Introduction

St Peter's Hospice is committed to delivering outstanding, compassionate end-of-life care while acting responsibly towards our environment, our people, and the communities we serve across Bristol and the surrounding areas.

Our ESG approach reflects our values of excellence, compassion, respect, passion and collaboration. We recognise that as a leading charity and hospice, we have a responsibility to minimise our environmental impact, maximise our social contribution, and maintain the highest standards of governance.

St Peter’s Hospice is committed to making a meaningful difference - not only through exceptional care but through responsible stewardship of the environment, strong community impact, and ethical leadership.

We believe that embedding ESG principles into everything we do will enable us to provide sustainable, compassionate care for generations to come.

Environmental Responsibility

We are committed to reducing our environmental footprint and contributing to a more sustainable future for our community. The Board approved our first Net Zero strategy in 2025, and the key commitments below reflect this ambition. An internal Environmental Sustainability steering group has been established to oversee delivery of the strategy.

Key commitments

• Net Zero ambition: Align with NHS and UK climate targets, working towards achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045 (or sooner where feasible).

• Carbon reduction: Measure and reduce emissions across our estate, retail network, clinical services, and supply chain.

• Energy efficiency:

  • Improve energy performance across hospice sites

  • Transition to renewable energy sources where possible

• Sustainable transport:

  • Encourage low-emission fleet vehicles and greener staff/volunteer travel

  • Promote active and public transport options

• Waste reduction and circular economy:

  • Increase recycling rates and reduce clinical and non-clinical waste

  • Maximise reuse through our retail shops and donation model

• Sustainable procurement:

  • Work with suppliers who share our environmental and ethical standards

• Biodiversity and green spaces:

  • Maintain therapeutic gardens while supporting biodiversity and ecological sustainability

Social Impact

Our purpose is rooted in improving the quality of life for patients and families while supporting our workforce and community. The priorities below reflected in our five-year strategy 'Reaching Further - improving end of life care for everyone' and our first Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (ED&I) strategy, both launched in 2025.

Patient and family care

• Deliver equitable, high-quality palliative and end-of-life care to all who need it

• Address health inequalities across Bristol and surrounding areas

• Provide holistic support including clinical care, emotional, social, and bereavement services

People and culture

• Foster a safe, inclusive, and compassionate workplace for staff and volunteers

• Promote equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) across all areas of our work

• Invest in workforce wellbeing, development, and retention

• Ensure fair pay practices and recognition of contributions

Community engagement

• Strengthen partnerships with NHS organisations, local authorities, and voluntary sector partners

• Engage with local communities to better understand and respond to their needs

• Support education and awareness around death, dying, and bereavement

• Enable volunteering as a key part of community participation

Ethical fundraising and retail

• Operate transparent, respectful, and ethical fundraising practices

• Ensure donated goods and retail activities support sustainability and community benefit

Governance and Accountability

We are committed to strong governance structures that ensure transparency, integrity, and responsible stewardship of resources.

Leadership and oversight

• ESG responsibilities embedded at Board and Executive level

• Regular review of ESG objectives, risks, and performance

• Alignment with Charity Commission guidance and UK best practice

Transparency and reporting

• Annual reporting on ESG progress and key metrics

• Open communication with stakeholders, including patients, families, staff, volunteers, and donors

Risk management

• Robust systems for identifying and managing strategic, operational, and clinical risks

• Integration of ESG risks into organisational risk frameworks

Ethics and compliance

• Zero tolerance for fraud, bribery, or unethical behaviour

• Strong policies for safeguarding, data protection, and whistleblowing

Data and information governance

• Protect sensitive patient, staff, and donor data in line with GDPR

• Maintain high standards of confidentiality and cybersecurity

Our Approach to Continuous Improvement

We recognise ESG is an evolving journey. We will:

• Set KPIs for environmental impact, workforce wellbeing, and governance

• Benchmark against other UK hospices and national standards

• Engage staff, volunteers, and stakeholders in shaping our ESG priorities

• Regularly review and update our ESG strategy