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