Category: Hospice News
Happy 40th Anniversaries: Lincoln Christmas Market chooses St Barnabas as Charity Partner
St Barnabas Hospice are delighted to have been chosen by City of Lincoln Council to be the Lincoln Christmas Market’s very first Charity Partner. Both organisations are celebrating their 40th anniversary this year and have been highly regarded and much loved by the local communities for all those years.
Taking place from Thursday 1st to Sunday 4th December in the beautiful and historic Bailgate area, the Lincoln Christmas Market welcomes hundreds of thousands visitors every year and is one of the most loved events in Lincolnshire.
St Barnabas will be in attendance, occupying a traditional wooden cabin by the Lincoln Cathedral where the charity will have their annual Tree of Life on full display. The Tree of Life is part of the Hospice’s Light Up a Life campaign, which sees families and friends join together to remember loved ones they have lost. The charity’s Torchlight Procession will take place a week before the Christmas Market on 22nd November.
The Hospice is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year and are proud to help over 12,000 people across Lincolnshire each year by providing free, compassionate, dignified palliative and end-of-life care, as well as wellbeing services such as bereavement support, counselling, and welfare and benefits advice.
Veronica McBain, Head of Fundraising and Lottery at St Barnabas says: “It is serendipitous that both St Barnabas and the Lincoln Christmas Market are celebrating a 40th anniversary this year.
“We will be selling a selection of amazing items including our special anniversary Est.1982 Ruby Gin and Ruby Rum created by Pin Gin, our bespoke Ruby Coffee blend by The Lincoln Tea & Coffee Company, a range of Christmas cards, baubles, tickets to the special Morriston Choir concert at the Cathedral in March, and much more. We will also gratefully accept any donations through our bucket collection.
“We sincerely thank the City of Lincoln Council for choosing us, it means the world to us to have the support of the Council and local communities. We look forward to an extra special Christmas Market and hope to see many of our supporters there.”
Cllr Neil Murray, Portfolio Holder for Inclusive Economic Growth at City of Lincoln Council added: “It is an incredible special year for us at the Lincoln Christmas Market and we are proud to welcome St Barnabas as our first Christmas Market Charity Partner as we both celebrate 40 years.
“Lincoln Christmas Market started with just 11 stalls and is now a very well recognised event not only across the county but the country.
“To celebrate 40 years, we have a host of new elements to the market, including a new stage area, a special opening ceremony at Noon on the first day of the market and of course, our first charity partnership.
“I look forward to welcoming visitors to what we hope will be the best Christmas market yet.”
Lincoln IPU Refurbishment and Re-opening Update
St Barnabas Hospice is pleased to announce that the planned works to refurbish the Inpatient Unit has reached its conclusion.
Miller Knight and colleagues have worked well to keep the project on track.
The IPU Team are now working together to ensure we have a smooth transition to final completion. The unit is looking bright and modern but continues to offer a warm, welcoming, homely feel that will enhance the experience of patients, visitors, and staff.
Plans are in place to ensure we can reopen to patient admissions in the safest way possible. Staff will be returning from their placements over the next two weeks and equipment, medicines and supplies reinstated.
As such, we envisage that the work will be fully complete for us to accept referrals from the afternoon of Friday 11th November, with admissions accepted from Monday 14th November.
How to refer to the Inpatient Unit
Our trusted referral process remains unchanged; as such, they can be submitted via SystmOne (and tasking ‘IPU referrals’ to notify the team) or by completion of the referral proforma which should be emailed to ipureferrals@stbarnabashospice.co.uk
For urgent referrals, please call the team on 01522 511566.
The team are looking forward to welcoming our patients and families.
St Barnabas chosen as Charity of the Year by Fenner Precision and James Dawson
St Barnabas Hospice is delighted to announce they have been chosen as Charity of the Year by Lincoln-based manufacturers Fenner Precision and James Dawson.
The silicone and rubber experts are committed to supporting local communities and charities through its Works Council initiative, which chooses a charity to support.
The business has been based in Lincoln since 1865 with over 300 employees across two sites, where fundraising events will be taking place throughout the year.
Caroline Swindin, Fundraising Development Manager at St Barnabas Hospice, said: “We are very grateful to Fenner Prescision and James Dawson for choosing to support our charity.
“They have such a strong local presence, and it’s wonderful partnering with such a widely regarded business. No doubt some staff members will have had personal experience with our Hospice and we hope their positive experiences will help drive their fundraising efforts.
“We provide a diverse range of services to our local communities, and we would not be able to continue our work without the generous donations of our supporters. Every pound that gets donated really makes a difference, so thank you to Fenner Precision and James Dawson for choosing us.”
Natasha Fryer, Customs Export Manager at Fenner Precision and James Dawson said: “We are really pleased to be supporting St Barnabas, as supporting a local charity was one of my main aims and I’m happy the Works Council board voted for St Barnabas.
“We’ve got loads of activities planned to help raise as much as we can throughout the year!”
For every pound raised for St Barnabas, 74p goes straight towards delivering, and improving the care and support the charity offers to over 12,000 people every year. The other 26p goes towards generating future income.
Many thanks to all Fenner Precision and James Dawson staff who are set to help raise vital funds for their local Hospice.
Lincoln IPU Refurbishment and Re-opening Update
The Ward Manager with colleagues from the Estates Team attended the Inpatient Unit site this week for a snagging walk round. Work on the unit is moving at pace and currently on schedule.
The patient areas are nearing completion and improvements will bring an extra dimension to the patient and family experience.
There is improved lighting, new bedhead trunking, and a huge improvement to the overall aesthetics of the building.
The already outstanding care received on the Unit will be further enhanced by improvements made to the ward area and care environment.
Changes to the staff areas, including a reconfigured clinical room and ward office, will further increase safety, improve workflow, and ensure the unit is fit for our team of skilled specialists.
A particularly aesthetic feature which has been added to the reception area will enhance the sense of peace and wellbeing when the unit is accessed by visitors, patients, and staff. The diffused light cast by the decal added to the glass atrium will complement the décor and overall welcoming feel, enhancing the sense of calm.
How to access support and refer patients for Specialist Palliative Care
As a reminder to all our colleagues in Lincolnshire the advice line number for specialist palliative care is 0300 303 1754, please just give us a call we will be happy to help.
The next update will be published the week of 10th October 2022.
Mayor of Louth officially reopens Wellbeing Centre
Wednesday 21st September 2022 saw the grand reopening of the St Barnabas Hospice Wellbeing Centre in Louth, which has been closed to patients since the very first Covid-19 lockdown in 2020.
The celebrations were attended by local businesses and organisations, staff, volunteers, supporters and special guests Mayor of Louth, Cllr Jeremy Baskett and his wife, the Mayoress Bridget Baskett.
Not only did the festivities include a look around the refurbished Wellbeing Centre, formerly known as the Day Therapy Centre, but it also marked the official opening of the renewed sensory garden. The therapeutic sensory garden, designed by local landscape gardener Caroline Stanley and Riseholme College students, was first showcased at the Lincolnshire Show earlier this year, where it won Highly Commended. 
Elements of this beautiful garden have now been laid into the existing garden of the Wellbeing Centre for patients and their families to enjoy. The existing Louth garden was designed by Caitlin McLaughlin and displayed at Tatton Park RHS show in 2016.
Mayor of Louth, Cllr Jeremy Baskett, commented: “Today I have the honour of officially opening the Wellbeing Centre and its beautiful new garden, and it is great to see so many people here today to mark the occasion.
“I come from a healthcare background, and the way St Barnabas operates is the way of the future; providing healthcare not just from a base such as this fantastic Wellbeing Centre, but also offering care in the community and people’s homes. St Barnabas has a great reputation, and rightly so.”
Throughout the day, St Barnabas staff were on hand for tours of the building. The Wellbeing Centre is not just a site where patients can receive medical appointments, advice, and care; it is intended as a community hub for all local people, volunteers, and staff to come together, find support in one another and enjoy socialising.
The Centre has multiple therapy rooms and large spaces that nurses, patients and families can use for a wide variety of services. It also boasts a Hub space with comfortable chairs and a kitchenette, which will be open for visitors to drop in every Thursday morning from 6th October and enjoy a free-of-charge coffee morning.
The Wellbeing Centre hopes to restart the services offered before the pandemic, including arts and crafts therapies, gardening, gentle exercise classes, and much more. To help make these ideas a reality, St Barnabas is looking to recruit volunteers who can help deliver these valuable services to the community.
Steve Bond, Head of Volunteering, comments: “Volunteering is a great way of giving back to the community, gaining new skills, and meeting interesting people. Our volunteers often stay on to support us for years as they enjoy it so much!”
Local distillery Pin Gin was in attendance at the reopening, offering visitors tasters of the special rum and gin flavours they recently created to commemorate the charity’s 40th anniversary. The Ruby Gin and Ruby Rum are available to purchase from the Pin Gin website at £35 per bottle, with £14 of each sale donated straight to St Barnabas.
Warm beverages were provided by Lincoln Tea & Coffee Company. The company has partnered with St Barnabas on their Care for a Cuppa campaign, which was represented at the reopening by St Barnabas’ Fundraising Officer, Ellie Carter. Ellie baked a variety of delicious cakes to sell to the attendees on the day and raise money for the charity.
Care for a Cuppa is a feel-good fundraising initiative that encourages supporters to put the kettle on and host a coffee morning/bake sale to raise vital funds for their local Hospice. People who sign up receive a free fundraising pack including bunting, cake flags, games, posters and two delicious recipes by renowned Lincolnshire chef Rachel Green.
To find out more and host your own Care for a Cuppa, visit https://stbarnabashospice.co.uk/care-for-a-cuppa/
St Barnabas Hospice is thankful to everyone who attended the successful reopening of the Wellbeing Centre in Louth and would like to encourage volunteers and the general public to get in touch to get involved in upcoming services. Please email enquiries@stbarnabashospice.co.uk to find out more.
If you are interested in joining us in Louth as a volunteer, please visit our website: https://stbarnabashospice.co.uk/get-involved/volunteer/
Chief Executive Chris Wheway’s tribute to Queen Elizabeth II
If you are struggling with feelings of grief triggered by the death of the Queen, our Bereavement Helpline is open on weekdays between 11am – 3pm and can be rang on 0300 303 1897, and our bereavement support team can be contacted on 01522 518246.
Lincoln IPU Refurbishment and Re-opening Update
The refurbishment work on our Inpatient Unit in Lincoln is going smoothly, and we are on track for completion mid October and reopening the Unit to patients and their families in November.
Watch the video below to hear from Sue Carter, Ward Manager at the Inpatient Unit (IPU) and take a look at how the work is coming along.
How to access support and refer patients for Specialist Palliative Care
The advice line number for specialist palliative care is 0300 303 1754, please just give us a call we will be happy to help.
The next update will be published the week of Monday 19th September 2022
Pick up great bargains at the Kilo Sale on Saturday 24th September
St Barnabas Hospice will be holding its very first Pop Up Kilo Sale event on Saturday 24th September at the Waterside Shopping Centre in Lincoln.
Attendees can ditch fast fashion by discovering fantastic pre-loved vintage, retro, and unique clothing and accessories, as well as support a great local charity at the same time.
Access to the event is free, with donations to St Barnabas gratefully accepted. There are no tickets to buy, just come along on the day between 10am and 3pm.
There will be rails upon rails of high-quality bargains for shoppers to choose from, simply load up a bag, bring it to the till and pay. The cost per kilo is just £10, less than many other Kilo Sale events that are held in Lincoln. Payments can be made via cash or card and there is no minimum spend.
Caroline Peach, Head of Retail at St Barnabas Hospice says: “We can’t wait to welcome all you savvy shoppers to buy sustainable slow fashion that is not just good for the planet, but for your wallet too!
“Everyone is feeling the squeeze of the cost of living crisis, and shopping at our charity shops or attending events like this helps you save money and update your wardrobe – as well as feeling good about supporting a local cause.
“We have organised this Kilo Sale to take place during the Sustainable Fashion Week, so many people are looking to make better choices and go for slow fashion and keeping clothes out of landfill.”
If you would like to donate items to be sold at the Kilo Sale, please bring your items to the Forum shop in North Hykeham, open from Monday to Sunday.
The Sustainable Fashion Week (SFW) takes place from 16th to 25th September 2022 and is the first fashion week of its kind, with four themes: Rewear, Repurpose, Regenerate and Reconnect. Its focus is not on next season’s trends but instead on up-skilling, inspiring and empowering the community.
St Barnabas Hospice has 25 shops across Lincolnshire, as well as an online shop, an eBay page and Depop account. Find your local St Barnabas shop here: www.stbarnabashospice.co.uk/shop
Lincoln IPU Refurbishment and Re-opening Update
The Director of Patient Care and Ward Manager attended a site visit to the Inpatient Unit on Nettleham Road the week of 22nd August 2022.
Work is moving at pace and proposed completion targets remain very positive. We are approximately two thirds of the way into the project and huge differences and improvements are now very visible.
Feedback received post meeting from the Project Manager, Stephen, (partner with Thornton Firkin), confirms we are on track and gives us assurance that welcoming patients and families back to inpatient care is not too far away.
“Thornton Firkin LLP are very pleased to continue their relationship with St. Barnabas, assisting with their refurbishment of the In-Patient Unit. Utilising the same design team from the Boston Wellbeing Centre project, together with an excellent relationship and assistance with the dedicated estates and clinical teams has ensured that the development of the project is progressing well towards completion of the building works by the end of October.”
The main contractor, Miller Knight of Mansfield, are being very pro-active in their approach when faced with difficulties associated with an existing building. The project team will shortly be reviewing a completed room to set the quality standard throughout the building.
The St Barnabas Team look forwards to welcoming everyone back in a few weeks.
How to access support and refer patients for Specialist Palliative Care
As a reminder to all our colleagues in Lincolnshire the advice line number for specialist palliative care is 0300 303 1754, please just give us a call we will be happy to help.
The next update will be published the week of Monday 5th September 2022.
Tai chi sessions support patients’ health and wellbeing
After a long two and a half year wait, St Barnabas Hospice were delighted to restart their free seated tai chi sessions for patients on Wednesday 3rd August 2022.
Jude Tring, Health and Rehabilitation Support Worker, delivers the classes, which include a social group element, every Wednesday afternoon at the St Barnabas building on Hawthorn Road in Lincoln. Patients who attend these sessions can bring along a partner or friend for support, and will be offered six sessions, with a video provided afterwards to continue the exercise at home.
The first patient to come through the door since the Covid pandemic began was Sally and her husband Ian, pictured. Sally was presented with a symbolic flower by Jude, and thoroughly enjoyed the session, alongside several other St Barnabas patients.
The patients and their spouses spent half an hour before and after the session talking and getting to know each other over a drink and biscuits, giving them the opportunity to meet new people that understand their journey.
Jude comments: “It was a wonderful feeling to be able to offer our patients access to this social contact and peer support again, which has been greatly missed over the length of the Covid pandemic. And of course, the great benefit of these sessions is the health and wellbeing that comes from the tai chi itself.
“All attendees left smiling and relaxed and said they were looking forward to coming back again next week!”
People with a life-limiting or terminal illness may find that due to the effects of illness, long stays in hospital and fatigue, patients can lose muscular and core strength and general fitness. Tai chi performed regularly can help to promote increased muscle tone, joint mobility, and create a feeling of wellbeing and relaxation.
St Barnabas Hospice is currently running the sessions for patients in Lincoln, with plans to expand this service to other areas of the county soon.
Please note, these sessions are only available for patients receiving care from St Barnabas Hospice.