Category: Stories
“It’s somewhere that supports you. St Barnabas is there to pick up the pieces and put you back together again.”
Each week, Creative Wellbeing Groups are held at the St Barnabas Wellbeing Centres across Lincolnshire, offering a comforting space to chat and be creative.
The Creative Wellbeing Groups in Lincoln and Louth have recently finished creating a beautiful patchwork quilt filled with memories and stories. St Barnabas supporter and group member, Julia, has kindly given a donation to the Hospice and taken the quilt home for her daughter.
Julia says: “My Husband, Steve, died of a brain tumour over 2 years ago. After he died, St Barnabas was the only place I knew where to go. Someone had told me about the creative wellbeing group, and I thought that sounded great, because I like doing crafts.”
Helen, St Barnabas volunteer and Creative Wellbeing Group Lead, says: “What’s really great about this group is, there’s no right way to do the activities we lead. We encourage everyone to use their own creativity and imagination, and quite often, we’re inspired by what they create.
“The hexagon flowers for the quilt were made from scraps of fabric that had been donated by patient’s families and members of the groups. Each piece has its own tale to tell – there are flowers made from pieces of wedding bunting and a grandson’s teddy bear pyjamas.”
The flowers were then joined together in colour coordinated sections which, when blended together, grew to become a wonderful, colourful piece of art. The patchwork was then lined with contrasting batik style fabric to show off its colours, and then painstakingly quilted to ensure its durability and quality.
Julia says: “When I showed a picture of the quilt to my daughter, Sophia, she thought it was stunning. So, I offered to make a donation to St Barnabas for the quilt, as a gift for Sophia. Her father and stepmother died in a car crash in September last year. He was a larger-than-life person, and it’s been absolutely horrendous for my kids.
“After he died last year, I had to drive straight over to Loughborough to see my son. It was a Tuesday morning, and I came to this group first. One of the Nurses sat down with me and told me that I needed to unpack all of that before I drove anywhere. And she was right.
“It’s somewhere that supports you. It’s nice to have somebody that you can go to and have a cry with.”
Julia continues: “It picked us up when it was a really, really bad time, and it kept me sane the rest of the time. When you’ve got a lot to deal with, it’s nice to come here and everybody’s so cheerful. Just talking about things makes you feel better.
“If I meet anybody and I think they’re struggling, I tell them to go to St Barnabas. Because somebody there will be able to pick up the pieces and put you back together again, and then you can carry on. Which is really important, because most people struggle at some point in their lives.”
Helen adds: “Each week we do something different, and sometimes people will request certain activities. Recently we’ve been making bracelets and crafting paired birds for families in the Inpatient Unit.
“These groups provide a safe space for people to chat and socialise, and often people create strong friendships and support each other outside the group too.”
Julia comments: “The rest of the week is filled with difficult things, and then I come to the group and sometimes think about it and have a cry and sometimes don’t. It depends on what you need on the day.”
Recently, St Barnabas has shared the realities of its financial challenges. Stories like Julia’s are a powerful reminder of why it’s so important to ensure people are supported when it matters most.
All services are currently running, and St Barnabas is still accepting referrals. However, the reality remains: if the Hospice doesn’t raise more funds and make essential savings, services may have to be reduced in the near future. Every contribution makes a vital difference: Financial Position – St Barnabas Hospice
The Creative Wellbeing Groups are free to attend for everyone, including those without a patient connection to St Barnabas. No booking is required.
• Lincoln Wellbeing Centre (Hawthorn Road): every Wednesday, 1pm – 3pm
• Louth Wellbeing Centre (Grimsby Road): every Tuesday, 10am – 12pm
• Boston Wellbeing Centre (Endeavour Park): every Tuesday, 10am – 12pm
• Grantham Wellbeing Centre (Barrowby Road): every Wednesday, 10am – 12pm
Find out more about the wellbeing services on the St Barnabas Hospice website.
“Without St Barnabas, we wouldn’t have got through it.”
When Ron was diagnosed with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis in 2014, he was given three to five years to live. During this emotional time, Ron and Maxine reached out to St Barnabas and received support before his lung transplant and afterwards.
Ron says: “It was a very depressing time for us. I can just remember crying all night. We were planning a future together, and we felt robbed.
“I reached out to St Barnabas and completed a self-referral through the website. I made a phone call, and they saw me within a couple of days, and within a couple of days after that, they accepted me.
“Since then, I’ve accessed most of the services at St Barnabas. I’ve done Tai Chi; I’ve had sleeping classes because I had a lot of sleeping problems at the time. We’ve gone through relaxation and wellbeing together, and at the moment, I’m doing singing lessons.”
Karen McCay, Senior Clinical Services Manager, says: “At St Barnabas, we are committed to providing personalised care and support through a whole system approach. Rather than asking what’s the matter with you, we ask what matters to you. We then offer the care and support that is right for each individual person.
“We see you as a whole person, rather than a list of symptoms and problems.”
Ron continues: “When you see the same person time and time again, she gets to know you. Not like when you sometimes go to a doctor’s and they don’t really know you. My nurse can spot if I’m going down, if I’m low, if I’m well. She has actually noticed my low mood before and then contacted the doctor on my behalf, saying I think this patient needs to go on to anti-depressants.
She gets to know you as a person, which I think is a great benefit on your journey.”
Maxine adds: “I think it was important that if we didn’t want to do something, if it wasn’t quite what we wanted or we couldn’t see it at the time, she would leave it and then come back to it later. So, she very much respected how we were feeling at the time.”
After receiving vital support from St Barnabas, Ron was discharged, but after receiving a lung transplant, Ron reached out again to the Hospice.
Ron says: “I was suffering low mood and guilt. I went into a slight depression. I contacted the Hospice again and they offered me further support after transplant.”
Maxine says: “We were probably both at our lowest. I thought, as Ron had had his transplant, the Hospice won’t be able to help again – and that wasn’t the case. Sue, our nurse, came in and asked us ‘where’s your support, tell me what you’ve been through’, and we were both offered counselling.
“What the Hospice have done, is seen us a couple and they’ve focussed on me as well. They allowed him space, and they also allowed me, my space, to offload how I was feeling. As a carer, we believe that we have to remain strong, but it was okay for me to not be okay and to be upset that my life wasn’t what it was going to be.
“They were the only ones that offered that support to me. I can’t thank the people that have been involved for me enough because I don’t know where we would be as a couple and whether we would be in the good place that we are now.”
The St Barnabas team also supported Ron and Maxine with the ReSPECT form, a document that outlines a patient’s preferences for care and treatment in the event of an emergency when they are unable to communicate their wishes.
Maxine says: “It’s a form that is incredibly hard to do, for anybody, but it made us focus on what Ron really wanted. We found that quite comforting that we’d had the chance to talk about that with the nurse, who was very understanding about how to do it. That helped us enormously.”
Ron says: “The service they’ve given me over the years has been absolutely fantastic. I’ve had so much support. I’d like to thank the whole team from the bottom of my heart for being there. Not just for me, for both of us.”
Maxine adds: “Without them, we wouldn’t be here. Without St Barnabas, we wouldn’t have got through it. I know if, and when, anything happens to Ron, that St Barnabas will be there to support me, and that is invaluable.”
St Barnabas Hospice is a local, independent charity, providing free support to over 12,000 people like Ron and Maxine, each year, in Lincolnshire.
If you would like to make a donation, fundraise for the charity, or find out more about the services it provides, please visit: https://stbarnabashospice.co.uk/
Celebrating St Barnabas team members Amy Damarell, Majella Wright, and Jake Bontoft!
We’re celebrating three of our fantastic St Barnabas team members who have recently graduated!
???? Amy Damarell, Nurse Associate – Inpatient Unit
???? Majella Wright, MSc Advanced Clinical Practitioner
???? Jake Bontoft, Specialist Nurse Practitioner (IPU) & Research Nurse
Their hard work, dedication, and passion for learning are helping us deliver outstanding care to those who need it most.
Amy: “I’ve worked in the unit for over 11 years, and recently qualified as a Nursing Associate. This new role lets me provide person-centred care alongside our nursing team. I’m so thankful to St Barnabas – I was able to complete this training thanks to St Barnabas putting me forward and supporting me with university time, placements, and insights into areas of nursing.”
Majella: “My course gave me the skills to work at an advanced level across clinical care, education, leadership and research. St Barnabas Hospice supported me by giving me time to attend University, allowing me to gain all my practical experience, and providing me with supportive mentorship throughout the last three years. I use the skills I obtained in my daily practice by providing clinical expertise, reasoning, knowledge, and mentorship to the people I work with.”
Jake: “Completing my Masters in Advanced Clinical Practice has given me the skills to lead, teach, research, and provide expert care. Thanks to the trust’s support, I graduated with a Distinction and use what I’ve learned every day in my role.”
Please join us in congratulating Amy, Majella, and Jake. We are so lucky to have you on Team St Barnabas.
Celebrating our Hidden Teams at St Barnabas: Information Management and Technology Department
St Barnabas has over 300 members of clinical and non-clinical staff working to support our vision – a world where dying with dignity, compassion and having choices is a fundamental part of a life.
The hard work and dedication of all our staff ensures we can continue providing vital end-of-life care, across Lincolnshire. This year we’re shining spotlights on hidden teams and highlighting the incredible work they do to support St Barnabas.
The Information Management and Technology (IM&T) Department work behind the scenes at St Barnabas, ensuring the smooth operation, security, and advancement of all technology-related functions.
Chris Candlin, Infrastructure Engineer, says: “This includes managing hardware, software, and networks, providing technical support to employees, implementing cybersecurity measures, overseeing data protection and backups, and ensuring compliance with regulations.
“The team also plan ahead for future technology needs, as well as managing vendor relationships, and supporting communication and collaboration tools to facilitate efficient business operations.”
Overseen by Mike Howarth, Head of IM&T, and Ozomata Asun, Infrastructure Team Leader, the IM&T Department has recently been focused on improving technology to enhance operations and reduce expenditure. The department also includes Niall Priestley, Infrastructure Engineer, and Bailey Pike and Louie Haffner, Service Desk Engineers.
The team have recently published a five-year IM&T Strategy that aims to support the exceptional care provided to patients and their families. This strategy emphasises harnessing technology to work smarter, more efficiently, and securely, all in line with the objectives outlined in the overarching St Barnabas Organisational Strategy.
Every day, the team works collaboratively to support St Barnabas in delivering exceptional care, ensuring that every team member feels valued and integral. Recognising the importance of collaboration, the IM&T team builds strong connections across departments to meet the diverse needs of the Hospice.
Aiming high, they continually enhance our technological capabilities and set high standards in all projects to support the Hospice’s mission.
Chris continues: “We enjoy working for St Barnabas because of the meaningful impact we have on our community. The shared dedication creates a strong sense of unity and purpose among us.
“It’s inspiring to be part of an organisation where everyone is committed to making a difference and where we are not just numbers, but vital contributors to our shared goals.”
Thank you to the IM&T team – we’re incredibly grateful for everything you do and appreciate your commitment.
Celebrating Chloe and Jo from St Barnabas on achieving their CMI Level 5 in Management and Leadership
St Barnabas Hospice is celebrating Chloe Pearson, Welfare and Benefits Manager, and Jo White, Counselling Service Manager, for successfully achieving distinctions in the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) Level 5 Certificate in Management and Leadership.
The programme is designed to enable managers to lead individuals and teams in delivering aims and objectives in line with organisational strategy. Over 15 months, Chloe and Jo completed modules covering topics such as planning and managing projects, managing change, managing finance, and identifying new approaches to business activities.
At the beginning of the course, Chloe and Jo completed a 360-feedback exercise, gathering feedback from various peers, such as line reports and line managers.
Jo says: “I was out when the email popped up, and I drove home feeling sick before I would open it! It was a turning point for me. It made me realise that how my team saw me was very different to how I saw myself and that I needed to build my own confidence.”
Recognising the skills they’ve developed, Jo says: “Learning to lead as well as manage was really important – they are two very different things. I had to learn to have the confidence in myself and my own skillset, in order to lead my team effectively.”
Chloe adds: “You can manage people and a team, but you need to lead so they follow your leadership and trust in you. I feel like this course has completely changed me as a leader. Thinking back on everything we’ve learnt, it’s made me approach situations very differently.
“A real learning curve for me was catching myself from suppressing my team. I want them to grow and learn their own skills. I’ve learnt to not take everything on myself, and I’m delegating so much more than I ever have and it’s helping my team feel more empowered.”
Jo comments: “One of the biggest things for me was understanding different learning styles – starting with my own and then applying that to how I support others, making sure I am inclusive in the way I share information and communicate.”
Chloe agrees: “Every single one of my direct reports learns differently, so you need to communicate with them differently.
“We also had to learn how to say no and make sure our diaries were up to date – we had to plan really well to do the course alongside our jobs, and that’s another skill we can take away.”
Mandy Irons, Head of Wellbeing Services, says: “A huge well done and congratulations to Chloe and Jo. It was a pleasure to present them with flowers alongside Rebecca Franks to mark the occasion. They’ve both worked so hard over the last 15 months to get this achievement, and it’s so well deserved.”
Reflecting on their experience, Chloe says: “It was well worth it. We’ve learnt so much and I would advise people to go on the course. It’s not just benefited us, but also our teams and it’s made us better leaders, which helps St Barnabas.
It’s not just about getting extra qualifications – it’s about becoming better leaders. We now feel more confident, we can delegate, bring fresh ideas and new ways of working.”
Jo adds: “Don’t overthink it, just go for it! If you get the opportunity, do it, because it’s well worth the journey.”
CMI is a professional body – and the only chartered body – for management and leadership. Completing a CMI qualification offers Chloe and Jo more than just academic standing, they now have access to CMI Membership.
A huge congratulations to Chloe and Jo from everyone at St Barnabas Hospice!
Runners take on Lincoln 10k and raise nearly £12,000 for St Barnabas Hospice
A team of runners took part in the Jane Tomlinson’s Run for All City of Lincoln 10k on Sunday 6th April 2025 in support of St Barnabas.
One of the biggest and best-loved running events in Lincolnshire, the City of Lincoln 10k passes through the city’s historic Roman Walls, Cathedral and Castle, with thousands participating every year.
We are extremely grateful to all the runners who ran in support of St Barnabas Hospice. Together these incredible runners have raised nearly £12,000 in donations, plus over £2,500 in Gift Aid, with donations still coming in.
Gift Aid is one of the easiest and most effective ways to give an extra 25% to charity. The scheme, introduced by the Inland Revenue, allows us to claim Gift Aid tax relief of 25p for every £1 donated, at no extra cost to the donor.
All donations raised through challenges like the Lincoln 10k contribute to the funding of St Barnabas’ vital services, helping to provide essential hospice care to over 12,000 people annually. Each year we need to raise £7 million to keep providing these vital services. By way of example, the current Lincoln 10k fundraising total could cover the cost of over a month of Hospice at Home care.
Chris ran the Lincoln 10k in support of St Barnabas in honour of his mum who received care at the Lincoln Inpatient Unit in 2014.
Chris says: “I was absolutely blown over by how supportive and caring the staff were, St Barnabas has always resonated with me ever since.
“Running in the Lincoln 10k brings a sense of poignancy. I like to challenge myself and achieve something. The important thing, though, is to try and raise as much money as possible because it’s so difficult nowadays. For places like the Hospice, there’s a lot of financial challenges.”
This year, the Lincoln 10k coincided with runner Sarah’s mum’s birthday.
Sarah says: “My mum died last October. It’s incredibly emotional to run the Lincoln 10k on her birthday in support of St Barnabas. When I’ve run previous Lincoln 10ks, she was always here for me, cheering me on. She was always there, no matter how she was feeling.
“It was an emotional run, especially as you go past the Inpatient Unit twice on the route. It was amazing to have everyone cheering.”
John, Headteacher at Ling Moor Academy, comments: “We ran the Lincoln 10k for Debbie, a Teaching Assistant at our school, who sadly died from cancer. St Barnabas is our chosen charity and it’s just a great cause – we do a lot for them. The ship in the playground is even called HMS St Barnabas.
“We do Rudy’s Run with the kids every year, so it was about time the staff did their bit. We’re hoping to do the Lincoln 10k each year.”
Corporate partners, Agrigem, took on the Lincoln 10k for their annual team challenge.
Vanessa shares: “We wanted to raise money for St Barnabas as it has touched a number of our lives. The support from Ness at St Barnabas throughout the process has been amazing and engaging.”
Andrew adds: “I found it exciting to challenge myself alongside the team. Especially as I’m not a runner and have trained to take on this challenge.”
Ness Wilson, Fundraising Team Lead, says: “After months of emails and phone calls, it was wonderful to meet our St Barnabas Hospice runners on the day. It has been heartwarming to hear their stories and see the passion and pride they had in supporting our Hospice. The energy and enthusiasm they all brought was truly inspiring. Thank you as well to the Lincoln Hotel for allowing us to use their grounds for our finishers area.
“We are looking for regular runners and beginners alike to join us for the Lincoln Half Marathon 2025 and Lincoln 10k 2026 in aid of St Barnabas Hospice. By signing up, you will have the chance to be part of a great community experience whilst supporting local Hospice care.”
Chris comments: “I would really encourage anybody to take part. I really appreciate the vibe of the Lincoln 10k, there’s a collective energy among the crowd and it really propels you.”
Sarah adds: “When you’re doing it for fundraising, it pushes you along and keeps you going.”
Vanessa says: “Just do it – not only does it get you fit, but you’re helping such a great cause.”
Andrew agrees: “I always encourage people to challenge themselves.”
If you’re feeling inspired to take on the City of Lincoln 10k and support St Barnabas on Sunday 12th April 2026, you can register for your place here: https://www.runforall.com/events/10k/city-of-lincoln-10k/ and then let us know you are running in support of St Barnabas here: https://stbarnabashospice.co.uk/events/lincoln-10k/
Or, if you’re looking to increase your running challenge to a half marathon, you can sign up for one of St Barnabas’ Great North Run charity places for 7th September 2025 or register your interest in supporting us at the Lincoln Half Marathon on 5th October.
Emma Wheatley, Clinical Operations Lead at St Barnabas, is taking on the Peak District Ultra Challenge in memory of her dad
Emma joined the St Barnabas team in 2023, providing operational leadership and management to clinical services. She ensures the delivery of safe, high-quality care across the Hospice, both in the Inpatient Unit and within the community. This includes overseeing the Inpatient Unit, Community Services Teams, Allied Health Professionals and Specialist Nurses.
This year, Emma has signed up for the Peak District Ultra Challenge taking place on Saturday 28th June 2025, to raise vital funds for St Barnabas Hospice in memory of her dad.
The fantastic 1st Half (52km) Peak District loop starts and finishes at the basecamp in Bakewell, with a few steep ascents and descents taking you into the heart of the beautiful and varied landscape.
Emma says: “I wanted to raise some funds for St Barnabas but also choose a challenge that was meaningful to me.
My dad was cared for at the Inpatient Unit in Lincoln early last year and died here. I spent a lot of time in the Peak District when I was younger because he grew up in Chesterfield and my Nan lived in Crich, near Matlock. So, we have a lot of memories exploring those areas.”
Offering her advice to those considering a challenge, Emma says: “Everyone, no matter what age, fitness level or ability, should take a leap of faith and sign up. Any funds raised go such a long way in supporting St Barnabas.”
St Barnabas Hospice supports over 12,000 patients and their families each year, and over £7 million needs to be raised annually to continue providing people with compassionate care in Lincolnshire.
All donations raised contribute to the funding of St Barnabas’ vital services, enabling more people to receive specialist end-of-life care and more families to receive bereavement support.
Keeping the finish line in sight, Emma reflects on the sense of accomplishment afterwards, commenting: “It’s my birthday that weekend – so I’ll definitely be having something sparkling at the end of it!”
The Ultra Challenge Series has something for everyone. Are you a regular walker and new to endurance events? Perhaps a seasoned trekker looking for testing adventures? Or even a marathon runner wanting to ‘up’ your distance?
To take part in an upcoming challenge or choose your own for St Barnabas, visit the website and sign up today: https://stbarnabashospice.co.uk/fundraising/challenges/
Support St Barnabas by taking on the C2C2C Charity Cycle Challenge
Pedal power and passion remain at the heart of the C2C2C charity cycle ride, and St Barnabas has 20 charity places for riders. Cycle 100 miles through the picturesque Lincolnshire countryside on Thursday 26th June and help to raise vital funds for local hospice care.
Valued supporters Darren Louis, Clive Cox and James Wadsworth, are gearing up to participate once again and St Barnabas are looking for cyclists to join them.
Darren, from Lincolnshire, says: “I’ve been fundraising for St Barnabas for quite a while now, ever since I started working at my current employer, HomeLet – St Barnabas is one of the charities we regularly fundraise for. Over the past five years I’ve taken part in candlelight walks and bike rides. This will be my third time taking part in the C2C2C.”
Clive, from Lincoln, says: “I’ve supported St Barnabas for many years, including donating items to charity shops. This is my third time doing C2C2C, and I’ll be riding alongside my Son-in-Law.”
On Thursday 26th June they’ll start from the City of Lincoln, ride through the beautiful Lincolnshire countryside towards the coast, then back towards Lincoln.
Sharing their thoughts on why they’ve chosen this challenge, Clive says: “I like cycling and St Barnabas is such an important service within the local area. It’s a great day out with like-minded people.”
James, Trustee at St Barnabas, shares: “I enjoy the event and like to raise funds for St Barnabas and awareness of their vital work.
“It’s a great feeling knowing you’ve completed the challenge, got all those miles and hills behind you, satisfied that the training was worth it, and you’ve raised money for St Barnabas.”
Darren adds: “I love cycling, and there’s nothing better than enjoying a summer ride while raising money for a great cause. It’s the perfect combination.
“It’s an incredible feeling knowing you’ve completed 100 miles and even better knowing that your efforts are helping support a brilliant charity.”
Some people ride all of it, some ride in relay. Mountain bikes, tandems, hire bikes, recumbents, or a Brompton – it doesn’t matter what you ride, so long as you power it yourself.
Darren comments: “I’ll be riding solo, but everyone you meet on the day quickly becomes your friend – sometimes just for the day, sometimes for longer!
“I’m really looking forward to it. I enjoy this ride every year, and this time, I’m hoping to focus a bit more on helping others along the way and offering support where I can.”
James notes: “I’m a bit nervous. It’s a great event, but always a good challenge. I need to build up my practice rides with increasing distances before June.”
The team at St Barnabas will support you every pedal of the way, including providing you with a St Barnabas branded cycling T-shirt to proudly wear on the ride.
Deborah Yarwood, Fundraising Officer and C2C2C Project Lead for St Barnabas, says: “Whether you ride solo or in relay, we’ll support you every turn of the wheel.
“The fundraising efforts of all our participants are greatly appreciated and contribute to the provision of vital Hospice care provided to over 12,000 people and families across Lincolnshire every year.
“We are filling places fast, and only have a limited number of places available! Join Darren, Clive, James and others in taking on this picturesque challenge in support of St Barnabas.”
Over £7 million needs to be raised each year to support St Barnabas in providing people with compassionate care in Lincolnshire.
To sign up, head to their website and complete the registration process: C2C2C 2025 – St Barnabas Hospice
Once on the registration page, please enter the code ‘StB2025’ under ‘St Barnabas Fundraising’ and click enter, then simply complete the registration process. We will get in touch with you soon after your registration is complete.
Offering their insights on tackling the C2C2C challenge, Clive says: “The more you train, the easier the ride, and the more enjoyable it is.”
James adds: “Give it a go! It isn’t easy, but it is worth it.”
Darren advises: “Take your time – this isn’t a race. Enjoy the food, the conversations, and remember, pain is temporary, but glory is forever… and you get a free t-shirt to show-off!”
To take part in an upcoming challenge, visit the website and sign up today: Challenges with St Barnabas – St Barnabas Hospice
Celebrating our Hidden Teams at St Barnabas: Education Department
St Barnabas has over 300 members of clinical and non-clinical staff working to support our vision – a world where dying with dignity, compassion and having choices is a fundamental part of a life.
The hard work and dedication of all our staff ensures we can continue providing vital end-of-life care, across Lincolnshire. This year we’re shining spotlights on our hidden teams and highlighting the incredible work they do to support St Barnabas.
The Education department work behind the scenes at St Barnabas, providing gold standard, evidence-based education in palliative, end-of-life and health care to benefit patients, individuals, organisations and communities.
Using their experience and expertise, they have developed education programmes tailored to provide personal learning and development for our staff and the wider healthcare system.
Rebekah Gore, Education and Projects Lead, and Sarah Christopher, Head of Education, at St Barnabas state:
“We carefully plan, design, and deliver both internal and external education programmes, ensuring they receive CPD accreditation prior to implementation.
We take pride in offering gold standard education that is evidence-based, current, and creatively designed to foster retention, understanding, and critical thinking.
Our courses consistently receive outstanding feedback, particularly for their interactive, innovative, and engaging delivery by our qualified educators.
In addition to supporting staff compliance with mandatory training, we offer a diverse range of clinical and non-clinical education sessions to enhance learning. Furthermore, we generate income for the hospice by selling our educational programmes externally, thereby enhancing the knowledge and skills of the broader workforce in improving palliative and end-of-life care for patients and their families.”
At St Barnabas, we also offer work experience opportunities for school children, taster and insight days for individuals, and practice placement opportunities for students across the medical and health professions.
These opportunities provide individuals with the chance to gain a specific insight into St Barnabas, how we function, and gain a deeper understanding of working in a Hospice.
Through collaborating with institutions such as Lincoln Medical School and the University of Nottingham, we provide practice placement opportunities for medical students – forming a vital part of their studies.
Julie Seddon, Practice Placement Lead at St Barnabas, says: “In 2019 I took on the role of Clinical Educator at St Barnabas Hospice, with responsibility for co-ordinating Medical Student placements. This has significantly evolved over the years, and in March 2024, I became the Practice Placement Lead for St Barnabas.
We offer and develop innovative, high-quality clinical and non-clinical practice placements, including supporting apprenticeships, work experience and insight days.
Working in collaborative partnership with external organisations, I enhance our overall placement offering for pre and post registration health and social care professionals, as well as other placements, ensuring the learning experience is excellent from start to finish.”
A total of 111 Medical Students joined us in 2024 for one-week placements offered at Lincoln, Boston and Grantham. A further 97 Medical Students are planned for attendance, commencing in March 2025.
Zainah, Medical Student, says: “One of the things I enjoyed most about working at St Barnabas is the community, and the supportive, uplifting environment – listening to patient’s concerns and empowering them. I noticed that’s quite a big difference compared to hospital care. I really enjoyed seeing the spirit that St Barnabas brings.”
Joe, Medical Student, adds: “The main thing I’ve learned is the importance of Advanced Care Planning, and how death is still a bit of a taboo in our society. People don’t like to use the d-word, but actually, having these conversations early with patients and their families about what is going on, what they can expect, and being quite realistic about the situation they might be in. Starting these conversations so patients and their families endure ‘a good death’.”
Paramedic Science Students are a new addition to the Practice Placement portfolio. 26 students joined us in January 2025 and it is anticipated this will be replicated in 2026.
Julie says: “Work experience opportunities provide school children with the opportunity to experience hands-on work experience across a range of departments, including Fundraising, HR, IMT and Retail.
I couldn’t do my role without the agreement and hard work of the St Barnabas teams that support me. This is a joint venture that we embark on. Over the last six years, services and teams have been outstanding in supporting and delivering experiences for students. It’s brilliant to see it all in action.”
Rebekah and Sarah add: “We enjoy working for an organisation that truly embodies its values, with a genuine people-centred culture that supports both staff and patients. We believe that through the support we receive to design and deliver effective education, we are making a real difference!”
Additionally, Jake Bontoft, Research Nurse, is working to embed research throughout the Trust, enabling us to ensure clinicians are working in an evidence-based way and that our practice is current and up to date – something that directly benefits our patients. It also allows us to contribute to best practice across the UK by undertaking projects in a range of different areas.
Working closely with Lisa Phillips, Director of People and Education, the team also support the delivery of our Organisational Strategy to benefit patients, families and communities across Lincolnshire.
To find out more about the courses we provide or placement opportunities, please visit: https://stbarnabashospice.co.uk/education/
Thank you to the Education team – your contributions make a huge impact, and we appreciate everything you do.
Wendy Cundy plays the St Barnabas Raffle in memory of her Dad, Ron Shaw
Wendy Cundy from Wragby, remembers her dad, Ron Shaw, a real family man who she describes as a first-class Husband, Dad, Brother, and Grandad.
Ron lived in Billinghay all his life, in the village he loved and where he worked as Transport Manager for AC Gilberts for over 30 years. He loved going on coach holidays with friends and ballroom dancing with his wife, Margaret.
Wendy said: “He met the love of his life Margaret when they were both teenagers and married in 1957, having me and my brother in 1960 and 1963.
“He was particularly proud of being picked to play for Lincoln City Football Club, however in those days there wasn’t the money in it and it wasn’t considered a ‘proper job’!
“His proudest job was as Grandad to Thomas, Sam, Liam and Daniel, and he loved being in the garden with them and teaching them how to grow vegetables, play sports, and games.”
Wendy describes Ron’s diagnosis with Oesophageal cancer as “just devastating, he was the centre of our family.”
Wendy said: “My Mum, the wider family, and nurses had managed to keep Dad at home for as long as we could, but this became increasingly difficult and risky.”
After a brave two-year fight, Ron received excellent end-of-life care at the St Barnabas Hospice Inpatient Unit in Lincoln, where he sadly died aged 72.
Wendy shares more about their experience: “For the last five previous days of his life, he actually rallied and enjoyed some homemade soup and delicious biscuits!
“St Barnabas gave us a safe place and allowed me, my Mum, and brother Trevor to be with Dad during his final days and in a private room when he passed – that was priceless.
“We were totally supported but also left in private and he left us just after 3am surrounded by everyone who loved him the most.”
Following Ron’s death, Wendy has continued to support St Barnabas and has most recently taken part in the summer raffle.
Wendy says: “It is really humbling to see the amazing way the staff care for the individual and their family at a time of immense stress and heartbreak.
“Winning the top prize in the Summer Raffle was astounding – I never win anything! I will always remember that due to other people’s donations and kindness we accessed this care, therefore I have tried to make sure the same support is there for other families.”
Play the Winter Raffle today, from just £1 per ticket via the St Barnabas Hospice website.
If you would like to make a donation, fundraise for us, or find out more about the services we provide, please visit: www.stbarnabashospice.co.uk