The League of Friends is changing.

Traditionally the focus of the League’s fund-raising efforts has – as the name suggests – been Ludlow’s hospital. The League has bought equipment not covered by NHS budgets and provided volunteers to provide hospital-based services, as well as vigorously supporting the campaign for a new hospital on the Eco Park which continues to this day.

In short, for decades the League has helped to ensure that Ludlow Community Hospital is well-resourced, well supported and connected to the local community.

But nowadays the need for the League’s support extends beyond the walls of the hospital.

Today, far more attention is being paid to the provision of healthcare in the wider
community or ‘neighbourhood’, as the current health ministry terms it: to services including those addressing mental wellbeing, dementia, prevention of illness through fitness and mobility programmes as well as those provided by local GP practices, district nurses and other healthcare providers.

The League has already responded to this demand by extending its financial support further into the community in the form of donations to Ludlow’s First Responders, the Ludlow Assembly Rooms dementia programmes and Hands Together.

Into the future with a new constitution and a new name
Having discussed this policy with the Hospital and general trust management, it is the intention of the trustees to continue to support such healthcare-related initiatives in Ludlow and the surrounding area wherever they consider this to be appropriate, and in due course – and subject to the approval of the Charity Commission – to adopt a new name and constitution which accurately reflect these wider aims.

And, of course, the League is most appreciative of the support it already receives from its members and the wider public and welcomes any opportunity to attract donations to further the cause of improving healthcare in south Shropshire.

A detailed paper outlining the League’s vision for the future is available here:

If you are a paid member of the League of Friends, you will soon be invited to the Annual General Meeting (14 May 2026) where these proposals will be discussed.