Southerns Solicitors’ relationship with Pendleside Hospice is built on a shared legacy. It begins with Muriel Jobling, whose influence helped shape both our firm and the hospice’s foundations.
Pendleside Hospice stands today as a beacon of compassion in Burnley and Pendle, and at the heart of its story is a woman whose legacy connects the hospice and Southerns Solicitors in a deeply personal way.
The idea for hospice care in Burnley and Pendle came from local solicitor Muriel Jobling MBE. A pioneering figure in both the legal profession and the community. Muriel spent her working life caring for people at every stage of life, believing strongly in looking after clients “from cradle to grave”. It was this same sense of responsibility and compassion that led her to campaign tirelessly for better end-of-life care locally.
Her determination was sparked after visiting her cleaner in hospital, where she was disheartened by the lack of dignified care available for those with terminal illness. Muriel knew Burnley and Pendle deserved better.
In 1988, following two public meetings and seven years of fundraising, Muriel helped establish what was then known as Hospice Care for Burnley and Pendle. The charity began as an advice and counselling service, later developing into a small day-care unit at Marsden Hospital. Under Muriel’s leadership, the hospice grew steadily, driven by community support and volunteer commitment.
In 1997, Pendleside Hospice opened its purpose-built home in Reedley, offering a 10-bed inpatient unit, day therapy services and a 24-hour Hospice at Home service. It was rightly described as “a hospice built by the community, for the community.”
While Pendleside initially cared primarily for people with cancer, it now supports those living with a wide range of life-limiting conditions, including dementia, respiratory and neurological illnesses. Each year, the hospice supports over 1,700 people, including adults, children, carers and families accessing bereavement and emotional support. Without Pendleside, local people would be forced to travel far outside the area to access specialist palliative care.
Muriel’s Lasting Legacy
Muriel Jobling’s professional life was deeply rooted in Burnley’s legal community. She trained and practised at the family firm of Jobling, Jobling and Knape, which later became Southerns Solicitors. A trailblazer in a male-dominated profession, she was the first female president of the local Law Society, served on national tribunals, and received a lifetime achievement award for 70 years’ service to the law. In 1994, she was awarded an MBE for her services to the community.
Muriel passed away in 2017, aged 93, but her legacy lives on through Pendleside Hospice and the thousands of lives it continues to touch.
Today, Southerns Solicitors is proud to honour that legacy by choosing Pendleside Hospice as our Charity of the Year for 2026. The values Muriel stood for: care, dignity, service and community – remain central to who we are as a firm. By fundraising, raising awareness and supporting Pendleside’s vital work, we hope to give something back to an organisation that means so much to our town and to our own history.
This partnership is more than a charity initiative. It is a continuation of a shared story – one rooted in compassion, community and a belief that everyone deserves care and dignity at life’s most difficult moments.
Lisa Clarke, the Corporate Fundraiser at Pendleside Hospice says… “We’re absolutely delighted that Southerns Solicitors have chosen to support Pendleside Hospice as their Charity of the Year. It truly means the world to us. The hospice faces annual running costs of approx £6.8m and only 20% of this is covered by NHS grants. We rely heavily on the kindness and generosity of our community to raise the remaining £5.4m.
That’s why support from local businesses like Southerns makes such a real difference. Their commitment helps us continue caring for patients and their families when they need it most, providing comfort, compassion and support during some of the toughest moments in life. We are so grateful for their support.”
Our Fundraising so far…
We have an exciting and meaningful year of support and fundraising ahead. Our Easter Chocolate Raffle raised £174 for the hospice, and we have donated a further £500 in April to the hospice. Our team are now taking on a “1000 Miles in April” challenge, pledging to walk, run, swim or cycle a combined 1000 miles over the month to raise money. In addition, several of our staff will be participating in the Pendle Pub Walk on Saturday 13th June, alongside other activities planned throughout the year.
We look forward to supporting Pendleside Hospice throughout 2026 and invite our clients, colleagues and community to join us in making a real difference.
If anyone would like to donate via our fundraising page, please find our JustGiving page here: www.justgiving.com/page/southerns-solicitors-pendleside-hospice
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