A Warm Welcome to the Woking & Sam Beare Hospice Shop at Botanical Place
We’re thrilled to welcome the Woking & Sam Beare Hospice Shop to the vibrant community of Botanical Place, West Byfleet. The charity’s arrival marks a special homecoming; a return to the town where it all began over 30 years ago.
Supporting Local Care, One Donation at a Time
Woking & Sam Beare Hospice has been at the heart of the North West Surrey community since it was founded by Rhod Lofting, the then Mayor of Woking, in the early 1990s. His vision was simple yet profound; to create a place where people with life-limiting and terminal illnesses could receive compassionate, holistic end-of-life care. Three decades later, the Hospice continues to honour that mission, providing specialist palliative care free of charge to patients and their families.
The Hospice’s very first retail shop opened in West Byfleet 30 years ago. Although it closed in 2022, the team always hoped to return, and now, thanks to the development of Botanical Place, they’ve come full circle.
Today, the Hospice runs 18 retail shops across North West Surrey, along with an online store. These include bookshops, boutiques, and even a dedicated furniture store, all supported by their busy warehouse in Knaphill where donations are sorted and distributed.
Every item purchased at the new shop contributes directly to providing care for local people. Around two-thirds of the Hospice’s income comes from community fundraising and retail activities, meaning that every sale, every donation, and every act of generosity has a real and lasting impact.
As the team puts it: “Everything we do is for Woking & Sam Beare Hospice. Every penny we make is spent delivering palliative and end of life care in North West Surrey.”
We could not do what we do without the generous support of the community. It’s circular – we provide support to the community, and the community helps us continue that work through their donations and custom.
A Sustainable, Feel-Good Shopping Experience
Visitors to the new store can expect a fantastic range of preloved clothing, accessories, books, toys, and homeware, all donated with care and purpose. Beyond raising vital funds, shopping here helps the environment, reducing waste and keeping quality items out of landfill.
The shop will also be accepting donations from the local community, offering everyone a chance to support sustainable fashion and a vital local cause.
The Hospice team sees community as the cornerstone of everything they do: “We could not do what we do without the generous support of the community. It’s circular; we provide support to the community, and the community helps us continue that work through their donations and custom.”
We’re proud to welcome such a meaningful addition to Botanical Place. The Woking & Sam Beare Hospice Shop embodies the values of compassion, sustainability and togetherness; everything our village stands for.