A CHARITABLE foundation came to the rescue of a hospice to ensure its patients could still enjoy piping hot home-cooked meals.

St Cuthbert’s Hospice, based at Merryoaks, Durham, applied to Yorkshire Building Society Charitable Foundation for a £488 donation when their hot cupboard – which stops meals from going cold – broke.

Carole Lynn, from St Cuthbert’s Hospice, said: “We are very grateful to Yorkshire Building Society Charitable Foundation for their very generous grant which allowed us to buy the hot cupboard.

“It is already making a tremendous difference to our quality of service to our in-patients and day guests."

In 2014, the Charitable Foundation made 2,189 donations to good causes and charities in the UK totalling £464,000. It is funded by the innovative Small Change, Big Difference scheme, which enables members to donate the pennies from their annual interest on their savings and mortgages accounts each year.

Pauline Giroux, Corporate Responsibility Manager at Yorkshire Building Society, said: “I’m delighted the Charitable Foundation, which is funded by our members, has been able to help St Cuthbert’s Hospice.

"The charity makes a real difference to its patients and their families and I’m proud we are able to help support their work.”