A Halton hospice has secured £1,000 from the Cadent Foundation after being nominated by the gas network’s employees and chosen by their customers.

Halton Haven Hospice provides skilled nursing and palliative care for people whose illness is treatable but cannot be cured, aiming to secure the best quality of life for patients and their families.

Through its ‘connecting colleagues, customers and communities’ initiative, Cadent employees in Cheshire were asked to trial a new approach to the way local grants are allocated.

They nominated local charities which were then shortlisted and then put forward to a public vote with around 1,000 customers having their say.

Ann Heldey, head of fundraising at the hospice, said: “We’re so grateful to have received this funding.

“It’s been a very difficult year for everyone and this will help us to continue providing the very best of person-centred care for those on their final journey.

“We are all extremely grateful to everyone who voted for us.”

Julia Dwyer, director of the Cadent Foundation, said: “Over the last 12 months, the need to come together and support each other has never been more important.

“We wanted to ensure Cadent customers and colleagues were given the chance to help care for their local community by nominating and voting for charities that were close to their hearts.

“The initiative has been a huge success with 14 charities shortlisted and more than 1,000 customers taking part in the voting process.

“The project has grown from strength to strength as a direct result of the ongoing focus, commitment and support from colleagues across the north west.

“It has allowed us to focus on where help is needed the most and offer grants to projects where we can make a real difference.”

The Cadent Foundation is funded by local gas network Cadent and has been established to support projects of any size that help people living in vulnerable situations and disadvantaged communities.