St Barnabas Hospice is passionate about ensuring no person in Lincolnshire feels they are alone, whether they are a patient or member of the community.
For Loneliness Awareness Week 2023, the hospice care charity would like to remind people of all ages that there are many services available that can help combat loneliness.
Social groups at Wellbeing Centres
The charity hosts regular support groups, Coffee Mornings, and activities at their Wellbeing Centres across the county, in Boston, Grantham, Lincoln, Louth, and Spalding.
This includes a brand-new Creative Wellbeing Group, starting this week. It is a supportive, friendly group for anyone with a palliative diagnosis, their family members, carers, or anyone who has experienced a bereavement. Activities include crocheting and knitting, sewing, memory book making, colouring, weaving, paper craft, painting, and other crafts.
Other groups, available to St Barnabas patients as well as the general public are:
– Drop In Coffee Mornings
– Singing sessions
– MND Support Groups
– Secondary Breast Cancer Support Groups
– Bereavement Cafés
To find out more about our groups across the county, visit: https://stbarnabashospice.co.uk/wellbeing/
Counselling, bereavement support and spiritual care
St Barnabas offers psychological and emotional support to people who are living with a life-limiting or terminal illness, their family members, and carers. Bereavement support is also available to anyone in Lincolnshire who has experienced a bereavement, not just those affected by hospice care.
Counselling can be offered face-to-face within the Centres or in people’s own home by telephone or video call.
Bereavement support is available to any adult affected by grief, not just the family and friends of those cared for by the Hospice.
People can access this support by calling our helpline on 0300 303 1897 from Monday to Friday, 11:00am to 3:00pm or by attending one of our Bereavement Cafés, more information via the link below.
Spiritual care is available to people of all faiths and none, in the Inpatient Unit in Lincoln, Hospice in the Hospital in Grantham and patients accessing care in their own homes. We also have sanctuary spaces in our Wellbeing Centres, which are available to those who have medical appointments or during aforementioned support groups.
To find out more about these services, visit: https://stbarnabashospice.co.uk/wellbeing/psychological-and-spiritual/
Volunteering
Volunteering for St Barnabas is a fantastic way of being social and making new friends.
Volunteering roles are available in our 25 charity shops around Lincolnshire, in our Inpatient Unit in Lincoln, in our Wellbeing Centres by supporting with our groups, in the community by picking up donation boxes, or as part of our fundraising events.
Lifelong friendships are often formed by our volunteers who work closely together.
Annette Johnson is a volunteer at the Wellbeing Centre in Lincoln and says:
“My husband Dennis passed in 2015 and St Barnabas were so kind, caring and supportive. I wanted to return their kindness, which I did by volunteering as a receptionist, and now I host the weekly Coffee Morning.
“By volunteering I met Irene, who is now a firm friend. The people we meet on these mornings are amazing in their resilience, humour, and support of one another. To be able to help such people in any small way has truly been a joy to me.
“If you are thinking of volunteering, go for it! You will get as much back as you give.”
Visit https://stbarnabashospice.co.uk/get-involved/volunteer/ to learn more about volunteering for St Barnabas.
Fundraise for St Barnabas
By fundraising for our charity, you are not only supporting local hospice care, but you can also meet new people and have a great time!
Fundraising can take on many forms – from partaking in a set Challenge event such as a marathon, skydiving, walking over fire or LEGO, St Barnabas organises many events each year to take part in.
You can also host your own event, for instance a Care for a Cuppa bake sale or Pub Quiz.
The beauty of these fundraisers is they can be held anywhere, from your own home or garden, at your workplace, community centre or down your local pub! Choose your location, date and time, request a free fundraising pack and start inviting.
Find out more about fundraising by visiting: https://stbarnabashospice.co.uk/fundraising/