“West Northants has been the perfect home for The Lewis Foundation. It’s where our journey began and the support of this community has enabled us to grow from handing out 80 gift packs a month on one hospital ward to providing 2,000 packs across 17 hospitals. The central location, strong business networks and community spirit here give us the foundations to keep growing”

Lorraine Lewis, CEO, The Lewis Foundation

About The Lewis Foundation: The Lewis Foundation provides a variety of free gift packs and support to adults diagnosed with cancer in hospital, helping them at any stage of their treatment journey. Patients can choose from a wide range of packs – from overnight essentials such as toiletries and underwear, to puzzle books and activities designed to pass the time, bring comfort and reduce feelings of isolation during hospital stays.

To fund this work, the team go beyond traditional fundraising. Their charity outlet store in Grosvenor Shopping Northampton transforms donated and excess brand-new stock into affordable goods by working with companies such as Stephensons Online Limited and Amazon, reducing waste while generating vital income. They also manage The Elgar Community Centre in Upton, Northampton, which includes their cafe, space for room hire and a variety of community events, as well as a cafe located inside Northampton Museum & Art Gallery.

Through these initiatives, and by working closely with businesses and the wider community, they are able to make a difference to the lives of people affected by cancer every day.

Ongoing Growth: Since 2016, The Lewis Foundation has grown from a small initiative on the inpatient Talbot Butler cancer ward at Northampton General Hospital, where they provided 80 gift packs a month, to now delivering an average of 2,000 packs every month across 17 hospitals in the Midlands. What began as a local project, funded purely by fundraising, grants, and donations, has become a wide-reaching service that touches thousands of lives each year.
This growth has been made possible not only by the generosity of their supporters, but also by the team’s focus on creating a sustainable future. In recent years, they’ve diversified their income streams beyond traditional fundraising to include their outlet store, community cafes, and community centres. These ventures not only reduce waste and provide affordable services for the community, but also ensure they can continue to expand their support for cancer patients during one of the most difficult times in their lives.

The demand for The Lewis Foundation’s services is growing, with hospitals across the UK contacting them to bring their gift packs and support to their patients. Their future lies in meeting this call — reaching more hospitals, more families and more individuals who can find comfort in knowing someone cares.

Beyond their gift packs, the team want to reimagine what the hospital environment can be. By enhancing cancer wards to make them brighter, warmer and more supportive places for patients, families, and staff.

Why West Northants? The Lewis Foundation think that West Northants is the perfect home for them. It is where their journey began, and the community here has been and continues to be the heartbeat of their growth — from the very first gift packs at Northampton General Hospital to the thousands they now deliver across the Midlands. The area’s strong sense of community, amazing local businesses and commitment to supporting social impact make it an ideal location for them to do their work.

Being based in West Northants also places them at the centre of the country, with excellent transport links that allow them to connect with hospitals across the UK who are reaching out to bring the team’s support to their patients. Most importantly, West Northants offers The Lewis Foundation a really engaged community who supports their vision to improve cancer care and has really supported them branching out to expand the services they offer such as cafe and retail, which adds an additional benefit to the community.

Any businesses looking to support The Lewis Foundation through donation of stock, fundraising or corporate sponsorship, get in touch – hello@thelewisfoundation.co.uk or call 02604 245689.