Skanda Vale Hospice
£47,000+ raised
39% Gift Aided
3000+ donors(data from July 2026)
Making Giving Simple, Accessible and Unobtrusive
About Skanda Vale Hospice
Skanda Vale Hospice provides free care for people living with life-limiting illnesses and palliative care needs. Almost all of that care, including nursing, management and day-to-day running, is delivered by volunteers, making it one of very few inpatient hospices in the UK run this way. Its services include a day hospice and a six-bed respite service, which opens for one week each month.
The hospice project began in 1992, with its current services operating since 2016.
The challenge
For Skanda Vale Hospice, the priority was to make donating easy and accessible without making supporters feel pressured.
As the team explained:
“We wanted to make it easy and accessible for people to make donations, but never be pushy.”
Rather than asking visitors directly for donations, the hospice wanted to create a self-service experience where supporters could choose whether, when and how much to give.
The shift away from cash during the pandemic made this increasingly important. Traditional fundraising methods were becoming more difficult as fewer people carried cash.
Why Skanda Vale chose Dona
Skanda Vale Hospice chose Dona because of its flexibility, simplicity and ability to support fundraising in different locations.
The team uses Dona across several activities, including:
- The hospice reception
- A donation-funded coffee stall
- A small display offering books and handmade items
- Fundraising fêtes and stalls
- In their charity shop
- QR-code based donation points
- Adding the QR-code to donate to receipts and labels on items
Interestingly, they use Dona almost like a digital honesty box. Visitors can make small donations for coffee or shop items without a member of staff needing to supervise each transaction.
“It gives the donor the freedom to give as much as they like, without us looking over their shoulder.”
Making Gift Aid and administration easier
Dona has also simplified Gift Aid administration for the hospice.
The team described the process as intuitive and straightforward:
“It’s very easy to claim Gift Aid. It isn’t time-consuming, and you don’t need to read a long instruction manual – you just do it.”
This simplicity is particularly important for charities that want to maximise eligible donations without adding unnecessary administration and training for staff and volunteers.
A simple supporter experience
Supporters have responded positively to the terminals and find them easy to use.
Skanda Vale Hospice has also used Dona QR codes at fundraising fêtes. Instead of relying only on traditional collection boxes or cash tills, stallholders can display a QR code so visitors can donate using their phones.
The hospice is also redesigning its website and is considering integrating Dona into the new site. The team felt its existing donation integration was cumbersome and outdated, whereas Dona provides a simpler online experience.
Flexibility beyond the hospice
The offline-payment capability was highlighted as a major advantage, particularly when fundraising away from reliable internet access such as during events or external collections.
“Even if you’re not connected to the internet, you can still use it.”
Would Skanda Vale recommend Dona?
Their recommendation to other healthcare charities was clear:
“Go for it!”
They highlighted:
- Low running costs that can be recouped quickly
- Strong value for money
- Responsive and helpful support
- Reliable offline payments
- Ease of use for both supporters and staff
“The simplicity is key – for donors and for us as an organisation.”
Key takeaway
For Skanda Vale Hospice, Dona has provided more than a contactless terminal. It has created flexible, self-service ways to give across the hospice, keeping the experience simple, accessible and unobtrusive.
Learn more about Skanda Vale Hospice CIO
Call Sales: 0203 488 5038
Call Support: 0203 488 8095
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