Only county in Wales without a dedicated hospice takes major step forward in expanding end-of-life support
A CEREDIGION charity providing vital hospice-at-home services has officially reopened its Living Well Centre following an £800,000 refurbishment aimed at improving care for people living with life-limiting illnesses.
HAHAV Ceredigion marked the completion of the first phase of work at Plas Antaron, Penparcau, on Thursday (July 3), with guests including Cabinet Secretary for Finance Elin Jones MS, Ceredigion County Council Leader Cllr Bryan Davies, and the charity’s honorary president Dr Alan Axford.
The extensive eight-month project has transformed the centre with improved accessibility, including the installation of a new lift, alongside a fully equipped art room, refurbished function room – now named the Axford Room – new toilet facilities and significant upgrades to the building’s infrastructure.
The refurbishment was funded through capital grants from the National Lottery Community Fund, Welsh Government, the Moondance Foundation, the Garfield Weston Foundation and the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
Demand for hospice support continues to grow
Chair of trustees Gwerfyl Pierce Jones said the reopening marked an important milestone for the charity, which provides services free of charge across the county.
She said: “As we officially reopen the Living Well Centre today I would like to place on record our thanks to all the funders who made this work possible and allowed us to renovate the building to be a purposeful centre to suit the needs of people across Ceredigion suffering from serious life-limiting conditions.”
Despite the investment, she warned that the charity receives no regular core funding to cover its day-to-day running costs.
“We rely on donations and fundraising activities as well as profits from our retail arm, the shop in Pier Street and warehouse in Llanbadarn, both of which are going from strength to strength,” she said.
“However, the demand on our services is ever increasing and, as the only county in Wales with no dedicated hospice service, we need to ensure this support continues to be available free of charge for those who need it.”
Mrs Pierce Jones said the charity hopes to launch a dedicated day hospice respite service this autumn, expanding the support already provided in people’s homes.
Supporting families through difficult times
Volunteer Graham Rees, who regularly visits people in their homes, described the role as both challenging and rewarding.
“It is a privilege to spend time with and help people who are facing the most difficult of circumstances,” he said.
“We often have challenging discussions, however it is also special to hear the stories of their amazing past experiences and help to facilitate the best quality of life for individuals and their families.”
Alongside hospice-at-home care, HAHAV also provides bereavement support, ranging from specialist counselling to practical help with everyday tasks.
Among those helped by the charity is renowned harpist Robin Huw Bowen, who received counselling following the death of his partner of 46 years.
He said: “HAHAV’s grief counselling offered me the opportunity to talk about my loss and discuss the course of my grief, helping me to understand what was going on in my heart and head.
“I am extremely grateful for this specialist support, and I wish HAHAV every success as it embarks on this new chapter.”
Designed to feel like home
The refurbishment was designed by local architectural designer Stuart Ball, with building work carried out by LEB Construction.
Mr Ball said the aim had been to create a welcoming, accessible and calming environment.
“Much of the work focused on opening up enclosed spaces, bringing in more daylight wherever possible and improving circulation, while respecting and enhancing the character of the original house,” he said.
“People have said they find the building welcoming, restful and easier to navigate, which is exactly what we hoped to achieve.”
The reopening marks a significant step for HAHAV Ceredigion as it continues its mission to improve hospice and palliative care in Wales’s only county without a dedicated hospice facility.
