Staff at Demelza Hospice Care for Children are set for a pay rise this year as it plans to bounce back after the challenges caused by the pandemic.

Trustees of the hospice, based in Bobbing, near Sittingbourne, have rubber-stamped a 2% cost of living increase for all staff.

In addition, staff in clinical roles will also see a wage hike.

The hospice, which provides specialist care and emotional support for children with serious or terminal conditions, said it faced a "huge threat" to its income - it is almost entirely reliant on donations - as a result of Covid and the lockdowns which saw its major fundraising events cancelled and the closure of all 26 of its charity shops.

It meant pay increases were frozen for staff during 2020.

Lavinia Jarrett, deputy chief executive at Demelza, said: “A challenging year still lies ahead but Demelza is in a strong position to meet those challenges head on, principally thanks to the ability and passionate commitment of our staff. The trustees have agreed a cost of living increase of 2% this year for all staff, and we will also be ‘catching up’ on the pay increase made last year by the NHS for staff in clinical roles”.

The charity is also making a permanent commitment to not pay anyone less than the Real Living Wage.

The deputy CEO added: "Demelza staff have provided extraordinary levels of care and dedication to the children and families we serve in very difficult circumstances. We believe they should be rewarded with a wage that reflects current living costs, as a minimum."

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