Home » How we work » Our vision and ambitions

Our vision and ambitions

Our ambitions

Founded by Dame Cicely Saunders in 1967 St Christopher’s is widely recognised as the first modern hospice
St Christopher’s is a registered charity
It costs £23 million each year to maintain our services. All our services to patients and families are free
We need to fundraise £15 million every year
We provide care and support for people across the 5 London boroughs of Bromley, Croydon, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark
St Christopher’s has 602 paid staff working across our sites and in the community (including bank staff)
We have 1200 amazing volunteers
We have 26 high street shops across South East London, staffed largely by volunteers
Our extensive day care services include specialist clinical care, as well as supportive care services and creative and complementary therapies
Our Anniversary Centre offers day and outpatient services and is also open to the public
St Christopher’s was awarded the prestigious Conrad Hilton Humanitarian Prize in 2001, presented by Kofi Annan.

St Christopher’s is one of the largest providers of palliative care education in the world
In 2019/20 over 2,054 people attended one of our education events
St Christopher’s is committed to an ongoing programme of research, directed at improving care for patients and those close to them
In 2019/20 we worked with 27 countries
St Christopher’s trains medical students from King’s College London and St George’s Hospital Medical Schools
St Christopher’s Summer School Programme works with local schools to change attitudes and dispel myths around death and dying and to provide experience of working in a health and social care setting.