Category: Hospice News
This year’s Christmas message from our CEO, Chris Wheway
This December, I would like to say a big thank you to all of those who have supported us throughout the year and wish you a very, happy Christmas.
Thank you to the companies who have supported us with time and money, our staff, and our volunteers. Thank you also, to all the people who have been into our shops to donate and spend money with us. Without all of your support, we couldn’t continue to provide care to over 12,000 people and their families across Lincolnshire, every year.
This year has been an exciting one for the Hospice, including the celebration of our 40 years of service with our 40 Faces of Hospice Care, the HeART Trail, our biggest fundraiser to date, the launch of our Free Will Cafes and the restoration of our Wellbeing Centres.
As well as reflecting, we are also looking forward to next year and what we have to come, including our upcoming Ironworks display and Spring forward appeal.
Please remember to share a Christmas memory of your loved one this year through Much Loved, a new addition to ways we offer for you to organise a dedication to your loved one: https://sbh.memorypage.org/christmas-memory
I know Christmas is a challenging time for many and a time where things like grief are amplified. I hope and pray that you all have a peaceful and blessed Christmas and thank you once again for your support.
Eleven ways to cope at Christmas following a bereavement
St Barnabas Hospice has put together a helpful guide for those coping with a bereavement this Christmas.
Here at St Barnabas Hospice, we know that Christmas can be an especially difficult time for those going through a bereavement. Whether this is your first Christmas after a bereavement, or you were bereaved some time ago, the Hospice has provided twelve helpful ways to cope this year.
Mandy Irons, Head of Wellbeing at St Barnabas, said: “We understand how painful this time of year can be and would like to share our tips for coping with bereavement at Christmas. We provide free, local support throughout the year for all adults in the community who may be struggling with a bereavement, regardless of whether they have accessed our services or not.
The St Barnabas Wellbeing team are here to provide free support to people coping with a bereavement across Lincolnshire, regardless of whether their loved one received hospice care or not. To refer yourself to this service, call 0300 303 1897. For this Christmas period, this line is open from Wednesday the 27th to Friday the 29th, 11am – 3pm. Our service will then return to our normal hours of Monday to Friday – 11am to 3pm, from the 2nd January.
If you are in need of bereavement support outside of those hours, please use these services:
- Lincolnshire Mental Health Hub 0800 001 4331
- Samaritans 116 123
- https://www.thegoodgrieftrust.org/
The St Barnabas tips for coping with bereavement at Christmas are:
Tips for Coping with Grief at Christmas and New Year
- Acknowledge that the holidays will be different, and they may be tough.
- Include the person in some way – perhaps light a candle or raise a toast. In collaboration with the in-memory website Much Loved, we invite you to share a Christmas memory of your loved one this festive season. You will have the opportunity to dedicate a message and image as part of your story. To do so, please visit https://sbh.memorypage.org/christmas-memory
- Decide which traditions you want to keep and which you want to change. Think about creating a new tradition in memory of your loved one.
- Be honest. Tell people what you DO want to do and what you DON’T want to do and spend time with people who support you with this.
- Decide where you want to spend Christmas. Remember that the way others will want to spend the holiday may not match how you want to spend it. We all grieve differently and that’s ok.
- Don’t feel guilty: about declining invitations or skipping events, it may just feel too much; if you have not sent cards this year. Writing a card without a loved one can be difficult; if you skip or minimise the decorations.
- Ignore the people that tell you what you “should” be doing. Listen to yourself, trust yourself, communicate with your family and do what feels right for you.
- Practice self care: Watch your food intake. Food can make you feel better in the short term but don’t allow it to become your Christmas comfort; Alcohol can heighten emotions and may raise anxiety levels so be careful how much you consume; Go for a walk; Take time out to yourself if you need too.
- Ask for and accept help. There will be people who want to help and may offer their support. Take them up on their offers. If people aren’t offering, ask. It can be a relief for you and the person who you have asked for help.
- Enjoy yourself! The holidays will be tough, but there will also be love and joy.
- Remember, it is okay to be happy – this doesn’t diminish how much you love and miss the person who isn’t there this Christmas. Don’t feel guilty for the joy you do find this holiday season
Roythornes Solicitors choses St Barnabas Hospice as ‘Charity of the Year’
We are pleased that Roythornes Solicitors have chosen our Hospice to be their Charity of the Year.
Roythornes Solicitors is a national law firm with five strategically located offices across the Midlands and East Anglia. The company is now focusing their fundraising efforts, with the help of our Hospice, to help raise vital funds to help support the brilliant work our clinicians do each and every day across Lincolnshire.
Recently, members of staff from Roythornes’ Spalding office supported our Lottery team with promoting the St Barnabas, which has been running for 27 years, and helps to raise vital funds for local hospice care.
Sara Wilkinson, Chairperson of Events Team at Roythornes Solicitors said: “We know how much St Barnabas relies on lottery sales, so we thought this would be a brilliant use of some of our CSR hours to deliver literature about it to the houses around our head office, especially as we know they haven’t previously had the chance to cover the Pinchbeck area.
“The team had a great time; it was a great way to get some fresh air, steps in, and start the day off right!”
Caroline Swindin, Head of Fundraising & Lottery of the charity said: “It’s such good news when a business chooses us as their Charity of The Year and having Roythornes on board is a great boost to help us raise awareness of our diverse range of care and support and our fundraising efforts.
“We have many valued supporters, but we always need more help as the pressures on the services we provide are constantly increasing. We’re looking forward to an exciting year working together with Roythornes.”
St Barnabas Hospice supports young professionals studying at Lincoln Medical School
St Barnabas Hospice are celebrating the teaching and experience they provide to medicine students studying at local education provider, Lincoln Medical School.
As part of the charity’s developing education department and available resources to educate young professionals, the Hospice is celebrating the work they do with local medicine students and their ongoing partnership with Lincoln Medical School, since its opening in 2018.
From January to September every year, each medicine student is provided with a one-week placement at St Barnabas, sitting in varying departments across the organisation. This experience, provided by the charity, forms part of the students’ studies to qualify as a practicing doctors.
Sarah Christoper, Head of Education Governance at St Barnabas Hospice says: “St Barnabas work to give students a really fantastic placement experience.
“We have a designated Placement Lead and multiple members of staff who coordinate students, ensure their placement experience runs smoothly and is something really special”.
All clinical staff at St Barnabas undertake practice supervisor education. This is regularly updated by both the University of Lincoln and St Barnabas to ensure Hospice staff have the skills to educate and support the students.
Sarah continues: “Palliative and end of life care at St Barnabas is largely focused on delivering person-centred care with an emphasis on spiritual and psychological care as well as symptom management.
“Students have the opportunity to gain a real insight into this area of medicine. A huge part of palliative and end of life care is advanced communication and students have a chance to begin to hone their communication strategies in challenging circumstances.”
Harriet Francis, a medicine student at Lincoln Medical School details her placement role: “Our work here at St Barnabas has involved ward rounds, advanced care planning, admissions, discharges and seeing the work they do within the hospital for palliative care”.
Zainah Sindhoo, a medicine student at Lincoln Medical School says: “The part I enjoyed the most about working at St Barnabas is the community and environment that the charity creates, which is very supportive and uplifting.
“Seeing how everyone works in a team and works with patients is something I really enjoyed, alongside being a part of the spirit that St Barnabas brings to the care they provide.”
Dr Carina Bristow and Dr Adam Brown are two of the members of staff dedicated to planning and providing education for the medical students.
Dr Brown says: “Having the students here is really enjoyable and they form a big part of my personal interest in teaching and education.
“I think it’s really important that we provide a good placement for them so they can gain more experience in what palliative care is and improve their ability to work in this field in the future.”
St Barnabas Hospice are proud to continue to support part of the education and training of Lincoln Medical School students in the field of hospice care.
Sarah Christopher says: “It is wonderful that due to the placement experience we are able to provide at St Barnabas, some of the students may choose to work in this area of medicine when they qualify.
“No matter what area of medicine they choose in the future, hospice care is a fundamental principle that is often forgotten. Caring for people at end of life is a humbling experience.”
To find out more about St Barnabas and the care and support they provide to over 12,000 people and families across Lincolnshire every year, please visit: https://stbarnabashospice.co.uk/.
Road closures announced for St Barnabas Torchlight Procession
St Barnabas Hospice’s adored, annual Torchlight Procession will take place in uphill Lincoln on Tuesday 21st November, with some road closures in place on the night.
Hundreds of individuals and families are expected to walk in the Procession in memory of their loved ones. The event will start at 7:30 pm from Clayton’s Sports Ground on Lee Road and the crowd will make its way towards Lincoln Cathedral via the Hospice Inpatient Unit on Nettleham Road.
To ensure the safety of everyone involved, several road closures and ‘no waiting/no loading’ orders will be in place from 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm on the evening. Signage has been displayed to remind road users, and a full list of road closures is listed below.
Road closures and no waiting/no loading at any time orders will be in place on:
- Nettleham Road – Longdales Road
- A15 – Pottergate Junction
- Lee Road – Wragby Road to Nettleham Road
- Nettleham Road – Lee Road to Priory Gate
- Priory gate – Nettleham Road to Wragby Road
- Church Lane – Nettleham Road to Newport
- Eastgate – Nettleham Road to Greetwell Gate
- Newport – Bailgate to Rasen Lane
- Bailgate
- Castle Hill – Exchequer Gate
- Minster Yard
The following roads will be reopened when the Safety Officer has been advised the Procession is cleared:
- Lee Road
- Nettleham Road (up to Church Lane junction)
- Church Lane
- Bailgate (up to Westgate junction)
Each year, as part of their Light Up a Life campaign St Barnabas asks the community to dedicate a light in memory of a loved one lost. These dedications and messages of love are added to the Hospice’s Tree of Life in front of the Cathedral, which is illuminated at the end of the Procession.
The Torchlight Procession is now in its 23rd year and is a very special evening for supporters across the county who travel to Lincoln to see their loved one’s light shine brightly.
Ness Wilson, Events and Innovation Fundraising Officer at St Barnabas Hospice, says: “Every year this is such a poignant event, it’s an opportunity to join together and remember loved ones lost. To hold our Torchlight Procession in historic uphill Lincoln is an absolute privilege, and we look forward to welcoming everyone on the night.
“With an event of this size, a certain amount of disruption is unavoidable, and we would like to apologise in advance for any inconvenience caused. We will endeavour to keep all closures to a minimum and re-open each road as soon as it is safe to do so.”
Advanced warning signs are due to be put out around 2 weeks before the event and all residents on the route will receive a letter giving them advance warning.
There is still time to register to walk the St Barnabas Torchlight Procession on 21st November. Please note due to crowd management, pre-registration and pre-order of lanterns and torches is required.
Please visit: https://stbarnabashospice.co.uk/events/torchlight/
Registrations will close on Sunday 19th November.
Annual Report 2022/23
St Barnabas Hospice introduce their annual report for 2022/23, the year in which the charity celebrated 40 years of providing hospice care.
We deliver free, high-quality, compassionate end-of-life care and support to adults living with a life-limiting or terminal illness, their family, friends and carers. We aim to enable them to live as fully as they are able for however many days, weeks, months or years they have left.
2022/23 saw St Barnabas celebrate its 40th anniversary. Four decades of delivering hospice care is an incredible feat and over the years, we have been a lifeline for countless people who needed us.
Our clinical teams have worked tirelessly over the last year to ensure patients achieve their preferred place of care, while our Hospice Community Service Teams have maintained home visits to patients.
The specialist dementia care service that was commissioned the previous year has been expanded upon, with two nurses currently delivering this vital care in patients’ own homes. In line with St Barnabas Hospice’s aim to provide holistic care for the whole family, these clinicians support not only dementia patients but also their loved ones.
The Welfare & Benefits team have taken 6,500 referrals into the service and contacted each and every one within four days of the first contact. These referrals are from patients and their families needing help to apply for benefits and grants to ease the financial burden of palliative illness. Their hard work and dedication released benefits of £9,830,929.
After some challenging years for fundraising, due to the impact of Covid-19, 2022/23 saw a year of 40th Anniversary Celebrations from community led events, to displays at Lincoln Cathedral, Christmas spectaculars and the launch of our most ambitious fundraising and general awareness campaign to date – the HeART Trail.
Despite the cost-of-living crisis and increase in interest rates, 2022/23 resulted in a fantastic year for retail, with strong growth and a noticeable reduction in costs, resulting in record profits. St Barnabas Hospice’s flagship charity shop, The Warehouse in uphill Lincoln, celebrated 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.
To read St Barnabas Hospice’s complete Annual Report 2022/23, please visit stbarnabashospice.co.uk/annual-report/
Dedicate a light on the Tree of Life in memory of a loved one
St Barnabas Hospice announce the return of their adored Light Up a Life campaign, along with the poignant Torchlight Procession, now in its 23rd year.
Light Up a Life offers the community an opportunity to reflect and remember a loved one lost, by dedicating a light, in their name, to shine brightly on the St Barnabas Tree of Life outside Lincoln Cathedral. Anyone is welcome to dedicate a light, not just those affected by hospice care.
Every year, the campaign is supported by local, family businesses including The Tower Hotel in Lincoln’s Bailgate. The continued support from the hotel and restaurant is especially poignant as the now owner, Finn Dillon, is honouring his mother, Philly, who sadly died in the Hospice, earlier this year.
Finn says: “Philly’s first diagnosis of Stage 3 Breast Cancer came in 2009, when I was only 10 years old. That same year I remember watching the St Barnabas Torchlight Procession. Although as a young boy, I had no idea what a huge impact St Barnabas would have on our family in the future.
“Every year since her diagnosis, Philly and her team offered mulled wine and soup from The Tower Hotel to participants of the Torchlight Procession, in support of the charity that would one day bring her and her family much needed support.
“Sadly, after years of treatment, Philly’s cancer returned for a third time in 2020. The incredible care of St Barnabas allowed us one last miracle period and we will be forever grateful. We knew she was finally safe. Her final month with us at St Barnabas, provided endless moments of laughter, deep reflection, and the incredible gift of goodbye.
“I am comforted to know many people taking part in Light Up a Life may have had similar experiences to myself and my family, and we are joined together by an understanding of the incredible work St Barnabas do.”
Join Finn in dedicating a light to honour loved ones no longer with us and help the Hospice to care for more people, like Philly, in the future. To do so, please visit: https://stbarnabashospice.co.uk/Light-up-a-life/
On Tuesday 21st November from 7:30 pm, St Barnabas Hospice will be holding its touching annual Torchlight Procession, starting at Clayton Sports Ground. This unique and iconic celebration is an opportunity for the community to join the Hospice in remembering loved ones.
As the Procession starts, the Hospice will stream the event on their Facebook page for anyone unable to attend. St Barnabas will also light candles in remembrance of our loved ones and invite you to do the same at home.
The transference of light throughout the event is symbolic; a flaming torch is carried by runners from our Inpatient Unit on Nettleham Road, where the pre-event remembrance service takes place, and this torch is subsequently used to light the procession torches.
Once all torches are lit, the procession will commence led by the RAF Waddington Pipe Band. The community will journey past the Inpatient Unit, pausing for a moment of reflection, before moving onto the Lincoln Cathedral. The event concludes with a service of celebration and reflection where the Tree of Life will be illuminated.
The St Barnabas Tree of Life will be adorned with dedicated lights and messages of love. For a small donation, participants are welcome to write a message on the evening and tie it to the tree in memory of a loved one lost.
This year, both the Lincoln Cathedral & the Church of St Mary Magdelene will be open following the Torchlight Procession. St Barnabas staff and volunteers will be available to provide additional support and a space of reflection for participants.
Caroline Swindin, Head of Fundraising and Lottery at St Barnabas Hospice, says: “Each year it is such an emotional event, seeing so many people with torches and lanterns through the streets of Lincoln joined together in remembrance of loved ones lost. The blessing at the Inpatient Unit is an incredibly moving moment, that we know is important to our patients, many of whom gather outside with their families and our nurses.
“We look forward to welcoming hundreds of people from the community on the evening, including Finn and his family who will be heading up the Procession.”
Due to crowd management, pre-registration and pre-order of lanterns and torches is required. To register for the Torchlight Procession on 21st November, visit https://stbarnabashospice.co.uk/events/torchlight/
Registrations will close on Sunday 19th November.
St Barnabas Hospice urges people who are unable to attend the Torchlight Procession to visit the Tree when they can for a moment of reflection for loved ones lost.
Finn Dillon is dedicating a light in memory of mum, Philly, who sadly passed away this year
“This Christmas will be the first without my mother, Philippa (Philly), but it warms my heart to know that we can still celebrate Philly’s life thanks to Light up a Life and one of the symbolic lights will be shining brightly for her.”
At an otherwise happy period in our lives, Philly’s first diagnosis of Stage 3 Breast Cancer came in 2009, when I was only 10 years old. It was a devastating diagnosis for the entire family. Philly underwent surgery which was followed by intense rounds of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, all of which she endured with determination and hope. That same year I remember watching the St Barnabas Torchlight Procession and seeing the people travel past where we lived in Lincoln’s Bailgate. Although as a young boy, I had no idea what a huge impact St Barnabas would have on our family in the future.
Unfortunately, a few years later, the cancer returned in her liver and Philly began more treatment. Amazingly, the cancer began to shrink. As a family it felt like we had received a second miracle. Philly was grateful for every day she had and would remind me that every day she got to see me grow past the age of 10, was a miracle. 
Sadly, Philly’s cancer returned for a third time in 2020 and had spread into her spine and bones. In March 2023, she was admitted to St Barnabas Hospice in Grantham. Although it was incredibly scary and upsetting for us all, the change we felt as we walked through the doors to St Barnabas was incredible. We knew that she was finally safe. Philly was moved to the St Barnabas Inpatient Unit in Lincoln, only a few streets away from our family home.
The incredible care of St Barnabas allowed us one last miracle period and we will be forever grateful. The warmth and sincerity the team showed us is something I know we all take comfort from every day. Although visiting was tough, no matter what we were walking into, or the guilt we would often feel when walking away – she was safe. Her final month with us at St Barnabas, provided endless moments of laughter, deep reflection, and the incredible gift of goodbye.
I am comforted to know many people taking part in Light Up a Life may have had similar experiences to myself and my family, and we are joined together by an understanding of the incredible work St Barnabas do. I invite you to join me to Light up a Life this Christmas.
This Christmas, please join me in remembering your loved ones in a celebration of light. I am inviting you to dedicate your light for a loved one so they can shine brightly on St Barnabas Hospice’s beautiful Tree of Life outside Lincoln Cathedral. A donation of just £39.86 would be able to cover the cost for a St Barnabas nurse to care for a patient in their own home for two hours.
You can remember anyone with a light, not just those cared for by the Hospice. As a thank you and token for your loved one, St Barnabas will send you a personalised card and special tree decoration in the post. You will also be invited to attend the Torchlight Procession on the 21st of November.
Your donation for a light could pay for more people like Philly to receive specialist end-of-life care during the most difficult of times.
I know that remembering our loved ones with a light will help lift some of that apprehension that we are all feeling about spending Christmas without them.
Thank you, Finn.
St Barnabas Hospice supporter
Help shape the Future of St Barnabas Hospice with the Organisational Strategy Survey
Can you help shape the future of St Barnabas Hospice? St Barnabas are planning the next 40 years of hospice care in Lincolnshire, and the charity needs your help to form its Organisational Strategy for the coming years.
Your feedback is important to our Hospice, and this is your chance to have your voice heard! Your answers, whether they are possible or negative, will be instrumental in helping our Hospice form our next Organisational Strategy, which will allow us to deliver care of an even higher standard.
The Survey consists of 8 questions, and takes approximately 4 minutes to complete. To offer your feedback, please click here to complete the survey. Alternatively, you can pick up a leaflet from one of our shops or wellbeing hubs.
By taking part, you will be helping us to plan the next 40 years of Hospice care in Lincolnshire by completing our short questionnaire and shape the future of care for your loved ones.
The Winners of the St Barnabas HeART Trail Staff & Volunteers competition are revealed
During the duration of the HeART Trail, St Barnabas staff and volunteers were invited to create and submit anything ‘heart’ related as part of our HeART Trail celebrations.
The entries, of which we received many, were judge by: Caroline Swindin, Head of Fundraising & Lottery; Steve Bond, Head of Volunteering Services; Ollie Williamson, Employee Experience Team Leader; Lisa Simpson, Director of People and Education; and Amelia Chambers, Head of Marketing Communications & Digital.
The quality of the submissions were exceptionally high, which made judging all the more enjoyable. The winners are:
- 1st place, Minnie from Marketing with her handmade slate and glass hearts.
- 2nd place, Debbie from Finance with her sewn HeARTs made from recycled fabrics from our own Charity Shops.
- Joint 3rd place, is Rebecca, Director of Patient Care, with her heart picture and Katy, from Welfare and Benefits, with her stain glass biscuits.
- 1st place, Volunteer winners are Mandy and Ron Morris for their glass artwork.
The Judges have passed on their congratulations to all of the winners, and their thanks for those who took part.
The competition was held to celebrate the HeART Trail, and engage with the members of staff and volunteers. The HeART Trail ran throughout the summer of 2023, and saw 30 HeART shaped sculptures adorn the streets on Lincolnshire. To find out more about the Trail, go to: https://stbarnabashospice.co.uk/hearttrail/auction/