Lee Wakemans was pleased to be represented by Charlotte Evans, Business Development Executive, during a recent visit to Marie Curie’s hospice in Penarth.
The visit was arranged through Comercity, following an invitation from Jonathan Cave, and brought together local business representatives to learn more about the work of Marie Curie in Wales, the services delivered from the hospice, and the important role of community and corporate support.
During the visit, attendees were given a guided tour of the hospice and had the opportunity to meet members of the Marie Curie team, including nursing, clinical, fundraising and leadership representatives. The visit provided valuable insight into the care and support provided to patients and families, and the wider operational requirements of a hospice environment.
A key message from the visit was the breadth of Marie Curie’s work. While the charity is often associated with cancer care, Marie Curie supports people with any terminal illness, as well as their families and loved ones. This was an important point raised during the visit and one the team was encouraged to help share more widely.
The visit also highlighted the significant role that community and corporate support plays in the life of the hospice. Attendees heard about local knitters creating soft toys for patients’ families, volunteer gardeners helping to maintain the grounds, and volunteer holistic therapists giving their time to help improve patient wellbeing.
It was also encouraging to hear about the support provided by organisations including Barratt Homes, which has donated furniture for patient relaxation areas and rooms where families can spend quiet time together, as well as businesses such as Admiral volunteering to support the hospice gardens.
Following the visit, Lee Wakemans is exploring opportunities to support Marie Curie through corporate volunteering. This is now being considered as part of our wider social value planning, with the aim of identifying practical ways our team can contribute time and support to the hospice.
For Lee Wakemans, the visit was particularly meaningful given the company’s extensive work within the healthcare sector. As project managers, quantity surveyors and construction consultants, we understand that healthcare environments are far more than physical buildings. They are places of care, privacy, dignity, comfort and human connection.
Visits such as this provide valuable context for those working in and around healthcare estates. They offer an opportunity to better understand the people, services and operational needs behind healthcare environments, and the impact that well-considered spaces can have on patients, families, staff and volunteers.
Charlotte Evans said:
“It was a privilege to attend the visit on behalf of Lee Wakemans. Meeting the Marie Curie team and hearing more about the care they provide gave a much deeper understanding of the hospice and its role in supporting patients and families across Wales.
“As a consultancy that works across a number of healthcare projects, opportunities like this are extremely valuable. They remind us of the human purpose behind healthcare environments and the importance of creating spaces that support care, dignity and compassion.
“We are now looking at how Lee Wakemans may be able to support Marie Curie further through corporate volunteering as part of our wider social value activity.”
The visit also highlighted the ongoing need for fundraising and volunteer support to help Marie Curie continue delivering its services across Wales. Businesses looking to contribute social value may be able to support through volunteering, fundraising, donations, practical assistance or partnership activity.
Lee Wakemans would like to thank Marie Curie for the warm welcome and for taking the time to share such valuable insight into its work. We would also like to thank Jonathan Cave and Comercity for facilitating the opportunity.
The visit was an important reminder of the value of collaboration between businesses, charities and local communities, and the role organisations can play in supporting essential services across Wales.
