How Skills Hub Funding Helped Douglas Macmillan Hospice Protect Staff, Volunteers and Communities

Douglas Macmillan Hospice (Dougie Mac) is a vital part of the Stoke‑on‑Trent and Staffordshire community, delivering specialist care to those who need it most. With more than 90 employees working across its busy retail operation and over 20 charity shops across the county, keeping staff, volunteers and customers safe is essential.

Through support from Skills Hub funding, Dougie Mac was able to invest in essential first aid training for its retail workforce, strengthening both skills and confidence on the frontline of its community services.

The funding enabled 24 retail staff members to complete life‑saving first aid training, directly addressing skills gaps within the organisation and ensuring teams are better prepared to respond to emergencies.

This training has had an immediate and measurable impact, improving safety standards across Dougie Mac’s retail network and reinforcing its commitment to professionalism, care and community wellbeing.

With shops located across Staffordshire, Dougie Mac’s retail staff and volunteers are often the first point of contact for members of the public. Thanks to the grant‑funded training, teams are now equipped with the skills and confidence needed to act quickly and responsibly when it matters most.

“The grant has been transformative for our business, enabling us to provide essential first aid training to our retail team. This investment has not only enhanced workplace safety but also boosted employee confidence, creating a safer environment for staff, volunteers and customers.”

As a charity, Douglas Macmillan Hospice relies heavily on its retail operations, which contribute over £6 million each year to sustain specialist hospice care services. By covering the cost of essential training, Skills Hub funding helped ensure charitable resources could continue to be directed where they are needed most, supporting patients and families across the region.

“As a charity, every penny counts, so being able to benefit from a grant to cover essential first aid training has been invaluable.”

The training was delivered by Edenfield Training, a Stoke‑on‑Trent‑based provider, reinforcing the Skills Hub’s commitment to investing in local businesses and local expertise while creating lasting benefits across the Staffordshire economy.