History of LOROS

Joint meeting of Leicester Council of Churches and Leicester Free Church Women’s Council, to secure better care for the terminally ill.

Hospice Project Group starts

LOROS becomes a registered charity

Inaugural public meeting at Leicester Town Hall

Groby Road site is chosen for the Hospice at the back of the Hospital

LOROS’s first office opens at 18 Friar Lane and Mrs Anne Kind is appointed as the first employee

Leicester Area Health Authority confirms financial support for the proposed Continuing Care Unit (LOROS Hospice)

Fundraising appeal is launched at the University of Leicester

Manor Croft, a Victorian house at 147 Ratcliffe Road, Leicester, is bought for conversion to a day centre.

The President, Lady Palmer, cuts the first turf at Groby Road site at the start of work on the Groby Road Hospice Building.

Manor Croft Day Centre receives its first patients.

First client is referred to the counselling service, based at Manor Croft.

Voluntary Services team is created.

First patient is admitted to the Hospice (registered for 12 beds only).

Counselling service moves to the Hospice.

Hospice is licensed for 25 beds.

The target to raise £1.5 million in five years is achieved.

HRH The Prince and Princess of Wales officially open the Hospice.

Manor Croft Extension is completed.

First LOROS shop opens in Loughborough.

Community Nurse Specialist team established (formerly known as Home Care).

The Duchess of Kent officially opens the Manor Croft extension.

Lymphoedema service commences.

LOROS Lottery is launched.

First Light up a Life service is held at the Hospice.

Keith Vaz, MP, officially opens the new Relatives’ Suite.

Jennifer, Lady Gretton is appointed as LOROS President.

The Duchess of Gloucester officially opens another Hospice extension.

Education team is established.

Five new single patient rooms are opened on the ‘back corridor’, now 31 beds.

Launched a £2 million Capital Appeal to fund an extension to the Inpatient Unit.

Commenced the appointment of LOROS Patrons and Ambassadors.

The Duchess of Gloucester officially opens the new Willow Wing extension to the Ward.

Founders event held to mark the 25th anniversary of the Hospice opening.

The Community Nurse Specialist team moved into the new clinical support hospice extension.

Official launch of the CPEP research and education collaboration with De Montfort University at the House of Commons.

Official opening of the award-winning Garden of Light & Reflection

Manor Croft Day Therapy Unit closes.

New Day Therapy service launched at the Hospice.

Manor Croft property sold.

BBC East Midlands Today presenter, Anne Davies, becomes a Patron of LOROS.

LOROS Patron Anne Davies opens the Hospice's first 'By Design' shop. As well as selling designer items at charity shop prices, the shop also boasts a 'by appointment only’ wedding parlour.

The Hospice celebrates its 30th Anniversary in the month that it welcomed its first patient 30 years ago. The Hospice launched a '30 for 30' campaign throughout the month of September, raising money and celebrating 30 years of care.

Channel 4 Hollyoaks star, Charlie Clapham, becomes Patron of LOROS.

Announcement of plans for a £6 million expansion to the Hospice site.

The Hospice launches a new social enterprise with a series of bespoke leadership courses for local business professionals and companies.

Living saint, His Holiness Shri Rameshbhai Oza, paid a special visit to the Hospice as he returned to Leicester after 14 years.

Leicester City legend and LOROS Patron Alan ‘The Birch’ Birchenall 'cuts the turf' to mark the official start of our £6 million extension.

The Hospice launches its Consultant Clinic at Uppingham Surgery as part of expansion of services into the Rutland area.

Launch of LOROS Local, our mobile resource centre. Taking to the roads of Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, LOROS Local will enable people to access our care closer to home. LOROS Local will also help us raise awareness and people will be able to find out about the services the Hospice offers.

The Hospice launches innovative 'I Experience VR' app, enabling patients to use virtual reality to experience life again as they battle terminal illnesses. The Hospice launched the project by commissioning and producing a special film, and began an evaluation study on the impact it has on patients.

The Hospice's Research Manager wins the ‘Newcomer Impact Award' at The Clinical Research Network East Midlands Research Awards. The award was presented in recognition of the impact she has since made on research in the medical sector in her first year at the Hospice.

Baroness Finlay officially opens Phase One of the Hospice expansion, the brand new LOROS Professional Development Centre.

Work begins on Phase Two of our Hospice expansion, the extension and development of our Day Therapy and Outpatient facilities.

Hollywood icon Stephen Graham and his actress wife Hannah Walters become Patrons of LOROS.

We become the first organisation in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland to be awarded SAGE & THYME communications training accreditation.

National TV star and comedian Greg Davies becomes Patron of LOROS following hugely successful and inspiring visit to Hospice.

Key milestone marked with a topping out ceremony as the final roof tile is placed onto the highly anticipated new Day Therapy and Outpatient’s building.

The Hospice launches a ground-breaking filmmaking competition, being one of the world’s first ‘VR for good’ film competitions with a significant cash prize.

The Hospice announced important new research as it is awarded a grant of £417,000 from the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) to explore how BAME patients can be better supported at the end of their lives. The Hospice will work in partnership with Leicester’s Hospitals.

Opening of our new Day Therapy and Outpatient's building. These new facilities are one of the best in the UK and will enable us to care for an extra 250 patients a year.

The Hospice was one of the three honoured charities invited to meet Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge as they visited Leicester City Football Club.

Launch of the first LOROS Business Club.