18 November 2024

Thousands raised at Pilgrims Hospices Christmas Fair

Hundreds of local residents gathered at the Pilgrims Hospices annual Christmas Fair on Saturday 16 November, held at Kingswood, Grosvenor Hall, Ashford.

Thanks to the incredible community support, the event raised over £14,000 to support hospice care.


Visitors enjoyed a festive day out with delicious refreshments, Christmas music, and an array of games. Children were entertained with crafts, including decorating gingerbread shapes and painting plates. The highlight for many was a visit from Father Christmas and his elves, who handed out gifts to delighted young attendees.

Local businesses generously supported the fair by donating goods and services. Special thanks go to Kingswood, Grosvenor Hall, for providing the venue, as well as:

  • The Works, Tyson Foods, Grovewell Garden Centre, Domino’s, Greggs, Argos, Ashford Mobile Footcare, T&T’s Hair, Tickled Trout at Wye, Westwell Wines, Brakes, Curco, Asda, Tesco Park Farm and Crooksfoot, Waitrose in Ashford, Tenterden, and Hythe

Louise Newman, Community Fundraising Manager at Pilgrims Hospices, said: “We are incredibly grateful to everyone who donated items or joined us on the day. With the support of over 90 volunteers, we’ve managed to raise vital funds for Pilgrims Hospices. Every contribution helps us provide care for those facing life-limiting illnesses and support their families during challenging times.”

Pilgrims Hospices’ next Ashford event is the Christmas Tree Recycling fundraiser on 11 and 12 January 2025.

It’s a fantastic way to dispose of your real Christmas trees, with collections by our dedicated teams of volunteers.

For more details, visit pilgrimshospices.org/treerecycling.


Each year, Pilgrims Hospices care for thousands of people across east Kent, with services provided from its three hospice sites in Ashford, Canterbury, and Thanet, as well as in patients’ own homes. It costs over £17.2 million annually to run these services, much of which comes from the generous support of the local community.