John Healey MP shares 'disappointment and sympathies' at hospice trading site closures

John Healey, MP for Rawmarsh and Conisbrough, has shared his “ disappointment and sympathies” at the news that Rotherham Hospice is to close a charity shop and a cafe due to financial pressures – and pledged to keep the CEO's comments “closely in mind” in his new role as Chancellor.

Rotherham Hospice announced yesterday (Monday September 14) the “heart-breaking but necessary” decision to close its Wath charity shop and Swinton café due to financial pressures – with its CEO calling on the government for “sustainable, multi-year” funding and greater support with employment costs.

The hospice, rated Outstanding overall by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and recently named Medium Charity of the Year at the 2026 Third Sector Awards, cited “declining footfall, rising employer National Insurance contributions and increases in statutory wage costs essential building maintenance costs” as the factors which have made the two trading sites “loss-making and no longer viable”.

CEO Mat Cottle-Shaw said that, following consultation with staff at the Wath trading site – the hospice's oldest shop - voluntary redundancy arrangements have been agreed and volunteers supported to move to other hospice shops.

At Swinton Café – which opened in May last year – the team has been redeployed to the hospice’s other cafés, located within its Parkgate Superstore and at the hospice itself on Broom Road.

Mr Cottle-Shaw said: “With government funding covering just 36 per cent of its running costs, Rotherham Hospice must find the remaining 64 per cent through fundraising, donations and the income generated by its shops and cafés.

“Donated stock and volunteer support are invaluable, but wages, employer contributions, energy, insurance, transport and property costs must still be paid before income can support charitable services.”

He added: “We need ministers to consider the cumulative impact of tax and wage decisions on employers of every size, including charities.

“When a business is already operating on a small margin, an increase in costs is not simply absorbed. It can be the difference between keeping the doors open and closing them.

“Good intentions in Westminster must be matched by a workable reality in our communities.”

Mat added: “Rotherham Hospice has welcomed past government investment in hospice buildings and equipment, but this cannot replace dependable funding for everyday care.

“We are asking John Healey, as both Chancellor and the MP for the communities affected, to help turn recognition of this problem into action.

“We need sustainable, multi-year hospice funding that reflects the real cost of care, targeted support with employer National Insurance, and a serious assessment of how further employment-cost increases can be supported rather than simply passed on.

“These are not abstract pressures on a spreadsheet.

“In his own constituency, they are contributing to the loss of places where people have worked, volunteered, met friends and supported their local hospice.”

John Healey MP said: "I am a long-standing supporter of the hospice and I am disappointed to hear of the closure of the Wath shop and Swinton café.

“My sympathies are with the dedicated staff impacted by this decision and I welcome the support the hospice have been able to provide in difficult times for them.

“Under this Government, we have invested an additional £363,202 into Rotherham Hospice, forming part of the biggest investment in hospices in a generation.

“I will, of course, bear his comments closely in mind in my new role as Chancellor.”