Mountbatten Isle of Wight is set to benefit from a £7,899 donation from local insurer NFU Mutual, helping to fund the refurbishment of its gym and improve facilities for patients, their loved ones and carers.
NFU Mutual Isle of Wight nominated the charity to receive the funding through the insurer’s national £2.33million Agency Giving Fund.
The money will help transform the hospice’s gym into a more welcoming and inclusive space, supporting patients with their strength, mobility and independence.
The facility plays an important role in Mountbatten’s rehabilitation and physiotherapy services, helping people remain active for longer while reducing pain, fatigue and anxiety.
It also provides opportunities for patients to build friendships, benefit from peer support and improve their physical and emotional wellbeing.
Mountbatten Isle of Wight is the Island’s only hospice, providing palliative and end-of-life care. Around 85% of its care is delivered in people’s homes and through outpatient and day services at the John Cheverton Centre, with the remainder provided on its inpatient unit.
The charity relies heavily on the generosity of the Isle of Wight community, including donations, fundraising, gifts in Wills and income from its network of charity shops.
Charlotte Hornblow, Community Fundraising Lead (Group) at Mountbatten Isle of Wight, has said:
“A donation supporting Mountbatten Isle of Wight’s gym is about so much more than fitness. It supports our rehabilitation and physiotherapy experts to ensure people stay active for longer, boosting their quality of life.
“It supports wellbeing, because our gym users feel fitter and healthier when they clock up the kms on our static bikes, and because they are forming new friendships and benefitting from peer support.
“It allows people to overcome barriers, whether that’s standing tall by using the support bars, or by allowing them to climb the stairs again.
“It builds trust between gym users and clinicians, opening up challenging conversations and helping ensure personalised care is delivered when it is needed.
“Thank you, NFU Mutual Isle of Wight, for this generous donation and your ongoing support.”
John Heather, Senior Agent at NFU Mutual New Forest, Isle of Wight and Bournemouth, has added:
“Having spent time with the team at Mountbatten and seen the impact of their work first-hand, we’re delighted to support the refurbishment of the gym.
“The facility plays an important role in helping patients maintain strength, mobility and independence, while supporting their overall wellbeing.
“We hope this contribution will make a lasting difference to those who use the space, and we look forward to continuing our support of Mountbatten through future community initiatives and events.”
The donation forms part of NFU Mutual’s £2.33million Agency Giving Fund, now in its sixth year, which supports frontline charities across the UK.
More than 280 NFU Mutual agency offices nationwide have been given the opportunity to nominate local charities to receive funding.
The initiative is part of the insurer’s wider £4million charitable funding pledge for 2026.
