Category: Hospice News
40 Faces of hospice care | Meet Mandy Irons, Head of Wellbeing Services
Mandy believes joining St Barnabas nine years ago was the best career move she’s ever made and hasn’t looked back since. After 25 years in the NHS, joining a county-wide charity was a giant leap. But with a job description that could’ve been written with Mandy in mind, and the Hospice ethos, she knew it was worth it.
Mandy joined us to manage the Family Support Service delivering counselling and emotional support. Yet, in just 12 months, she moved to manage clinical services in the south of Lincolnshire, the Welfare Support team and she still looked after Family Support. This General Manager role made the most of her NHS business management experience, while keeping a foot in family support, while psychotherapy fed her soul. In fact, Mandy’s broad remit was the start of integrating patient and family services to deliver a truly holistic approach.
Fast forward, and today Mandy is our Head of Wellbeing, and her approach has transformed the way we consider wellbeing within the Hospice. She drove the development of the four pillars of wellbeing, bringing together clinical care, emotional, spiritual and psychological help, support for families and carers, and welfare and benefits advice and advocacy. The four-pillar approach is embedded in patient care decisions and is a core part of conversations with commissioners regarding our services.
In between securing funding to develop support for more families, working with the fundraising team to secure grants to deliver bereavement support in non-hospice settings, supporting volunteer counsellors, working with clinical colleagues to develop our care setting, and the People Development Team to support staff wellbeing, and managing a counselling/psychotherapy caseload (and that’s just in one day), Mandy goes the extra mile to support colleagues raising funds for the Hospice too.
Depending on the time of year, she can be found at coffee mornings, doing the walk of shame when her team comes last at a charity golf day or donning reindeer antlers in a bauble barn to read Christmas stories!
As if all that wasn’t enough, Mandy is an on-call manager too, attending emergencies across the county. Mostly it’s lost ID cards or IT issues, so she wasn’t ready for the flooded basement on her first call-out. Nor was she prepared for the swarm of angry wasps and bees that greeted her on call-out two. But the mini-fire on call-out three topped them all! It seems things really do come in threes.
In her own words…
“Reaching 40 years is such an achievement for a county-based charity, and what St Barnabas has achieved in that time is incredible. I’m proud to be part of the St Barnabas family and I owe the Hospice, its staff and volunteers a huge thank you for giving me the best career.”
To see all 40 Faces and their stories, please visit: https://stbarnabashospice.co.uk/40faces
Kuku Connect networking at The Warehouse
On Tuesday 11th April, the East Midlands business community came together for a networking event with a twist at The Warehouse charity shop by St Barnabas.
The monthly KuKu Connect network gathers business professionals from Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Derbyshire and beyond, and April’s event saw over 60 people gather at The Warehouse in Lincoln.
With over 5,000 square feet of shopping space and thousands of items to browse and purchase to support the hospice charity further, The Warehouse was an unusual location for the KuKu Connect Reception which normally takes place in more traditional networking venues.
Upon invitation, KuKu Connect members were asked to bring along some donations for The Warehouse, with some great items being donated; from clothes, shoes and accessories to books, homeware and more.
Guests received a complimentary glass of the Ruby Gin or Ruby Rum, both created by Pin Gin in celebration of St Barnabas’ 40th anniversary.
A non-alcoholic option was available in the form of the Ruby Coffee by The Lincoln Tea & Coffee Company. All these delicious drinks can be purchased in St Barnabas’ online shop with the profits donated to the charity: https://stbarnabashospice.co.uk/shop/onlineshop/
Stephen Goddard and Philip Brooks-Stephenson, founders of KuKu Connect say: “Our members had a brilliant time at The Warehouse tonight, many also had a good look around and with so much on offer, there really is something for everyone!
“We are pleased to offer St Barnabas a complimentary one-year membership as the only Lincolnshire-based charity in the group. We look forward to working together and I’m sure they can count on the ongoing support of the many businesses within our organisation.”
St Barnabas provides free, compassionate, and dignified care to adults living with a life-limiting or terminal illness, as well as much needed support for families and carers. The Hospice supports over 12,000 people each year, providing their many care and support services in hospice buildings and Wellbeing Centres, as well as in people’s homes across Lincolnshire.
Caroline Swindin, Fundraising Development Manager, comments: “It’s been a pleasure to host such a well-known networking event that spans several counties and reaches so many communities.
“We’ve had great conversations with guests about the care we deliver across the county, and we hope they have gained information that may help them, a family member or friend who could benefit from our services.
“A huge thank you to Stephen and Philip for choosing us. I’d love to see tonight’s guests again to discuss how they can support us further over a coffee and a chat so please do get in touch with me. We look forward to the next KuKu Connect Reception, where we’ll of course be in attendance!”
To find out more information about St Barnabas, its services and how to support the cause, please visit: https://stbarnabashospice.co.uk/
All photography by David Harrison
St Barnabas celebrates International Women’s Day with promotions and new recruit
Today, Wednesday 8th March, marks International Women’s Day, a global initiative to celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women.
St Barnabas Hospice currently employs 268 women across the organisation, including doctors and nurses, housekeepers, fundraisers, retail workers, receptionists, and staff in every other area of the charity. Not to mention the Hospice was founded by a group of extraordinary women: Dr Helen Walker, Doreen Wood, Jenny Freeman, and Sheila Briggs.
Without the knowledge and passion of these four women and the many who followed in their footsteps, our charity would not be able to provide palliative and end of life care to over 12,000 people in Lincolnshire each year.
Today we shine a light on three incredible women within St Barnabas: Michelle Webb who has been promoted to Deputy Chief Executive, Rebecca Franks who has taken on Michelle’s previous role of Director of Patient Care Services, and Emma Wheatley who has recently started her Clinical Operations Lead role.
Together, the three have a staggering 86 years of experience in clinical care and are keen to pass on words of wisdom to young women who may be interested in joining the healthcare sector.
Michelle Webb is leaving her post as Director of Patient Care Services in the next week and will take up the brand-new role of Deputy Chief Executive in early April.
Michelle says: “I have been a nurse since 1983 with numerous degrees and qualifications under my belt. In my long career I have taken on clinical and leadership roles, but the bottom line is I am very proud to be a nurse. I think hospice care exemplifies the best nursing that care can offer, by providing very personalised and holistic care to patients and their families.
“I am proud of what I achieved in the role I’m now moving on from, including supporting the Hospice to get an ‘Outstanding’ rating from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and making improvements in our clinical care. In my new role I will be developing strategies and delivering innovation to ensure the best in Hospice care can be offered to the people of Lincolnshire.”
In her personal life Michelle is a car enthusiast, who enjoys driving and maintaining two classic cars with her sons and husband. She loves spending time with her whole family including her precious granddaughter, the family dog Cocoa and cheeky cat Flora.
“My advice to young women is: Never give up on a career aspiration or dream. Remember, believe what you can do, and you are halfway there!”
Rebecca Franks is taking over from Michelle as Director of Patient Care Services after working for a year as Senior Clinical Service Manager.
Rebecca studied nursing at University of Nottingham and has a Master’s degree in Law, as well as an advanced clinical practitioner qualification. She has extensive experience working in GP practices, prisons, sexual health and walk-in centres, A&E and out of hours care.
Rebecca says: “In my role it’s so important to be aware of what’s going on across all teams, this way we can act quickly to best support our patients. I work on future planning of St Barnabas services and their delivery, as well as reviewing our activities, being out with the staff and I usually drink lots of cups of tea!
“I am proud of my achievements in my career with St Barnabas so far, these include strengthening and recruiting to the clinical team in North East Lincolnshire and supporting nurses on university modules to develop their clinical skills and practice.”
Rebecca is more than a fantastic asset to the St Barnabas team, she also is very talented in other ways; she plays the harp, flute, and piano (though she added ‘badly’ to the latter) and loves to play tennis. She can often be found on the edge of a rugby pitch watching her daughter participate and on top of all that, busy bee Rebecca and her husband also run their own florist business.
“My advice to young women is: Do what you feel in your heart to be right, do it with courage and do it with integrity. Believe in yourself, share your experience and knowledge widely and put yourself forward in your career for what interests and excites you.”
Emma Wheatley is a new face at St Barnabas, having started in February, but she certainly is not green in the ways of clinical care.
She has held senior leadership positions within the NHS for the last 13 years, after starting as an Occupational Therapy Support Worker in 1999 and working her way up.
Emma says: “As I get settled into my role, I will be providing support and leadership to the clinical nursing and Allied Health professional teams across the county.
“Hospice care allows people to have the most dignified and person-centred care at the time it matters the most, and St Barnabas understands that everyone has individual needs and wishes. Everyone I work with goes above and beyond every single day and I am very grateful to be part of such a fabulous organisation.”
Emma has a lot of interests outside of her passion for clinical care, including spending time with her friends and family, especially her grandson, taking holidays to any hot destination, as well as keeping fit in the gym.
“My advice to young women everywhere is: You can be whoever you want to be. There’s no set journey and it may take a while to get to where you want but enjoy your time and be yourself!”
If you are inspired to work for St Barnabas Hospice, take a look at the current vacancies on our website: www.stbarnabashospice.co.uk/careers/vacancies
Much anticipated Morriston Orpheus Choir concert big success for St Barnabas
On Saturday 4th March, the world-famous Morriston Orpheus Choir performed at Lincoln Cathedral for the fourth time in support of St Barnabas Hospice, raising £27,500 in ticket sales and generous donations by the concert attendees on the night.
The performance was part of the 40th anniversary celebrations for St Barnabas, which was established as the first Lincolnshire hospice care charity in 1982.
Lincoln Cathedral’s beautiful architecture certainly added to the joyous atmosphere on the night, with the Choir performing on a stage erected within the historic Nave.
Conal Bembridge–Sayers, Musical Director at the Morriston Orpheus Choir said: “It is wonderful to be here and perform for supporters of hospice care, which is such an important cause.
“I am especially excited, as my grandfather spent his childhood here. He was born in Ireland and was brought up in Lincoln, before moving to Wales as an adult. It’s my first time visiting Lincoln and being able to perform in the Cathedral, which he will of course have seen many times, is very special to me.
“If you can support St Barnabas further, for instance by donating or volunteering, I highly suggest you do, it can mean a world of difference to the people you will be helping.”
The Choir’s setlist comprised of traditional and original songs in Welsh and English, with some audience members visibly moved by the emotional pieces. There were also plenty of smiles and laughs during the more light-hearted songs including ‘Be our Guest’ from Disney’s Beauty and the Beast.
Morriston Choir were joined onstage by soloist Rachel Roper who recently won the prestigious MOCSA Young Welsh Singer of the Year Award, and the local Lincoln Male Voice Choir who performed three songs including the Dambusters March.
Chris Wheway, Chief Executive at St Barnabas, said in his speech: “By being here tonight, you are making a difference to over 12,000 Lincolnshire people that we support every year. That’s families in your community, who we are honoured to care for. Your support means everything to us, and we couldn’t do it without you.”
St Barnabas would like to thank all the local music lovers who attended the performance, the members of Morriston Orpheus Choir and Lincoln Male Voice Choir, Rachel Roper, and all staff and volunteers who helped run the event.
With special thanks to long-time supporter and Lincoln Male Voice Choir member Keith Hebblewhite who at the end of the concert was presented with a gift. Keith organised for the Choir to support the Hospice with their first performance in 2003 and has been instrumental in the three following Morriston Orpheus Choir concerts.
To find out more about St Barnabas Hospice and to support the cause, visit: www.StBarnabasHospice.co.uk
Photography by Jorj Malinowski and David Chapman of Lincoln Camera Club
How playing the St Barnabas Spring Raffle supports patients
With a top prize of £2,023 to be drawn at the end of March, the Spring Raffle by St Barnabas gives players more than the chance to win great prizes; it supports patients with life-limiting and terminal illnesses all around the county.
Every year, the charity supports over 12,000 people who are suffering from conditions such as cancer, heart failure, motor neurone disease and Parkinson’s, among others.
Patients are cared for in their own homes, within the Inpatient Unit in Lincoln and in Grantham’s Hospice in the Hospital. St Barnabas also hosts coffee mornings and support groups in their Wellbeing Centres, which can be found in various locations around the county.
Tracy Atkins is a Health and Rehabilitation Support Worker at the Inpatient Unit and sees the difference that St Barnabas makes every day.
She says: “A common misconception about our care is that it’s about death, but we see it as being about living. Whether it’s years, months, weeks, or days, we want our patients to be able to continue to be themselves for as long as possible and live their life to the fullest.
“We do this not just by providing vital medical care, but also physiotherapy, equipment to help with mobility, and we can even give advice about the benefits patients are entitled to. We can also give emotional and spiritual support including counselling, spiritual care and bereavement support to patients, their families, friends and carers.
“Our mission is to continue supporting communities around Lincolnshire and give our free, compassionate care to those who need it. We have recently celebrated our 40th anniversary and to continue for many years to come, we need your help.
“By playing our Spring Raffle for just one pound per ticket, you will be supporting clinical staff like myself to give care to those in your community, and of course the prizes are very worthy too!”
The first prize of £2,023 would be a massive boost; it could pay for a holiday, home improvements or simply pay off some bills. The second prize is £500, third prize £250 and five instances of £50 are up for grabs too.
The raffle will be drawn on Wednesday 29th March, with entries closing the Friday before, 24th March. Sign up for the Spring Raffle by visiting the St Barnabas website.
The Warehouse celebrates a hugely successful first year
St Barnabas Hospice’s flagship charity shop The Warehouse in uphill Lincoln is celebrating its first year in business on 10th February, and what a year it’s been – over 120,000 items were sold, generating £410,000 in sales, which goes towards supporting hospice care.
With over 5,000 square feet of shopping space, The Warehouse is choc-a-bloc with great items at low prices, including clothing, homeware, furniture, vinyl records, books and much more.
You will also find a display unit highlighting items currently on auction on the St Barnabas eBay shop, as well as racks of pre-loved, branded vintage items on Depop.
Emma-Jayne Parker, manager at The Warehouse, says: “We have been blown away by the incredible support given to us since we first opened our doors. People of all ages and interests visit us and find great bargains, and it’s not just those who live locally, but also further away in Lincolnshire.
“We have many regulars coming to The Warehouse to browse our thousands of items, as the stock is constantly changing thanks to the high-quality donations we receive. If you would like to drop off donations, you can book a slot online via our Book & Bring system so we know when to expect your items.
“I want to say a huge thank you to everyone who has made our first year such a success, including all donors, shoppers, staff, and of course our brilliant volunteers. We couldn’t run this shop without them, and they have given us over 4,000 hours of their time in the past 12 months.
“We are always looking for more volunteers who can help us sort through donations, put items on the shop floor or man the tills. It’s so much fun, we’ve got a great team here and each volunteer can choose in which area they would like to work.
“We’d love to hear from anyone over the age of 14 with a can-do attitude, who would like to gain new skills, meet new people, and support their local Hospice.”
If you are interested in volunteering, you can sign up via the St Barnabas website here: www.stbarnabashospice.co.uk/get-involved/volunteer
The Warehouse opened in February 2022, after months of renovations to the former donation sorting point for all of St Barnabas Hospice’s shops around the county. The charity’s ambitious plans to open its biggest shop have paid off, and it is designed with sustainability and accessibility in mind.
Caroline Peach, Head of Retail says: “Sustainability is key, sometimes we receive low quality items which we can’t sell but we don’t just dispose of them; these items get recycled. This year we’ve recycled over 38,000 kilos of unsellable stock, saving huge amounts of items from going to landfill and supporting the circular economy.
“It is very important to us that our shops are accessible for everyone, and we made sure that The Warehouse has extra wide walkways, ramp access, and smooth flooring across the store for the best shopping experience.
“We’re also very proud of the success of Gift Aid, a government initiative where for every £1 we generate in sales in our shops, we can claim an extra 25p from HMRC at no extra cost to the customer. Through this scheme, this year we’ve raised an extra £14,000 for Hospice care from The Warehouse alone. When people drop off donations, they can let us know they would like to participate, we just need a quick minute to set this up and it really helps your donations go even further.
“We are so very grateful to everyone who has supported us in this past year, and we can’t wait to see what this upcoming year will bring for The Warehouse. Make sure to come by soon and see the shop for yourself!”
You can find out more about The Warehouse, including the Book & Bring donation system and volunteering opportunities, by visiting: www.stbarnabashospice.co.uk/shop/warehouse
Morriston Choir superfan Keith on why upcoming concert is so special
When Keith Hebblewhite opened a Christmas present from his brother Peter in 1998, he had no idea how it would change his life. Within the festive wrapping, Keith found a Morriston Orpheus Choir CD – a world-famous choir based near Swansea in Wales.
The CD sparked an interest in him, and the following year he joined the Lincoln Male Voice Choir. Serendipitously, the Morriston Choir were performing at Derby Cathedral soon after, so Keith attended the concert with fellow choir members.
In his own words, Keith was hooked on Morriston Choir from that very first performance and since then, has become a true superfan!
Since 2003, he has organised for the Choir to come to Lincoln Cathedral thrice in support of St Barnabas Hospice. All three concerts sold out, with thousands of music lovers enjoying these evenings of top-class male voice singing in the historic setting of Lincoln Cathedral.
On 4th March, the Choir will return to the Cathedral once more, with some tickets still available to purchase via St Barnabas’ website here: https://stbarnabashospice.co.uk/events/morriston-choir/
Keith says: “The Morriston Orpheus Choir travel all around the world and are so popular. They have performed everywhere – from New York to Sydney, China to Canada, and have even sung for the Royal Family and the Pope. They are often on TV as well, appearing on Songs of Praise and other musical programmes.
“They are extremely talented musicians, with excellent diction and great focus on performing the songs wonderfully, and they always look smart in matching suits. For them to come back to for the fourth time shows you what the Choir thinks of St Barnabas and Lincoln.”
When asked how the first Morriston Choir concert came about, Keith explains he met a man in the interval of that first concert he attended. The man told Keith he was trying to persuade the Choir to come to his hometown of Cannock to sing. When the man succeeded, Keith and his wife Pat received tickets, and he saw the magnificent Choir again in the Staffordshire town. This inspired him to try get them to Lincoln, in support of his favourite charity.
Keith says: “I took my CDs and a video of the Choir to Lincoln Cathedral and Neil Paulger, who was at the time the Director of Business Development at St Barnabas. Together, a plan was formed to get the Choir to Lincoln to raise money for the Hospice. I had no hesitation in choosing St Barnabas, as all the staff are so very special, caring, and passionate, and do so much for our community.
“In May 2003, the Morriston Choir came to perform for the first time. Staff, volunteers, organisers, and attendees were all blown away by the successful event, and the Choir thoroughly enjoyed themselves too. They came back twice more, in May of 2005, and in May of 2016.
“Now they are returning for a fourth time on 4th March, to again raise money for St Barnabas Hospice and to celebrate the 40th anniversary of a charity that does so much good around Lincolnshire.”
Tickets are available in tiered pricing from £30, with printed souvenir programmes available to pre-purchase. To purchase your tickets, please visit: https://stbarnabashospice.co.uk/events/morriston-choir/
Keith’s passion for raising funds in support of St Barnabas does not stop at organising Morriston Choir concerts. In his younger days, he was a keen athlete and took part in various marathons and runs, fundraising for various charities.
He’s been all over the world supporting Team GB, so when the Olympics took place in London, Keith was nominated by his son-in-law Tom to carry the torch through Lincoln. Keith was chosen, and after taking his lap he passed the torch to Olympian Jade Etherington.
Since then, he has taken the precious torch around schools, offices, shops and other places around Lincolnshire, in return for donations to St Barnabas. After five months of fundraising, he raised over £5,000 and Keith continues to raise money for his beloved charity by participating in other fundraisers too.
The Olympic torch is now kept at Lincoln Guildhall, and every year Keith is able to draw it out to participate in St Barnabas Hospice’s poignant Torchlight Procession.
Keith says: “The annual Torchlight Procession is a beautiful event, with thousands of people carrying flaming torches in memory of loved ones no longer with us. I walk in memory of my two brothers no longer with us, David and Peter. The latter gave me the Morriston Choir CD and he was in the Chester Cathedral Choir for 25 years, it appears singing is in our blood.
“It seems more than a coincidence that Choir singing, athletics and my appreciation for St Barnabas Hospice have all come together in such ways. Long may St Barnabas serve our local community in need of care and compassion!”
Schools and youth clubs encouraged to get creative for St Barnabas
This summer, St Barnabas is launching its highly anticipated HeART Trail, which promises to be Lincolnshire’s biggest and best art trail to date.
It will be fun for the whole family to find all beautiful heart-shaped sculptures around the county, which will be located in Lincoln as well as other areas such as Louth and Boston.
Young at HeART will be the educational element to this Trail, which will see schools and youth groups create their very own heart statue, three-quarters the size of those on the main trail. By partaking, schools can create fantastic and engaging workshops for their pupils, all relevant to the curriculum guidelines.
The most exciting part of Young at HeART? It’s completely up to the pupils what their heart will look like, including the materials used and its design. It’s a great way to showcase your students’ art skills and support your local Hospice.
William Farr C of E Comprehensive School in Welton have signed up to Young at HeART, and students of all ages have been busy working on a sculpture that represents the school.
Headteacher Jonathan Knowler says: “We are absolutely delighted to be part of the Young at HeART Trail. We have a lot of personal connections to St Barnabas, both from staff and students, and we are proud to be working together to raise money to benefit those less fortunate than ourselves.”
Ben Price, Head of Design, says: “We started by asking the whole student body if they were interested in submitting designs, and we shortlisted them. Now we have six students of different ages from across the school, working in collaboration to get those ideas together and take them forward.”
Ivy, Year 7 student, says: “It’s a really good idea for schools to get involved, I feel like it’s important and schools need to show what they can do and show their art skills to the world.”
Each school, youth group or club that signs up will be able to source their own materials and seek advice from a local artist, known as a ‘HeARTist’, to help make their ideas become reality.
Renowned Lincoln-based artist Mel Langton is the Artist Ambassador for St Barnabas and the HeART Trail.
She says: “Creating your very own sculptures means you can let your imaginations run wild.
“You will choose how it looks, what materials you use, and how you might paint or decorate it. It’s up to you where the sculpture is displayed after the Trail ends – indoors or outdoors, so you may need to think about how weather could affect the materials you choose.
“It is a really exciting project to get involved in!”
There is no cost to take part in the Trail. St Barnabas encourages fundraising at least £400 to enable the charity to continue to care for patients and their families each day, and the fundraising team will be able to support participants in reaching this goal.
For more information about Young at HeART and to sign up, visit https://stbarnabashospice.co.uk/hearttrail/young-at-heart/
Below: William Farr students and staff, with St Barnabas Hospice’s Caroline Swindin second right, and artist Mel Langton far right
Spring Forward with St Barnabas
The weather might not yet feel like it, but spring will be here soon and there’s no stopping the St Barnabas Hospice fundraising team, who have a range of exciting activities planned for supporters of all ages!
The Hospice invites supporters to ‘Spring Forward’ with them and help raise money for vital patient care around the county, with activities ranging from sporting events and daredevil challenges to coffee mornings, pub quizzes and a not-to-be-missed concert at Lincoln Cathedral.
Sports and activities
St Barnabas encourages supporters to lace up their running shoes and participate in the City of Lincoln 10k, taking place on 16th April. With a route that goes past Lincoln’s most beautiful landmarks and with huge crowds to cheer you on, it’s a must-do for any running enthusiast.
If cycling is more your speed, the famous Castle 2 Coast 2 Castle (C2C2C) charity cycle ride will be back on 29th June, offering truly spectacular views of the Lincolnshire countryside as you make your way through a 100 mile or 200km route in support of St Barnabas. This untimed challenge is open to all, with some participants riding all of it, or in relay.
Or if a set activity doesn’t suit you, the fundraising team would be delighted to help you choose your own challenge in support of the Hospice.
In the summer of 2020, Sarah Poucher took up the charity’s On Yer Bike cycling challenge along with her three children to raise money for the Hospice which had given end-of-life care to her father, Colin. At the time Mollie was 10 years old, Thomas 8, and Bethan 4 – the latter sat on the back of her mum’s bike and enjoyed the sights.
Sarah says: “We set a goal of 100 kilometres, which seemed like a massive target, but we broke it down into six cycle rides. I’m not a big fan of cycling or exercise so those who know me, knew it would be a challenge!
“The children thought it was fantastic, and I really enjoyed spending time together as a family. We wanted to raise £250, and actually raised £620, we were really pleased with that. It was great being active and exploring the countryside in the sunshine.
“If you’re considering taking on a challenge this spring, you should definitely do it. You’ll feel great afterwards and the difference it can make to someone in need of St Barnabas Hospice’s support is phenomenal, as well as the comfort it gives that person’s family.”
Calling all daredevils
If you are a thrill seeker, then how does walking over red-hot embers sound to you? The Hospice’s latest Fire Walk will be held on 18th March in Grantham, with a brand new LEGO Walk also available on the same day for supporters from the age of 5.
Both events are a great way to challenge yourself and raise money for the Hospice, and they also make for a fantastic teambuilding exercise for your workplace or school.
Other ways to support the Hospice
Not everyone is a daredevil or sporting enthusiast, and St Barnabas has plenty of great fundraising ideas for those who prefer to take it easy.
The charity’s 25 shops around Lincolnshire are always fully stocked with high quality items including clothing, shoes, homeware, books, and much more. By shopping, you can support the Hospice while picking up fantastic bargains. And if you’re feeling lucky, scratch cards with prizes up to £1,000 can be purchased in-store or online as well.
On 4th March, the world-famous Morriston Orpheus Choir will return to Lincoln Cathedral for the fourth time in support of the Hospice. This concert is not to be missed by music lovers, as the outstanding 80-strong Welsh male voice choir performs in the historic setting. St Barnabas expect this to be a sell-out as per the previous Choir concerts, so make sure to purchase tickets quickly by clicking here.
Two popular St Barnabas fundraisers launched last year – Care for a Cuppa and Pub Quiz are for those who love socialising over a drink – whether that’s a cup of coffee or tea, or something a bit stronger! When you sign up for to either of these fundraisers, you receive a pack in the post that helps you host the best possible coffee morning or pub quiz. These flexible and fun events can be hosted on a day and time of your choosing in your own home, workplace, community centre, club or of course down your local.
Gardening enthusiasts can open their garden, however small or large, to family, friends, or the local community for everyone to enjoy and get out in the fresh air, relax and take in the beauty around them.
You could also volunteer in one of our shops, at the Inpatient Unit or sign up to help out at our organised events. Every single hour given to us means so much, and helps us further support people in your community. Click here to find out more about volunteering.
Veronica McBain, Head of Fundraising and Lottery, says: “We support over 12,000 Lincolnshire people living with a life-limiting or terminal illness annually and we need to raise over £6.5million each year to continue providing this care. It’s a big target and every pound raised really makes a difference.
“We appreciate everyone’s donations, whether that be through an event or fundraiser, by shopping with us, playing our lottery, purchasing scratch cards or volunteering your time. We really couldn’t do what we do without the support of those in the local community, and we thank everyone who will ‘Spring Forward’ with us.”
St Barnabas Hospice receives £4,800 grant to train admin staff
St Barnabas Hospice are delighted to have received a £4,800 grant from the Serco Foundation, the charitable branch of Serco, which provides services to public organisations.
The grant funding will be spent on St Barnabas administration staff to receive specialised knowledge and understanding in medical terminology. This can help the admin team to identify the diagnosis of patients more efficiently, and where required refer the patient to other areas within the organisation, so they can get the care they need quicker.
Sheena Ambler, Senior Clinical Service Manager for St Barnabas, says: “We are thrilled to have received this funding from Serco.
“St Barnabas Hospice employs over 300 staff, a large percentage of whom are based in a clinical setting, and all our staff work harmoniously as a team to contribute to the care delivery of patients.
“Being able to offer our staff the opportunity to attend this certified medical terminology training will enable them to give even better support to our patients, which will benefit everyone and will further improve the outstanding experience patients have with us.
“Our administrative staff really are the backbone of the clinical team and without them, our amazing doctors, nurses, and other clinical team members would not be able to give patients care as well as they do.
“So far, we have offered this training to two people in our fantastic administration team; Laura Young, who is a South East Multi-Disciplinary Team Administrator in our Boston Wellbeing Centre (Novak House) and Molly Scotton, South West Coordinator in our Grantham Wellbeing Centre. There is scope to offer it to two others, so we will be approaching the relevant team members about this in due course.
“To be able to invest in Laura and Molly’s development and academic healthcare skills is such a boon and we thank Serco for this funding. We look forward to starting the training and seeing the positive effects.”
Chris Simm, Social Value Lead at Serco, comments: “We are very pleased to have been able to award the £4,800 grant to St Barnabas Hospice. We know how important the charity’s care services are for the residents of Lincolnshire, supporting over 12,000 adults living with a life-limiting or terminal illness annually.
“We look forward to hearing how Laura and Molly get on with their training, and we appreciate all the hard work the Hospice puts into looking after their local communities.”
To find out more about St Barnabas Hospice’s care services, please visit: https://stbarnabashospice.co.uk/services/