- A dedicated Citizens Advice adviser will be embedded within Ashgate Hospice from 1 July 2026, funded by Hospice UK and the Masonic Charitable Foundation, bringing specialist financial and debt support directly to people facing terminal illness
- The partnership creates a two-way referral pathway between the hospice and Citizens Advice, improving access to palliative care for people not yet connected to hospice services
- The service will be available on site at the hospice and by telephone, and can be reached through Citizens Advice North East Derbyshire’s existing community outreach network and GP surgeries across North Derbyshire
- Both organisations will develop joint training and resources to ensure staff can confidently identify and respond to financial hardship and hospice need
This week, Citizens Advice North East Derbyshire and Ashgate Hospice announce a landmark new partnership launching on 1 July 2026, bringing specialist welfare and debt advice directly into the hospice environment; and, crucially, opening a new door into palliative care for some of the most financially vulnerable people across North Derbyshire.
The partnership, funded by Hospice UK and the Masonic Charitable Foundation, places a dedicated Citizens Advice North East Derbyshire caseworker within the Ashgate Hospice team. Patients and their families will be able to access confidential, specialist advice on-site.
North Derbyshire has a population of around 450,000, with 12% of residents income deprived and several areas ranking within the most deprived 20% nationally. National data consistently shows that half of people in poverty live in a household where someone has a disability or life-limiting illness. For people in North Derbyshire facing a palliative diagnosis, this partnership brings together specialist financial advice and hospice care in one place.
The embedded adviser will deliver specialist advice sessions at the hospice, supported by telephone appointments for those who cannot travel. Access will be further extended through Citizens Advice North East Derbyshire’s existing community outreach network and GP surgeries across the district, where trained advisers will also identify patients who could benefit from hospice support but are not yet connected to it.
Both organisations will also invest in a shared workforce development programme, building the skills and resources needed to identify and respond to financial hardship and hospice need across both teams.
Leanne Brice, Joint Chief Officer of Citizens Advice North East Derbyshire, said:
“We are proud to partner with Ashgate Hospice , thanks to funding from Hospice UK and the Masonic Charitable Foundation. In response to the ‘nightmare scenario report’ – which highlights the financial hardship so many face at the end of life – this grant allows us to embed a dedicated adviser directly within the hospice. Together, we will provide crucial debt and income maximisation advice, lifting financial burdens so patients, and the people important to them, can focus on what matters most.”
ENDS
For further information, please contact:
Citizens Advice North East Derbyshire
mail@nedcab.org.uk
Citizens Advice North East Derbyshire is a registered charity (No. 1118194) serving the North East Derbyshire and Bolsover districts, providing free, independent, and confidential advice on debt, benefits, housing, employment, and energy.
Ashgate Hospice provides specialist palliative and end-of-life care across North Derbyshire. For more information, visit ashgatehospice.org.uk.
This project is funded by Hospice UK and the Masonic Charitable Foundation. Hospice UK is the national charity for hospice and end-of-life care, supporting over 200 member hospices across the UK. For more information, visit hospiceuk.org. The Masonic Charitable Foundation is one of the largest grant-making charities in England and Wales, supporting individuals and communities in need. For more information, visit mcf.org.uk.
Monday, 29 July 2026
