Background Hospice fundraising walks engage communities and raise money. A small team-building exercise led by a hospice corporate sponsor 35 years ago has become a fundraising phenomenon and this presentation focusses on how one hospice walk has grown into the largest of its kind in Europe whilst doubling income in recent years.

Aims There is a current focus on fair NHS funding for hospices. However, issues regarding sustaining fundraised income during a cost-of-living crisis persist, as numbers needing hospice care grow and local Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) struggle to understand what a common offer from all hospices should look like and how they will afford it. Hospice UK predict that hospices are currently facing a collective £77m deficit. We will demonstrate how refocussing on engaging with local communities during a financial crisis can enable fundraised income and local connections with the hospice to grow exponentially.

Methods This presentation focusses on a multi-pronged strategic approach to engage local communities resulting in a major increase in fundraised income. Focussing on a unique public programme (Hartley. End of life care: a guide. Jessica Kingsley Publications; 2013), local relationships have flourished whilst significantly growing income to support the rising numbers of people needing care. Our fundraising programme has successfully been impacted through our strategic vision. ‘Walk the Wight’ has gained a significant increase in income. In 2022 the annual amount raised from the walk had settled around £250k. In 2023, the amount doubled and the income for the 2024 event is set to grow even more.

Results and Conclusion There is a danger during times of challenge with NHS funding that we ignore the importance of support from our local communities and the reciprocal benefits that ensue. Experience shows unequivocally that reinvesting in communities whilst taking shared risks during a time of financial crisis pays dividends in terms of hospice sustainability.