ROWCROFT Hospice is dishing up a fresh fundraising initiative with the launch of Dine and Donate.

The new scheme encourages local restaurants, pubs, and cafés to join hands with their customers to raise funds to care for patients with life-limiting illnesses, and their loved ones, across South Devon.

The concept is simple: participating local restaurants, pubs, and cafés invite customers to top off their meal with a dash of goodwill - a small, optional donation of £1 (or more).

This gift goes directly to the charity Rowcroft Hospice, helping to provide vital end-of-life care to local patients.

Eateries have a choice of how to support Rowcroft.

Some establishments are adding ‘invisible chips’ or other items to the menu – essentially a charity donation to Rowcroft Hospice, but dressed up in a different way.

Lisa Whittaker, Corporate Fundraiser at Rowcroft Hospice, said: ‘Dine and Donate offers an easy and meaningful way for people to support hospice care in our community while enjoying the best of local hospitality.

‘A small, optional donation on your bill might seem like a tiny gesture, but when put together with other customers’ donations, it all adds up to make a huge difference in caring for local patients and their families who are facing the hardest times imaginable.’

Rowcroft Hospice supports more than 2,500 patients and their loved ones annually across South Devon through its specialist care and support.

During recent months, Rowcroft has indicated that the financial pressures facing the charity are significant – due to many factors including the cost of living crisis, low government funding, a national drop in charitable giving and an escalating demand for end-of-life care. Rowcroft only receives 24 per cent of its funding from the NHS.

Rowcroft Hospice is asking local restaurants, cafés and pubs to join the scheme to support care in their community.

For more information on how to get involved or to find participating venues, please visit rowcrofthospice.org.uk/dine-and-donate or call Rowcroft’s Lisa Whittaker on 01803 210835.