Hospice Africa

UK

bike trail

since 1992



Our History

Hospice Africa UK was set up as a limited company in 1992 to support the work of Dr Anne Merriman at Hospice Africa Uganda. It is based in Liverpool, where Dr Anne grew up and had her UK home for many years, and runs two charity shops which raise funds to support the vital work providing ‘palliative care for all in need in Africa’.


The trustee board, alongside shop volunteers and supporters, make up the Hospice Africa team in the UK. The majority were initially based in the Liverpool area, but since the Covid19 pandemic and the emergence of online meetings, the trustees have included members in London, The Midlands, Yorkshire and Sierra Leone.


In addition to the shops, the board raises funds through quiz nights, sponsored events including marathons, half marathons and bike rides, and the Big Give Christmas Challenge.

Trustees

Chairperson

Christopher Merriman

Chris has been a supporter of Hospice Africa since its formation in 1993. He has served as a trustee on the UK Board since 2013, and was appointed Interim Chair in September 2020. Chris first visited Uganda in 2005 with his family and found it an inspirational and humbling experience,  and was back in Kampala again as recently as Christmas 2019 for a unique and special celebration of the festive season. 


Outside of Hospice Africa, Chris is a Director of Catalyst Consulting who support organisations across all sectors with Business Transformation and Continuous Improvement.


Chris lives in Ormskirk with his wife Maria and family who are all involved in supporting Hospice Africa.  

Honorary Secretary

Dr. Mary Bunn

Mary is a palliative care doctor who initially trained to be a General Practitioner, including 2 years working in primary care in The Gambia. She went to live and work in Malawi in 2005, with her paediatrician husband, James, and 4 young children, and took over the running of Umodzi, the Children’s Palliative Care service at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Blantyre, which was set up with the support of Dr Anne Merriman and HAU. She completed a Masters in Palliative Medicine from the University of Cape Town in 2009, and continued to work in Hospice and Palliative Care when she returned to the UK.


Mary joined the Board of HAUK trustees in 2014, enjoying supporting the annual cycle ride with her family, until the opportunity arose to move to Freetown, Sierra Leone, and develop palliative care services in the government sector there, with inspiration from Dr Anne. She is now Hon, Secretary since 2019 and now joins meetings by Zoom, alongside the rest of the Board.

Treasurer

Patricia Linnell

Pat was a Hospice Africa Founding Trustee in 1993 for several years. After retirement, she returned in 2016, and has been Hon. Treasurer since 2018.


Pat has held managerial roles in customer services, product management, and quality management. Living in Liverpool, Pat is an enthusiastic LFC Supporter, and enjoys the outdoors, birdwatching, and gardening. 


Pat developed further links with the work in Uganda when her son spent a period  working at HAU when he was 17.

Dr. Philippa Guppy

Dr Philippa Guppy is a palliative care doctor and senior lecturer working in London.  


Philippa explored many different specialities but always found herself drawn to the unique opportunities in palliative medicine to emphasise holistic care, quality of life and support patients to die in comfort, with care and dignity. 

 

She first visited Uganda in 2019 to volunteer for Hospice Africa in Kampala.  She worked alongside the wonderful nurses, learning first hand the challenges they faced and the profound difference they made to their patients and families. She was inspired by the hospice team and Dr. Anne in equal measure and she has been a firm supporter ever since.

 

She joined the board of HAUK trustees in March 2021 and hopes to visit Uganda throughout her career to volunteer and support the team and their vision. 

Douglas Haynes

Doug is a Lancastrian who found his values were profoundly shaped by a year teaching Maths and Science in a resource-poor secondary school in northern Malawi. He returned to the UK to complete a Masters in Operational Research followed by a life-long career in university education at Liverpool Business School, LJMU. He became an HA Trustee in 1996.


Doug is drawn mainly to the big picture, seeking operational effectiveness at the global, organisational and individual levels. Fascinated by personality profiling, Doug is interested in being part of co-operative and supportive teams. 


He is married to Linda, a retired occupational therapist, with children and grandchildren living in Sheffield and Bristol. He is a deacon at the local Baptist church; loves the outdoors.

Hannah Merriman

Hannah has been a strong supporter of Hospice Africa for over 12 years. She first visited Hospice with the family in 2005: an experience that left a deep impression on her. 


She returned independently at the age of 18, equipped with funds which she had raised and soon became very involved with all aspects of Hospice life. 


The Give A Chance project has been something very close to Hannah’s heart and she brought new energy and funding to this project, set up to support the children whose schools fees may have been seriously affected by the illness or death of a loved one. Hannah continues to support and visit hospice and has formed close ties with Dr. Anne and many members of the hospice team.

Dr. Kate Sykes

Emma Matthews

Will Peachy

Ged Faulks

Raised in Nottingham. Attended Liverpool Medical School, and qualified in 1975. Vocationally trained in General Practice, some of which took place at Whiston Hospital, Liverpool, where I met a young consultant, Dr Anne Merriman – lifelong friend and mentor.


Principal in GP, from 1980, in Ellesmere Port till retirement in 2015. Special interest in GP Training and clinical governance.


Married to Natalie. Two very grown up children, Eleanor and Nick. Enjoy cooking, eating, gardening, travelling and hiking.


Supporter of Hospice Africa since inception. Trustee for seven years. Hopefully provides some clinical input to decision making.

Kate Eldred

Hospice Africa Shops in Liverpool

HAUK runs two charity shops in Merseyside; the income from these shops is used to support providing palliative care in Uganda. The shop details are:

Liverpool Shop

12 East Prescot Road, Liverpool, L14 1PW


Opening hours 10:00-16:00 Monday - Friday

Ainsdale Shop

211 Heathfield Road, Ainsdale, Southport PR8, 3EL


Opening hours 10:00-16:00 Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri and Sat but note will be variable over the summer holidays



Projects and Partnerships

• MHM Renovations project in memory of Mr. Ken Stone.

• Woodleigh Impact have generously supported the work of HAU.

• St Luke’s Hospice Sheffield provide knowledge sharing on fundraising and charity shops management. They also hosted and funded the visit to UK of two HAU Palliative Care nurses Roselight and Dianah who spoke at the annual Hospice UK Conference in Liverpool in 2023.


News and Events

• Memorial Service for Dr Anne Merriman will be held on Saturday 11 th October 2025, also World Hospice and Palliative Care Day. More details to follow.

• HAUK AGM will be online on Sunday 26 th October 2025 starting at 15:00 UK time.

• Our Christmas Big Give Campaign 2025 will run from Dec 2 nd - 9th 2025 when all donations have the power to be double by matched funding.



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How to Support Us

Each year we host a calendar of events in order to raise money and support the work in Africa. Signing up to our mailing list is the best way to stay on top of new upcoming events.


For those who contributed via VirginMoneyGiving.Com in the past - please use this link: JustGiving/hospiceafrica.


If you want your donation used for something special just leave a note on the page when donating. Please consider setting up a regular payment as it helps plan our future support across Africa. You can find a standing order form by clicking the link below.


Please email Pat Linnell with any questions or queries about donations:

Pat Linnell: Hon. Treasurer (Donations)

Email: pat.linnell@btinternet.com

Address: 41, Harrison Hey Liverpool L36 5YR.


If you are a taxpayer please consider Gift Aid which adds 25p to every £1 you donate. The Gift Aid Form is available via our website donation page or by post from the Treasurer. Cheques, payable to ‘Hospice Africa’ can be sent to the Treasurer.


THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

Get in touch.

Whether you would like to find out more about Hospice Africa or discuss fundraising ideas or volunteering opportunities we’d love to hear from you. Please get in touch using the following channels:


Hospice Africa Ltd

Holly Bank, 34 Altys Lane

Ormskirk

L39 4RQ

UK Registered Charity Number: 1024903

Company number: 02835469


01 695 578 209

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hospiceafrica.uk@gmail.com

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chris.merriman@live.co.uk

We will never collect information about you without your explicit consent.

Annual Reports

Hospice Annual Report 2023 - 2024

Hospice Annual Report 2018 - 2019

Hospice Annual Report 2019 - 2020

Hospice Annual Report 2020 - 2021

Hospice Annual Report 2021 - 2022

Hospice Annual Report 2022-2023