At Marie Curie in Bradford they help people over the age of 18 with an illness they’re likely to die from, and the people close to them, receive specialist care and support – for free. This includes Alzheimer’s (and other forms of dementia), heart, liver or kidney and lung disease, motor neuron disease, Parkinson’s and advanced cancer. Whatever the illness, whoever they are, Marie Curie are there until the end.
In-Patient Stay - if specialist round-the-clock care is needed, patients can stay in the hospice as an in-patient. That might be until the symptoms have been stabilised, or you might stay for your final days.
Outpatient Visit - patients can visit the hospice to get regular, personalised care targeted to specific needs – whether the patient has just been diagnosed, is approaching the end of life, or is close to someone who is.
Wellbeing Support - From gentle exercise sessions to reiki, Marie Curie offers a wide range of activities in the hospice to help patients live the best life possible, for as long as they can.
https://www.mariecurie.org.uk/services/hospices/bradford
HOW INITIAL CONTACT WAS MADE:
It was in September 2023 that I first engaged with the Marie Curie group of hospices in the UK. This led to the completion of the wonderful new cinema room at Marie Curie Hospice in Newcastle in June 2024.
With a total of 9 Marie Curie hospices in the UK I was keen to see if we could undertake a second installation at another venue. Fortunately word had spread amongst the Marie Curie group and we knew we would have a few new installations to fit into our schedule…
In November 2024 Chris Settle, the Facilities Manager at Marie Cure Bradford, contacted me and as our schedule for the year was already full we arranged to touch base later in the year. It was then in October 2025 that I visited the hospice in Bradford and experienced the warmth and cradling of another Marie Curie hospice
The room that Chris showed me wasn’t perfect for a cinema, but it was workable…, but to really see the vision we needed an expert, and so the search for a local installer began.
HOW THE INSTALLER / PROJECT MANAGER WAS FOUND:
With there being a high population in and around Bradford there were several installers that we could have approached. Following the advice of Melanie Malcolm, one of our directors, who happens to live near Bradford, I was able to approach two credible installers in the area and one, Clearly Automated, came back to me immediately with the willingness and desire to help make the cinema magic happen at the Marie Curie in Bradford.
Christian Dodgson was aware of the Together For Cinema work and had been keen to get involved in some way so when I approached him it was a quick and easy decision for him to commit.
ROOM ASSESSMENT AND PRODUCT SPECIFICATION:
With limited space available at the Marie Curie facility there was really only one room that we were able to work with . This was a lounge style day room that would then become a multi-functional AV facility with a big screen and great audio, all at the press of a button.
This room had it’s challenges with a high angled ceiling, some triangular windows that needed black out treatment, as well as the other ‘standard’ challenges! As we know in CI, challenges are always solutions to be found, and Christian quickly overcame all issues and designed an extremely functional, uncomplicated, but high performance room, that would satisfy the desire for a cinema environment, and other AV opportunities. The staff, patients and their families were all excited about the installation, and couldn’t wait for it to be installed.
With a design approved, Christian set about considering what products would give us the best solution for the room, whilst delivering great all round performance. The first decision, and with projection not being possible, was to look at a 100” Smart TV, with a Soundbar, and a suitable speaker package. With this being the main part of the installation, we wanted to make sure the control was simple for the venue, and the families to use. RTI was selected and was a great choice…, giving the cinema room one button control.
The products specified had to be right for the job, and with high use expected, they needed to be ‘hardy’ and give a high quality result.
SOURCING OF PRODUCTS:
With many of our regular donors stepping up to help we quickly had the promise of all we needed, and we were able to look at an installation date.
All brands mentioned listed below were ‘ready, willing and able’ to donate the items that we needed to make this room happen. With a comprehensive and quality kit list there’s always the concern that we may struggle to make it happen, however, everyone we approached was keen to donate and as mentioned above, all that we had approached had donated several times in the past…
We are of course hugely grateful to all companies that donate to a Together For Cinema project but for Marie Curie this is a real bonus that they could never normally have afforded or imagined having. Thank you to all that donated and the kit list reads as follows…
PRODUCT THAT WAS DONATED:
Alltrade (Rack):: 1 x 9U 19" Skeleton Rack Cabinet
Cassidy Blinds (Automated Blinds): Tailored automated blinds as required
Clearly Automated (Various): Installation consumables, as well as project management, design and installation time
Future Automation (Bracket): 1 x PS80 bracket
HDA (Cables): 1 x 10m fibre optic HDMI cable
HDA (Cables): 1 x 1 in 4 switch HDMI
Hisense (Smart TV): 1 x 100U7KQTUK U7K 100" 144Hz Mini LED UHD Smart 4K TV
Lutron (Automated Blinds): 1 x Roller 100 drive unit, 2 x Triathlon Battery Operated Blinds, to size 600mm wide x 620mm high, 1 x 30m drum of cable and 1 x RA2 Mains Repeater Bridge
Officina Acustica (Acoustic Paneling): 2 x 2m x 1m acoustic panels
One AV (Switch): 1 x 8 port switch
RTI / Habitech (Control): 1 x T1-B+ Remote Control, 1 x XP6 Processor and 1 x RTI RM433 aerial
Sonos (Speakers): 1 x ARC Ultra Smart Soundbar plus wall mount, 2 x Era 300 Premium Smart Speaker plus wall mounts and 1 x Sub 4 Wireless Subwoofer
TDI Pro AV (Various): 1 x 8-way DJ Rocker Switch
Together For Cinema (Content): 1 x Apple TV 128gb, 4k Box and 1 x DMR-BWT850EB 1TB HDD and Blu-ray Disc Recorder
INSTALL STARTED:
Monday 9th March, 2026.
INSTALL COMPLETED AND FINAL SIGN OFF:
Friday 3rd April, 2026
OPENING RECEPTION:
To Be Confirmed
INSTALLER COMMENTS:
“…”
Christian Dodgson, Managing Director, Clearly Automated
VENUE COMMENTS:
“...”
Christopher Settle, Facilities Manager, Marie Curie Hospice, Bradford
PEOPLE INVOLVED IN MAKING IT HAPPEN:
Ian Morrish (Founder and Managing Director, Together for Cinema CIC)
Christian Dodgson (Managing Director, Clearly Automated)
All the manufacturers, distributors and other suppliers that supplied the necessary product, all of whom have already been mentioned in the the List above.
The Together for Cinema Directors and Partners, without who these installations would not be possible.
THANK YOU…, you have helped make a real difference at the Marie Curie Hospice in Bradford, and in turn, have made a real difference to so many people’s lives.
FINANCIALS:
We’re all aware that charities have to work very hard to secure the funding for most of their operational costs. With the comprehensive and considered cradling of a family through tough times, there is little monies left over for luxuries such as a cinema room.
For Marie Curie this new cinema room is a wonderful addition to their facility and at a normal cost of around £18,000, is something that would not usually be considered as a possibility.
SUMMARY:
This was Together for Cinema’s 59th good cause cinema room installation and helped take the Together for Cinema good cause community delivery to very nearly £1.55m worth of installations, had they all been paid for.
For Christian Dodgson and his team, this is a gift that all at the hospice will enjoy for many years to come. Be it movie time, gaming, karaoke, training, fundraising, the installation will be used and for many different purposes, all bringing joy and benefit to this wonderful venue. Most importantly of all, it will help cradle a families journey and create some happy moments and memories.
Thank you again to Christian for taking this on and I hope the ‘feel good’ factor of being involved in such a project, and making a difference to so many lives, is worth more than any payment.
“Together for Cinema – together for better”
For further details please contact Ian Morrish on 07768 398007,
or email at ian@togetherforcinema.co.uk
www.togetherforcinema.co.uk
Report created by Ian Morrish. All quotes to be from Ian Morrish, unless otherwise stated.
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