CQC rates Pilgrims Hospice Ashford as outstanding overall for a second time
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has rated Pilgrims Hospice Ashford, run by Pilgrims Hospices in East Kent, outstanding overall for a second time following an inspection in May.
Pilgrims Hospice Ashford provides specialist palliative and end-of-life care, advice, and support for adults with life-limiting illnesses and their families across east Kent.
CQC carried out the inspection as part of its routine monitoring of care services.
CQC has upgraded the rating for how well-led the hospice is from good to outstanding. How responsive and caring the hospice is has again been rated outstanding, and how safe and effective it is has again been rated good.
Serena Coleman, CQC deputy director of operations in Kent, said:
“At Pilgrims Hospice Ashford, we found a service providing exceptional, person-centered care where compassion, dignity, and respect are at the heart of everything staff do.
“People told us that staff had transformed their experience of end-of-life care, turning what could have been a time of fear and sadness into one filled with peace, comfort and meaning. One person told us they felt ‘safe, cared for and genuinely loved,’ and relatives described the care as ‘life-changing.’
“Staff showed extraordinary kindness and understanding. They took time to get to know every individual and their family, recognising what mattered most to them.
“We heard moving examples of staff going above and beyond arranging weddings and birthday celebrations, helping people make memory boxes with their children, and even fulfilling last wishes such as sharing a favourite meal or listening to a special piece of music together.
“People said they felt listened to and respected, with their views shaping every aspect of their care and support. Staff supported people to maintain their independence and choice, involving families and loved ones in decisions every step of the way. They also supported relatives after bereavement through the hospice’s compassionate counselling and community programmes.
“Leaders have created a culture where every team member feels valued and empowered to provide outstanding care. Their commitment to continual learning and collaboration ensures people always receive safe, high-quality, and holistic support. Pilgrims Hospice Ashford is a shining example of what can be achieved when a service puts people first and leads with empathy, skill, and heart.”
Inspectors found:
• Staff delivered complementary therapies such as massage, aromatherapy, and art activities to help people relax, ease pain and anxiety, and stay connected to what matters most to them.
• The team runs the Stepping Stones programme and bereavement cafés, providing long-term emotional support for families through counselling and peer groups led by trained volunteers.
• Staff used virtual-reality and video-link systems to help people connect with loved ones and manage symptoms like anxiety or breathlessness.
• The hospice provides spacious private rooms, gardens, and faith rooms that promote comfort, inclusion and reflection, welcoming families and pets as part of the care experience.
• Staff spoke proudly about working at the hospice, crediting strong leadership, accessible training, and a supportive culture that values their wellbeing as much as that of the people they care for.
The report will be published on CQC’s website on Friday, 24 October 2025.
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22nd October 2025
Pilgrims Hospices Santas on The Run! Returns to raise funds this festive season
The countdown to Christmas has officially begun with registration now open for Pilgrims Hospice’s Santas on the Run!
The much-loved family fun run due to take place on 14th December in Herne Bay is the perfect opportunity to raise festive cheer and support the charity with their fundraising.
Last year over 1,100 festive fundraisers dashed along Herne Bay seafront and raised over £42,000 for Pilgrims Hospices, who care for people across east Kent who are living with an incurable illness.
Family members of all ages can run, jog, skip, and walk their way along the 3k, 5k, or 10k route, which runs along the coastline.
Since the event began in 2017, Santas on the Run! has become a family tradition in the seaside town as a way to kick-start the festive season and has gone on to raise over £250,000 for local hospice care.
It’s a great way to make special memories this Christmas
Rachael – Pilgrims
Rachael Edmed, Senior Community Fundraiser for Canterbury Hospice, said, “It’s a great way to make special memories this Christmas while raising vital funds for families supported by our hospices. It’s always wonderful seeing so many groups of families, friends, schools, and colleagues in the community coming together to start the countdown for Christmas and join in the festive fun.
Every Santa who takes part is making a big difference to local hospice care in east Kent, helping us care for someone’s loved one now and in the future.”
If you register before 10th November, you can take advantage of their Early Bird discount and pay £15 for an adult, £10 for under 18s, and £40 for a family ticket (2 adults and 2 under 18s). Standard entry closes on 10th December, where adults will pay £18, under 18s £12, and a family ticket (2 adults and 2 under 18s) £50. On-the-day registration is also available.
Everyone who registers in advance will receive a 5-piece Santa suit, including a jacket, trousers, hat, belt, and beard, and a well-deserved finishing medal.
Find out more here.
For further information please call 01227 812 621 or email[email protected]
Pilgrims Hospices provides compassionate, specialist care free of charge to thousands of people in east Kent each year who are living with life-limiting conditions. Support is offered in patients’ homes, in the community, and at our three hospice sites in Canterbury, Thanet, and Ashford. We also run a 24-hour advice line.
16th October 2025
Pilgrims Hospices welcomes new Archbishop of Canterbury, Sarah Mullally
Photograph by Neil Turner/Lambeth Palace
Pilgrims Hospices was honoured to welcome the new Archbishop of Canterbury-designate, the Most Reverend and Right Honourable, Sarah Mullally, on Friday 3 October 2025.
During her visit, Bishop Sarah met with members of the care team and trustees to learn more about Pilgrims’ work providing compassionate end-of-life care across east Kent. She heard first-hand how staff and volunteers support patients and their families to live well in every moment.
Prior to becoming an ordained minister for the Church of England, Bishop Sarah trained as a cancer nurse, and later became England’s Chief Nursing Officer. Her background in healthcare gave her a deep understanding of the importance of compassionate, person-centred care — something that resonated strongly with the Pilgrims teams she met during her visit.
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Photographs by Neil Turner/Lambeth Palace
The Archbishop spoke warmly with staff about their dedication and the difference they make every day to the lives of local people.
Karen Warden, Chair of Trustees for Pilgrims Hospices, added:
“It was a privilege to welcome Bishop Sarah to Pilgrims Hospices and to share our work with her. Her visit was both inspiring and affirming for our staff and volunteers, who give so much to care for others in our community.”
Pilgrims Hospices provides compassionate, specialist care free of charge to thousands of people in east Kent each year who are living with life-limiting conditions. Support is offered in patients’ homes, in the community, and at our three hospice sites in Canterbury, Thanet, and Ashford. We also run a 24-hour advice line.
13th October 2025
Step into a Christmas Wonderland at Pilgrims Hospices Festive Fair!
Families are invited to kick off the festive season in style at Pilgrims Hospices’ much-loved Christmas Fair, returning to PGL Beyond, Grosvenor Hall, Kennington on Saturday 22 November 2025, from 11am to 4pm.
This year, the Fair promises a magical mix of festive fun for all ages, with seasonal stalls, unique gifts, live entertainment, children’s crafts, and classic Christmas games.
Every pound raised will help Pilgrims continue providing essential end-of-life care for local families.
Meet Santa and make memories
No Christmas fair is complete without a visit from the man himself! Santa Claus will be flying in from the North Pole, accompanied by his elves, ready to greet children and spread festive cheer. Little ones can decorate gingerbread, paint festive plates, and try their hand at timeless favourites such as Snowballs in a Bucket, Pick a Candy Cane, and Snowman Hoopla.
Win big in the Christmas Grand Draw
The ever-popular Pilgrims Christmas Grand Draw is back with incredible prizes up for grabs, including:
1st prize: A two-night stay at Nooks’s Retreat (Airbnb)
Tickets cost just £1 and can be purchased in advance at Pilgrims Hospices in Ashford or on the day. Winners will be announced during the Fair.
A celebration of festive community spirit
Visitors can sip delicious seasonal refreshments while browsing a dazzling array of craft and gift stalls. The Fair is a wonderful chance to soak up the festive atmosphere, share laughter, and support a cause that touches countless lives in our local community.
Sally Dunn, a Pilgrims volunteer, said:
“I love being a volunteer at Pilgrims’ events – the atmosphere is so warm and friendly. People always want to hear more about the hospice and tell us how much it means to the community. It’s a real joy to be part of it.“
Lou Newman, Pilgrims Community Fundraising Manager, added:
“The Christmas Fair is a highlight in our calendar. It’s a chance for families to come together, celebrate the season, and support hospice care at the same time. Every ticket, every mince pie, and every game played helps us care for local people living with incurable illness.“
Event details
Venue: PGL Beyond, Grosvenor Hall, Kennington, Ashford, Kent TN25 9JZ
Date and time: Saturday 22 November 2025, 11am-4pm
Entry: Adults £3, children under 16 free / Visit Santa: £5 per child
Parking: Free on-site (car sharing and walking encouraged)
This Christmas, come together with Pilgrims Hospices to make memories that matter – and help local families in their time of need.
Pilgrims Hospices provides compassionate, specialist care free of charge to thousands of people in east Kent each year who are living with life-limiting conditions. Support is offered in patients’ homes, in the community, and at our three hospice sites in Canterbury, Thanet, and Ashford. We also run a 24-hour advice line.
10th October 2025
Elham Christmas Market celebrates 20 years of festive fundraising
The much-loved Elham Christmas Market will return on Thursday 30 October 2025, 6pm – 9pm (with a special preview for disabled visitors from 5:30pm – 6.00pm), marking a very special milestone as it celebrates its 20th anniversary.
What began in a small church hall with just eight traders and a fundraising total of £600 has now grown into one of the community’s most cherished festive events, attracting more than 35 traders and raising over £40,000 in support of Pilgrims Hospices.
The market was founded by local businesswoman Carol Stevens, who was inspired by the magical atmosphere of traditional German Christmas markets. Alongside running her own successful home décor and gifts business, Hearts Deco, Carol has dedicated two decades to organising and growing the event, even keeping it alive during the pandemic years by running a virtual market.
Visitors to this year’s market can enjoy a wonderful festive atmosphere, with Elham Village Hall transformed into a winter wonderland of greenery and fairy lights. There will be over 35 stalls offering unique gifts you won’t find on the High Street, including jewellery, ceramics, lino cut prints, glass art, wooden crafts, linens, accessories, Christmas cards, decorations, garden gifts, and delicious local produce.
Carol Stevens, with Rachael Edmed and Gill Ramsay
A highlight each year is the fabulous raffle, organised with support from local resident and Pilgrims Hospices colleague Gill Ramsay. The raffle features generous donations from local businesses and individuals across the community. There is a further luxury prize hamper to be won in a prize draw on the the Elham Christmas Market website.
Simpsons Wine Estate’s generous percentage of sales towards hospice care
Carol said:
“It’s a real labour of love every year and so wonderful to see the community come together around the festive season and support the hospice. I’m so grateful to the army of volunteers and local businesses who help make it possible – from donating prizes to serving mulled wine. It’s incredible to see how the market has grown over 20 years, and I’m very proud of what we’ve achieved together.”
Rachael Edmed, Pilgrims Hospices Community Fundraising Manager, added:
“The Elham Christmas Market is such a special event, and it’s incredible to see the support it has generated for Pilgrims Hospices over the past 20 years. We’re so grateful to Carol for her amazing dedication and the huge amount of work she puts in each year to make it happen. The evening always has a wonderful festive atmosphere, and I’m really looking forward to being there to celebrate this milestone with the community.”
Event details
Elham Christmas Market
Thursday 30 October 2025, 6pm – 9pm
(Preview for disabled visitors: 5:30pm – 6:00pm)
Elham Village Hall, Elham, Kent CT4 6SX
Entry: £1 minimum (children under 10 go free); cash required
Please bring cash for smaller purchases, though many traders can also take card payments.
Parking: Please use the field in Park Lane (opposite the village hall), weather permitting, or park in the village itself, leaving the main car park for those less able.
Pilgrims Hospices provides compassionate, specialist care free of charge to thousands of people in east Kent each year who are living with life-limiting conditions. Support is offered in patients’ homes, in the community, and at our three hospice sites in Canterbury, Thanet and Ashford. We also run a 24-hour advice line.
Our fundraising activities and your generosity mean that we’re able to continue to offer our end-of-life services to our local communities when and where they need it. With your help and support, we intend to continually develop, and improve, our services so that we are still here, still caring, both now and in the future.
Pilgrims Hospices is a charity dedicated to providing expert care and support to patients with life-limiting illnesses in east Kent. Our services ensure comfort, dignity, and quality of life for patients and their families, offering compassionate care both in hospice settings and in the community.
