In 2007, the Sussex Beer & Cider Festival will be supporting The Martlets Hospice, a local Sussex based charity. The hospice cares for patients and their families who are diagnosed with terminal illness for whom curative treatment is no longer possible.

As a local charity The Martlets has to raise £3 million pounds each year as all services are provided free from charge with only a small percentage of costs being provided by the government.

This year sees the 10th anniversary of The Martlets Hospice, and the festival organisers are pleased to announce that a commemorative beer, Quality of Life, brewed by Custom Beers, will be on sale at the festival, with all proceeds going to The Martlets.

There is some information below, and more details can be found on their website.

The Martlets Hospice is a registered charity (number 802145)

Frequently asked questions about the Martlets Hospice (from their website)

Q. What does the Hospice do?
A The Martlets looks after adults with life limiting illnesses for whom curative treatment is no longer appropriate. This care is aimed at alleviating the distressing symptons associated with serious illness as well as providing emotional support for the families and carers through the illness and into bereavement.

Q. Do you only care for patients with cancer?
A. No

Q. What facilities and services does the Martlets offer?
A. An 18-bedded in-patient unit; a Day Hospice offering a range of activities and therapies and out patient consultations; bereavement and counselling services; a Hospice @ Home service.

Q. Who provides the service?
A. A team of professional, clinical, nursing, social and counselling staff supported by catering, domestic, administrative and fundraising personnel provide our services. A large number of volunteers also make a significant contribution to the welfare of patients and their families and to fundraising.

Q. Who is the Hospice for?
A. Hospice services are available to all adult members of the local communities, including Portslade, Hove, Brighton and those situated along the coast to Newhaven, inland to Lewes and back along the line of the Downs. Care is provided on the basis of medical need.

Q. How does one access the Hospice?
A. Access to the Martlets and Martlets @ Home is via medical referral from the GP, District Nurse, Macmillan Community Team or Hospital Consultant. The Hospice is the base of the Macmillan Community Team (MCT).

Q. What does it cost to use the Hospice?
A. Care is provided to patients free of charge although all of our patients and their families contribute voluntarily to the cost of their care. As an independent charity, the Hospice is largely dependent upon the generosity of the local community to pay for patients' care.

Q. How is care funded?
A. The Hospice is not part of the NHS and needs to raise over £50,000 locally per week from charitable activities. The balance comes from Government funding via the local Primary Care Trusts.

Q. How many patients does the hospice care for in a year?
A. In the last year the Martlets in-patient unit cared for 246 in-patients, the Martlets @ Home Team cared for 164 patients and there were 2,183 day care attendances.

Q. How can I help?
A. There are many ways in which you can support your local Hospice. Please browse the website to find out about what we do and how you can join in.

Q. What is meant by the term "Palliative Care?
A. Palliative Care affirms life and regards dying as a normal process. Care neither hastens nor postpones death. Palliative Care provides relief from pain and other distressing symptoms. It integrates the psychological and spiritual aspects of patient care and offers a support system to help patients live as actively as possible until death. Palliative Care also offers a support system to help the family to cope during the patient's illness and in their own bereavement