We support people living through the challenges of life-changing illness. We support people in our residential and day centres, day clinics, in the community or at home. We help people affected by cancer, multiple sclerosis, Huntington's disease, Parkinson's disease, motor neurone disease, stroke, brain injury and life changing illnesses.

Sue Ryder was an exceptional figure of the 20th Century, a woman who dedicated her life to the relief of suffering.

Her legacy lives on in the work of our Charity, and the work we do to provide health and social care for people living with complex long-term and end of life conditions across Britain, Europe and in southern Africa.

Born in Yorkshire in 1924, Sue Ryder served with the Special Operations Executive (SOE) during the Second World War. Established by Winston Churchill in 1940, the SOE promoted and coordinated resistance activity in German occupied Europe.

Her life's mission became clear after World War II. During the post-war reconstruction in Europe, she worked as a volunteer amongst displaced and stateless refugees. During this time she opened her first home, St Christopher's in Germany. It was designed as a haven for refugees, many of whom were survivors of concentration camps. On her return to England, she established the Sue Ryder Foundation with the aim to provide care where it is needed most.

Today Sue Ryder still operates on the same principle. Providing care to people living with complex long-term and end of life conditions with our home-care, hospice and residential care services.

Sue Ryder was married for many years to war hero and fellow charity founder the late Leonard Cheshire VC, who died in 1992.

Lady Ryder was made a life peer in 1978 and was a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George in 1975. She also received the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1957.

In your area...---Argyll & ButeAyrshire & ArranBedfordshireBerkshireBordersBristolBuckinghamshireCambridgeshireCheshireClackmannanshireCornwall and Isles of ScillyCounty DurhamCumbriaDerbyshireDevonDorsetDumfries & GallowayDunbartonshireEast SussexEast YorkshireEdinburgh & LothiansEssexFifeForth ValleyGlasgow/Greater GlasgowGloucestershireGrampianGreater LondonGreater ManchesterHampshireHerefordshireHertfordshireHighlandsInverclydeKentLanarkshireLancashireLeicestershireLincolnshireMerseysideMorayNorfolkNorth WalesNorth YorkshireNorthamptonshireNorthumberlandNottinghamshireOrkneyOxfordshirePerth & KinrossRenfrewshireShetlandShropshireSomersetSouth WalesSouth YorkshireStaffordshireSuffolkSurreyTaysideTeesside and ClevelandTyne and WearWarwickshireWest MidlandsWest SussexWest YorkshireWestern IslesWiltshireWorcestershire

Latest News

---

New research shows people relying on charity shops to get through the recession, as charities join forces in major national campaign to get more donations through the door


read more

---

People in Britain could risk missing out on having their end of life wishes met and leaving a mess for those close to them, according to a new study commissioned by the Dying Matters Coalition (of which Sue Ryder is a member of).


read more

---