LIFE will be less of a lottery for Grove House, the St Albans day hospice, now it has become part of a brand-new partnership. Grove House has linked up with The Hospice Lottery, which already has a very successful link with six other local hospices, and c

LIFE will be less of a lottery for Grove House, the St Albans day hospice, now it has become part of a brand-new partnership.

Grove House has linked up with The Hospice Lottery, which already has a very successful link with six other local hospices, and could boost its income by £70,000 a year as a result.

The partnership, which includes Iain Rennie Hospice at Home and The Hospice of St Francis in Berkhamsted, has grown rapidly since it was formed just over a decade ago. Last year it raised £468,000 to be distributed evenly between the partner hospices - in real terms a sum which could pay the salaries of 19 extra nurses.

Marion Bryant, chief executive of The Hospice Lottery Partnership, said: "We are all very excited about Grove House joining us, bringing the total number of participating hospices to seven.

"The partnership has grown to be an immense success - it currently has more than 16,000 players every week and over the last 10 years the hospices have received over £2.6 million in profit distributions."

Michael Sobell House in Northwood joined the partnership in 2005. Trustee of the hospice and director of the partnership, Joe Sandercock, welcomed Grove House: "The Hospice Lottery Partnership is not only a significant income generator but also a friendly partnership where advice is shared freely to help advance specialist care for everyone in this complex world of life-threatening illness."

Grove House, in the grounds of St Albans City Hospital, offers free care and support to local people living with cancer and life-threatening illness. In order to provide and increase its services, it is continually looking for funding. Said chief executive Mark Lister: "This is a very significant move for us. We are very pleased to have joined such a successful partnership. We are confident that it will be a valuable source of additional income which will allow us to continue to provide high-quality care to the people of St Albans, Harpenden and Dacorum."

He added: "We really hope that everyone will buy tickets and not only have the chance to win £1,000 every week but also make a real difference here at Grove House."

Grove House is particularly grateful to John Stocker, who lives in Wheathampstead, a long-standing patron and benefactor who has generously provided the hospice with an interest-free loan to meet the costs of joining the Lottery Partnership.

Playing the hospice lottery costs just £1 a week and a yearly subscription costs £52 or only £4.34 a month by standing order. In addition if you decide to pay by standing order, you will receive a free collectible limited edition of the Hospice Lottery Caring Bear.

There is an opportunity to win £1,000 or 100 other cash prizes every single week of the year. Marion said: "Winning the top prize may not change your life but it will certainly change your day but by playing you could certainly change the lives of people living with cancer and life-threatening illness."

Players of the existing Grove House Lottery will be invited to join the new partnership in June 2008 or whenever their standing order is up for renewal. Existing players should continue playing the old lottery until then and can rest assured that Grove House will continue to benefit from their generous support.

For more information and to join the new lottery call 01442 891459, email info@hospicelottery.org.uk or visit the website www.grove-house.org.uk

More information about Grove House and the services it offers can be found by visiting www.grove-house.org.uk or by calling 01727 731000 where you can also find information about leaving a gift in your will, making a regular donation and volunteering.