A new hospice for Southend, Castle Point and Rochford will be opening this spring, and we want you to be a part of it.

Thanks to the kindness and generosity of thousands of local people, we have been able to reach our overall target of £17.2 million and are now on-track to open the new Fair Havens very soon for patients and families.

Based in Prittlewell, it will be able to care for twice as many patients, offer more treatments and support more families in a welcoming and therapeutic environment which contrasts with the stark, clinical atmosphere many people want to avoid at the end of their lives.

This is your hospice for your local community.

It is likely that you’ll know someone who has benefited from hospice care or may do in the future. All our care is completely free of charge, thanks to people like you.

We’d like to invite you to look around the building before we officially open, so we can explain more about the impact the hospice will have on your community.

Up to 15th March, we are holding tours of the new Fair Havens in Prittlewell, with the chance to meet some of our team with refreshments available afterwards.

These must be booked online at www.havenshospices.org.uk/nfhtours or by calling 01702 220 305.

If you’re unable to attend, there are plenty of other ways to continue your loyal support to the charity, for example make a small monthly donation or consider becoming a volunteer.

We are also having our annual Havens To Havens Walk on 17th May, and we’re producing limited-edition keepsake flowers to mark this milestone in the history of Havens Hospices. For more information and to secure your own handcrafted flower, visit our website.

We really hope you can attend and see how your gifts are truly ‘Making every day count’ for our patients and families.