Our History

The idea for a hospice first emerged in 1981 during a gathering of a local Rotary club, where the need for dedicated end‑of‑life care in the Five Towns area of the Wakefield district became clear especially in this strong mining community where life‑limiting illnesses were more common. An appeal was launched under the name The Five Towns Plus Hospice Fund, calling on residents to help fund the creation of a local hospice. People across the district rallied behind the cause: bricks were bought for 25p each to help pay for construction, and support groups formed in every town to raise the money needed. Word of these efforts reached His Royal Highness The Former Prince of Wales, who visited in 1986 and boosted both awareness and fundraising across the region.

Momentum grew again in 1987 when Wakefield Council donated land on Halfpenny Lane, and by November 1989 the hospice opened its doors one day a week. Within a year, it was able to extend to three days a week and welcome patients for round‑the‑clock care in a fully furnished bedded unit. Shortly after, Her Majesty The Queen granted permission for the Hospice to take the name it proudly carries today The Prince of Wales Hospice. H.R.H. The Former Prince of Wales became patron in 1987 and later president in 2000, providing enduring recognition and support for the essential care we continue to deliver to the communities of the Five Towns and beyond.