The students have the responsibility of deciding what equipment or furnishings they want to purchase with more than $1200 raised from the combined schools concert.

The group was provided with information on how the unit functions, what donations have made it a more homely place and what they might be able to donate to improve the unit.

Wellington Hospital patient care and service manager Clare Morcom gave the students a clear idea of the importance of making a palliative care unit as comfortable as possible for a sick person and their family.

“It is very important that we have things as homely as possible,” Ms Morcom said.

“It is the environmental things that can be most significant for this unit and the most important treatment we can provide.”

Even having a good kitchen is important in a palliative care unit despite the hospital supplying catered meals to patients.

“People joke about hospital food and ours is very good, but it helps people feel more at home to be able to cook something

to enjoy as a family,” she said.

The students narrowed down their choices to either a table and chairs or a wardrobe and bedside table for the unit.

The students were quite proud of their efforts in raising the funds alongside other local schools and being able to put it back into a very important part of the community.

“I think it’s a great idea to support the local community,” school captain Jacob Forrest said.

“We would rather put the money back into the local community than put it somewhere else.”

Vice-captain Richard Graham agreed it is fantastic to not only raise money for the school, but getting together with other schools to do something so nice in the community is even better.