Knauf Support Ashgate Hospice refurbishment with CRASH

We are privileged to have joined CRASH and their patrons to support the refurbishment of the Day Services at Ashgate Hospice in Derbyshire.

Rated outstanding by the Care Quality Commission, Ashgate Hospice delivers a vital free-of-charge service to their patients needing palliative or end-of-life care and required facilities to align with their standards of care, especially as areas of the unit had not been updated since opening in 1988.

Ashgate Hospice contacted CRASH for help - and that’s where we, along with 34 other businesses, trusts and individuals within the community, all stepped in.

CRASH - the UK Construction Industry Charity

CRASH can only do the work they do through industry donations and fundraising, and we have been a Corporate Patron of CRASH for 25-years. We are always happy to get involved with the various projects they work on, from refurbishing hostels and night-shelters to combat homelessness to building calming environments in hospices for families to share quality time together.

Ashgate Hospice was certainly no different.

Due to a grant supplied by CRASH and the generosity of their patron’s in donating products or sharing expert knowledge, the hospice’s outpatient facility underwent a radical transformation beginning in September 2024. Ashgate Hospice wanted to create an atmosphere where patients could relax, feel welcome and receive a holistic experience as they undergo treatments. As patients are treated for life-limiting illnesses, they should do so in a comfortable environment that is fit for purpose.

We go above and beyond

We played a small part as we donated our Danoline ceiling tiles to the project. We even had a member of staff drive the tiles personally, from Sittingbourne to Derbyshire, the Sunday before Christmas 2024 to make sure the project kept to tight deadlines. Going above and beyond shows how seriously we take our responsibility to CRASH and their projects.

Ashgate Hospice reopened its doors to patients and their families in April 2025.

A welcoming space for patients and their families

Significantly, because of CRASH and their patrons:

- The constantly leaking flat roof is now fixed and 100% waterproof.

- The new design means that patients can see more visitors at one time and spend quality time with them in a calm environment.

- The Inpatient Unit is now a modern and homely space, allowing for equipment such as hoists and piped oxygen.

- Each room also has access to the outdoors, while allowing the hospice staff to continue giving exemplary care to their patients.

Speaking to CRASH, Sarah Kerry, the Day Hospice Manager at Ashgate Hospice said, “We are incredibly grateful to CRASH Charity and their Patrons for making the refurbishment and reconfiguration of our Day Hospice, clinic and therapy rooms, toilet facilities, and reception areas possible. Their generosity has helped us create a more welcoming, accessible, and functional space for those who need our care.”

It’s been incredibly emotional to see the overjoyed response from the hospice, their patients and the wider community to the finished project. A huge thank you to CRASH for allowing us to play a small part in this wonderful project. Everyone involved in the project should be extremely pleased in what they have all achieved, working as a team.

*Source: The Reimagining of Ashgate Hospice's Day Centre - CRASH