defending the decision, cited staff safety and hygiene concerns: "It might seem harsh but having to clean human faeces on a daily basis is also harsh on our staff. We're very supportive of the plight of homeless people but it's not fair on our staff to have to clean up that type of thing every day". She emphasized that the policy was implemented to protect staff rather than from lack of compassion, noting that staff time spent on cleaning and police calls detracted from processing donations and serving the community.2020 vandalism attacks
Between June and July 2020, Hospices of Hope became the target of a coordinated series of vandalism attacks affecting multiple charity shop locations. The attacks resulted in approximately £30,000 in repair costs and affected stores across several regions:Affected Locations:Tunbridge Wells: Mount Pleasant Road shop had front and side windows shattered.Tonbridge: High Street location targeted on multiple occasions.Otford: High Street shop damaged.Faversham: Property damage reported.Bexley: South London location affected.Pimlico, Central London: Central London shop vandalized.
Inspector Dave Higham of the Tunbridge Wells Community Safety Unit investigated the incidents, stating: "These offences have cost the charity around £30,000 to repair. We are keeping an open mind as to whether all of these incidents are linked and the possible motive". Kent Police encouraged local businesses to review CCTV systems to assist with the investigation, particularly those that had been closed during COVID-19 restrictions.