40 years of St Leonard's Hospice.
We’ve been providing care and support for our local community for 40 years, ever since the idea of a Hospice in York was suggested by four Royal College of Nursing members.
There have been plenty of challenges along the way, from meeting funding requirements, to developing new ways to care and support terminally ill people, those with life limiting conditions, and their families and carers.
Meeting the challenges set by the next 40 years depends on your fundraising, legacies and your donations. So please contribute if you can, and help write the next chapter in St Leonard’s story.
Explore our 40 year history below…
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1978
Idea of a Hospice in York suggested by four Royal College of Nursing members
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October 1978
First open meeting held and Steering Committee chosen
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December 1978
Steering Committee’s first meeting
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1978-1982
Informal fundraising
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May 1982
Formal Appeal for £750,000 launched by Archbishop Stuart Blanch
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November 1983
New Hospice foundation stone laid by Archbishop John Habgood
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February 1984
Day Care opens one day a week
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September 1984
In-patient Unit completed
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February 11th 1985
First in-patient admitted
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June 1st 1985
Official opening by our Patron, HRH The Duchess of Kent
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1986
Day Care increases to two days a week
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1987
Day Care increases to three days a week
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February 1990
Thanksgiving Service at York Minster for five years
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December 1990
Extensions added to In-patient Unit and Day Care
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June 21st 1991
First shop opens in Acomb
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January 1992
Day Care increases to four days a week
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January 1993
Shop opens in Tang Hall
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July 1993
Shop opens in Pocklington
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September 1993
Shop opens in Haxby
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February 1995
10th Anniversary Thanksgiving Service at York Minster
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August 1998
Furniture shop opens in Acomb
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October 1998
£2million Millenium Appeal launched
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1998 - 1999
First Hospice Light up a Life Christmas tree at York Station
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February 2000
15th Anniversary Thanksgiving Service at York Minster
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April 2000
Millennium Appeal reaches £1million
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July 2000
On-site work begins for new annexe
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October 24th 2000
New annexe foundation stone laid by David Hope
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July 2001
£2million Millennium Appeal target reached
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November 2001
Staff and patients move into new annexe
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Winter 2001
Original buildings redeveloped for Day Care
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July 10th 2002
Official opening of new building by HRH The Duke of York
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April 2003
Shop opens on Scarcroft Roads in York
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June 2003
Hospice Weekly Prize Draw launched
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February 2005
20th Anniversary Thanksgiving Service at York Minster
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Spring 2006
Archbishop of York Dr John Sentamu becomes President of the Hospice
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Autumn 2006
The Stables Coffee Shop opens in the former Day Care Building
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June 2008
First Midnight Walk in aid of the Hospice
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2008-2009
The main entrance to the Hospice is remodelled
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December 2009
Hospice@Home service is launched
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2010
Silver Jubilee Year
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June 6th 2010
25th Anniversary Thanksgiving Service at York Minster
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September 2010
Shop opens on Park Street in Selby
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November 27th 2010
Thanksgiving Dinner at the National Railway Museum
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November 2011
Shop opens on Broadway in York
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February 2013
Shop opens on Ousegate in Selby
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2013 - 2014
Refurbishment of Day Care, Family Area, Chapel and In-patient Unit as a result of a grant from the Department of Health
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June 2014
Shop opens in Sherburn
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2015
30th Anniversary Thanksgiving Service at York Minster
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November 2015
Donation centre opens in Acomb
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January 2016
We revolutionised the Sunflower Centre timetable to include more tailored support services for patients, their families and carers
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December 2016
Rated Outstanding by Care Quality Commission
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August 2017
Shop opens on Fossgate in York
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November 6th 2017
On St Leonards’ Day, the Memory Tree was revealed by Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, complemented by the newly landscaped gardens
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September 2017
Homelessness project begins
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August 2018
Shop opens on Layerthorpe in York
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October 2018
Hospice Biographers launched
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March 2019
Shop opens in Easingwold
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December 2019
Hospice@Home 10 year anniversary
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January 2020
Shop opens on Colliergate in York
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May 2023
Both the Sunflower Wellbeing Hub and Carer Support Service open