Category: Hospice News

Picture from left to right: Marie Cottam – Carers Quality Award Project Support Worker, Sue Carter – Ward Manager for St Barnabas, Julie Goy – Quality Development Lead for Every-One, Ruth O’Melia – Community Liaison Manager for St Barnabas, Chris Wheway – Chief Executive for St Barnabas

Following their application, St Barnabas Hospice Inpatient Unit and Day Therapy Centre in Lincoln have been accredited with the Lincolnshire Carers Quality Award – ‘You Care – We Care’

The St Barnabas Hospice Inpatient Unit and Day Therapy Centre in Lincoln have impressed the Carers Quality Award panel with their commitment to supporting carers needs, and has been given the ‘You Care – We Care’ award on 10th July 2017.

The ‘You Care – We Care’ award ensures that the profile of unpaid carers in Lincolnshire is raised, and the invaluable and essential contribution they make is recognised. This enables carers to live fulfilling lives, combined with their caring roles.

Ruth O’Melia, Community Liaison Manager for St Barnabas Hospice, said:

“We are delighted to have achieved this accreditation for the In-Patient Unit on Nettleham Road, and Day Therapy Centre on Hawthorn Road in Lincoln. It goes to show the amazing work that our Hospice staff and volunteers put in each day to help people care for their loved ones.

“I am very proud that we are able to empower families and carers to support loved ones living with a terminal or life-limiting illness. We want to ensure that these people feel as comfortable and in control as they can, during what is a very difficult time of their lives.”

St Barnabas supports carers through their services including financial help through the Welfare Team, counselling from the Family Support Team, practical advice from the Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists and support from the Spiritual Support and Wellbeing Team.

Julie Goy, Carer’s Quality Award Lead at Every-One, issuer of the award, said:

“It has been an absolute pleasure to work with St Barnabas, and I am delighted to hand over this award to them.

“It’s about the journey, not just the recognition, and St Barnabas very much deserve the award after all the hard work which has been put in.”

For further details about services, please contact St Barnabas Hospice at enquiries@stbarnabashospice.co.uk or on 01522 511 566.

Following their application, St Barnabas Hospice Inpatient Unit and Day Therapy Centre in Lincoln have been accredited with the Lincolnshire Carers Quality Award – ‘You Care – We Care’

The St Barnabas Hospice Inpatient Unit and Day Therapy Centre in Lincoln have Continue reading “Lincolnshire Hospice wins prestigious Carers Quality Award” →

Warwick when he opened the pioneering Hospice in the Hospital

Film star Warwick Davis has been announced as St Barnabas Hospice’s new patron.

The TV and film actor, famous for his roles in Star Wars and Harry Potter, will make his first official appearance on behalf of the charity at their anniversary celebration at Lincoln Cathedral on Sunday 11th June, from 3.30pm.

Warwick said: “I am humbled to have been asked to be the patron for St Barnabas Hospice, a charity that can make such a difference to the comfort of an individual and their family at such a difficult time. The environment and support they provide is second to none and a much needed part of the care system in this country.”

The anniversary event will celebrate St Barnabas Hospice’s 35th birthday and will include a special adapted Evensong to encapsulate a Service of Thanksgiving delivered by the Dean of Lincoln Cathedral followed by a drinks and canapes reception with special guests, long serving staff and volunteers exclusively invited.

The service is open to the public with a private reception to be held after.

Warwick has been a firm supporter of the Hospice for a number of years after holding stand-up fundraising events and officially opening the charity’s pioneering Hospice in the Hospital in Grantham.

Veronica McBain, Head of Fundraising and Marketing, said:

“We are thrilled to have Warwick’s support as our new St Barnabas Hospice patron. He has already demonstrated his commitment and understanding of our work and we are all really looking forward to working with him in the coming months.”

St Barnabas Hospice is looking for volunteers to fill a variety of roles across Lincolnshire

St Barnabas Hospice is appealing for volunteers from across Lincolnshire to spare some of their time working in a variety of roles. The Hospice has a huge range of volunteering opportunities available, including: gardening, retail, fundraising, administration, patient-interaction, and warehouse sorting.

St Barnabas welcomes applications from anyone aged 16 or over. There are many reasons why people want to volunteer for the Hospice, whether it is to learn new skills and grow in confidence, or to give something back to the community and help a local charity.

Steve Bond, Volunteer and People Development Manager at St Barnabas, said:

“Volunteering is a wonderful way for people to learn new skills, boost their CV and give something back to their community. It can help people to make new friends and get hands-on experience in hundreds of roles.

“Volunteers bring with them a wealth of experience and a rich body of knowledge that really benefits our patients and staff. Without volunteers we simply would not be able to care and support the thousands of people we do.

Volunteers have been at the heart of St Barnabas Hospice since it first opened its doors 35 years ago to support the people of Lincolnshire with life-limiting and terminal illnesses. Currently more than 1,100 volunteers donate their time across the county.

WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT THE ROLE OF THE VOLUNTEER:

“My daughter has just been offered a place to study nursing at Edinburgh University, this is in no small part due to her volunteering at the hospice. Her ability to relate her experiences during her university interview made all the difference and gave her real confidence. She has listed palliative nursing amongst her specialisms because of her volunteering with St Barnabas.”

– Mother of a volunteer who will take up a nursing degree in September 2014

“The IPU has been incredibly enlightening to me, allowing me to gain useful and practical experience and I am certain my university offers are, in part, down to my reflections on my voluntary work.”

– Oliver M, volunteer before they began medical studies

“Our volunteers enhance the quality of care given to our patients. They bring a varied and colourful mix of life experience which helps to greatly improve the patient experience.”

– Sue Carter, IPU Ward Manager

“When my mum was poorly there was nothing, it was a terrible time. Five years ago a friend went into the hospice and it made an incredible difference, the support that was around the whole family. It’s a pleasure to volunteer here, in truth I get back far more than I put in.”

-Member of the St Barnabas volunteers’ team

For further information about volunteering, call 01522 518 221 or email volunteering@stbarnabashospice.co.uk

Jo in the Creative Encounters session

Jo Appleton, from Lincoln, is sharing her experience of volunteering to encourage new volunteers to support people with a life-limiting or terminal illness.

Jo joined St Barnabas Hospice as a Spiritual Support Volunteer in 2014 because she “wanted to provide comfort and support and help make a difference.” Jo had previously been a hospital volunteer chaplain.

Jo explains her role, “Spiritual support is open to everyone – of all faiths and none. It’s about meeting with the patient, spending time talking about what is important to them and building a relationship. I am there to hold the patient’s hand through their journey, both literally and figuratively.

“It’s a real privilege to be able to get to know a person, for them to share their problems; to be there for them and to support them through some of their most difficult times.”

Jo found the process of becoming a volunteer simple and was in her role shortly after applying.

Jo said: “I was surprised at how easy it was to become a volunteer and how smoothly everything went. After I made my initial enquiry, I was invited for an informal chat with the Lead Chaplain and then a couple of weeks later I was being introduced to the team.

“For those needing support during the settling-in period there is the chance to shadow a more experienced volunteer, to help ease them into the role. We have monthly team meetings providing the opportunity to get to know everyone. Being part of the team feels like being part of a family and I have made many good friends.”

Jo volunteers once a week at St Barnabas Day Therapy Centre in Lincoln.

Jo continued: “The thing I enjoy the most about volunteering is all of the lovely people I meet, from patients and their families to staff and volunteers. It is also wonderful to know that I am making a difference and that I can provide support and comfort to those who need it.

“I’ll always remember how one patient described coming into St Barnabas Day Therapy as his red letter day because he found it such a lovely experience and it was the only time where he had the opportunity for company and to talk to other people.”

To find out more about volunteering with St Barnabas Hospice call 01522 518 221 or email volunteering@stbarnabashospice.co.uk

Two healthcare organisations in South East Lincolnshire are pooling their expertise to improve end of life care services in the region.

St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice and Butterfly Hospice are working together to address the challenges faced by people who use local services. The project, Shaping and Improving End of Life Care in South East Lincolnshire, aims to improve services for those who are affected by a life-limiting, palliative or end-of-life condition. The project will speak to patients directly, their family and friends.

Mandy Irons, General Manager for St Barnabas Hospice, said:

“Working together with the Butterfly Hospice on this project will enable us to find out what is important to people with a live limiting, palliative or terminal diagnosis and ensure that we can find ways of working together to provide seamless care and support when people need us the most. Gathering feedback on what support is already there and what people need to be available, will help to inform us about what matters the most.”

Linda Sanderson, Butterfly Hospice Trust Manger, said:

“It has been really good working with our colleagues at St Barnabas on this joint project, it is so important to find out people’s real experiences of palliative care, this enables the sharing of best practice and the development of further services.”

Those who would like to share their experiences can complete a short online survey http://bit.ly/2q5aTCW

Paper copies of the survey can also be requested from Diane Goddard on 01205 359 367 or diane.goddard@stbarnabashospice.co.uk

The survey closes on Friday 16th June 2017.

St Barnabas Hospice staff are set to get people talking about death, dying and bereavement as part of a national campaign week

St Barnabas Lincolnshire Hospice will be teaming up with The Waterside shopping Centre in Lincoln to raise awareness of the importance of talking about dying and putting plans in place.

From 8th – 12th May, local residents will be encouraged to add their hopes and dreams to bucket list style ‘Before I die…’ boards and decorate a cardboard coffin with poems, art and quotes in a community coffin project.

Lisa Gibson, Community Development Manager for St Barnabas Hospice, said:

“Over half a million people die in the UK each year; yet talking about dying, death and bereavement is something that many people find challenging. We are hoping that the boards will get people talking and start conversations around dying, death and bereavement.

“Death will have an impact on everyone’s lives at some point and talking about it means we are better prepared to support each other when it does happen. People may think it sounds morbid but the boards and the coffin project are as much about life as they are death.

“It is about encouraging people to make the most of the time they have and to put plans in place so that they can get on with living.”

The bucket list style boards and the community coffin project are part of a wider initiative to promote Dying Matters Awareness Week, which runs from 8th – 14th May. The annual campaign urges people to talk more openly and make plans for the end of life.

Lisa said: “People can get involved right across the county as our 27 shops will also be hosting bucket list style window displays which our shoppers can add to. Our aim is to get as many people as possible involved in helping us to create Lincolnshire’s biggest ever bucket list.”

Local people are being encouraged to Make their Will for free this May and in return asked to support to their local hospice

Throughout May, Sills and Betteridge Solicitors and Hodgkinsons Solicitors are giving their time and offering to make a Will for people across Lincolnshire in return for a donation or Gift in their Will to St Barnabas Hospice.

The firms will be inviting appointments from people wanting to create a new Will or make changes to an existing Will in May.

Jenny Peake, Individual Giving & Data Manager, said:

“Make a Will month is a great opportunity to get your affairs in order, have your Will written or amended for a donation and help to secure the future of St Barnabas Hospice.

“We are also asking our community to think about leaving a gift in their will as this can have a vital impact on the care we provide now and the care we hope to provide in the future. At present, one in five of our patients are supported by a gift left in a Will.”

Andrew Durkan, Partner at Sills and Betteridge, said:

“As well as raising funds for St Barnabas, the scheme helps to ensure that people in this area have a professionally drawn up Will. A Will is an important document for every adult no matter their age. Not only does it ensure that a person’s money and possessions are distributed as they wish but it means that they have a say in who looks after any children they may have if something should happen to them before those children reach 18.”

Chloe Sullivan, Solicitor at Hodgkinsons, said:

“At Hodgkinsons we’re very happy to have the opportunity to provide our time and expertise free of charge, so that St Barnabas can benefit from a donation instead of a fee. As our firm continued to expand in size we soon realised the importance of our social responsibility to the local community.

“Many of our staff members have a personal connection with St Barnabas who have cared for members of their family through times of sickness and so it seemed only fitting that we rallied up support to try and give back to a charity which we feel is more than deserving.”

As well as raising money for St Barnabas Hospice, Make a Will Month also encourages people to make plans for their future and to plan for the end of their lives.

Jenny added: “We spend our lives working to provide for ourselves and our loved ones. You may own property, shares, savings, investments and personal possessions. Making a Will is your way of saying how you would like your estate to be divided amongst your loved ones.

“There is no obligation as part of Make a Will month to leave a legacy to St Barnabas Hospice. However, once you have provided for your loved ones, any gift you are able to leave will help to ensure we are able to continue providing specialist care and support to our community in the future.”

Sills and Betteridge have offices in Lincoln, Boston, Skegness, Sleaford, Spilsby and Gainsborough. To find your nearest branch go to www.sillslegal.co.uk

Hodgkinsons have offices in Skegness. For the full address go to www.hodgkinsons.co.uk

Quote St Barnabas Hospice Make a Will Month when making an appointment.

For more information contact Jenny Peake, Individual Giving & Data Manager on 01522 559 511 or email jenny.peake@stbarnabashospice.co.uk

The Death Café movement aims to increase awareness of death and encourage open and honest conversations in a bid to break social taboos

St Barnabas Hospice will host a Death Café on Sunday 14th May, from 4pm – 6pm, at The Angel Coffee House on Free School Lane in Lincoln.

The Death Café is the second of four planned for this year and takes place on the last day of National dying Matters Week, running from 8 to 14 May. At Death Café members of the public are encouraged to gather to eat cake, drink tea and discuss death.

Lisa Gibson, Community Development Manager at St Barnabas Hospice, said:

“We held the first of four Death Cafés earlier this year and we were delighted by the positive feedback from those who attended. It is clear that there is a real need for this type of event in our city and we are delighted to be able to help our community have these important conversations.

“The event really isn’t as morbid as it may sound and people tell us that they leave the event feeling uplifted and inspired. Talking about death, dying and bereavement is a subject that many people can find challenging. In many ways, it has become a modern taboo with people desperately avoiding their own mortality.”

A Death Café is a group directed discussion about death with no agenda, objectives or themes. It is a discussion group rather than a grief support or counselling session.

Lisa said:

“At Death Café people talk about all sorts of subjects from Will writing, coping with bereavement and how to talk to family about dying. It is really inspiring to hear all of the life affirming conversations taking place and alongside the serious topics being discussed there is always a lot of laughter.”

The Death Café movement was started by Jon Underwood in London in 2011 and since then thousands of Death Cafes have been held across Europe, North America, and Australasia.

Lisa concludes: “It is our view that having open and honest conversations will mean that we are all better equipped to support each other when death has an impact on our lives.

“Death can bring up many questions, opinions and feelings and with this in mind our professional counsellors will be in attendance to provide additional support or help if anyone should need it.”

Death café is also planned for Sunday 6th August and Sunday 19th November.

Death Café is FREE and open to everyone, but attendance is limited to 45 people.

For more information about Death Café or to reserve your seat at the table contact 01522 559 504 or email marketing@stbarnabashospice.co.uk or sign up to the event at https://www.facebook.com/events/588887011303043/

Dying Matters Week is now in its eighth year and raises awareness of the importance of talking about, and planning for dying, with family members and loved ones.