A RYEDALE hospice offering vital palliative care services to Malton and Norton has been given a cash boost, which will fund it for an entire year.

St Catherine’s Ryedale day hospice in Norton, has been presented with a £15,500 grant from the Wilfred Jackson Trust, which will cover running costs for the next year.

David Marshall, the hospice’s director of funding development, said the money would enable the hospice to continue the work it carries out in the community.

“The day hospice is an extremely valuable resource for the hospice, helping us to bring palliative care services into the community and closer to people’s own homes,” he said. “This is an extremely generous donation from the Wilfred Jackson Trust and we are very grateful.”

The money will gotowards running costs of the day hospice, including providing specialist medical care, treatment, advice and rehabilitation for people who need regular monitoring.

St Catherine’s Hospice also has two other day hospices, in Scarborough and Whitby, and they helps to treat about 2,000 people every year.

The Wilfred Jackson Trust was set up after the death of local builder and property developer Wilfred Jackson. It helps people in Malton and Norton who may be struggling because of their age, poverty, illness or due to an accident.

Robert Tulloch, a trustee for the trust and senior partner with Pearsons and Ward Solicitors, Malton, said: “This is the biggest donation that he trust has made so far and I am very pleased that it will be used to bring muchneeded and appreciated hospice care to the people of Malton and Norton.”