At The Lewis Foundation we source, package and hand deliver free gift packs to adult cancer patients in hospital and the community weekly items they might find difficult to buy themselves or simply cannot afford. It can be a sad, frightening and lonely experience for individuals undergoing cancer treatment. For many people in hospital and the community, our volunteers are their only regular visitors.

Lorraine and Lee (charity founders) were so moved when Lee's mum was hospitalised with cancer at Northampton General Hospital that it led them to set up a charity. Recognising the fear, upset and loneliness faced by individuals undergoing cancer treatment and their loved ones, they were determined that their charity would make a real difference. They sourced donations, packaged and delivered gifts for patients on oncology wards. That was April 2016 when The Lewis Foundation was born. Today with a team of almost 50 community volunteers (70% being their beneficiaries) and community supporters, The Lewis Foundation has grown from delivering 80 gift packs to one hospital, to delivering over 2,500 to seven hospitals in the Midlands per month.

They are Northampton General Hospital, BMI Three Shires Northampton, Kettering Hospital, Bedford Hospital, Luton & Dunstable Hospital, Leicester Royal Infirmary and Milton Keynes University Hospital Trust.

How it works in the hospital, is that patients pick a gift of their choice from a trolley filled with 32 different packs. Packs range from toiletries, puzzle books and miniature radios. Once the gift is received, we then spend time with people to reduce loneliness.

In the community, we will deliver care packages to people who are at home and cannot get out to get items they need. People either make contact themselves or are referred by the hospital/doctor/community member.

The charity currently does not employ any staff and is run entirely by volunteers.