Take a Seat at the Wellbeing Café...

Article by Treetops Hospice Care

Derbyshire-based hospice celebrates 1st birthday and the launch of a new support group!

In January 2020, Treetops Hospice Care in Derbyshire, started their year with a bang as they celebrated the 1st birthday of their Wellbeing Café. The Wellbeing Café was opened in 2019, with the aim of encouraging people to maintain their quality of life and independence.

The Café welcomes a range of people through its doors, including adults with life-limiting illnesses, their friends and family, and those who may have been bereaved.

Ali Jordan, senior staff nurse at Treetops, speaks very fondly of the café:

We’re thrilled to celebrate the Wellbeing Café birthday and welcome so many people in such a short space of time since we opened. The Café is a huge success with over 30 people coming along every week. It’s an easy and informal way for people to come to the hospice, often for the first time, and find out more about the support and services available to them.

As well as the Café, Treetops Hospice Care also works hard to ensure they are providing people with a range of activities, including a Get Moving exercise group, singing group, arts group and supported-bathing spa days.

Whilst celebrating the Café, staff at Treetops also took the opportunity to announce the launch of a new support group for adults affected by motor neurone disease (MND) – Mollie’s MND Support Group.

The group has been designed to offer both peer-topeer and professional support to anyone who feels they would benefit from talking to those affected by MND and those who can provide medical advice and assistance.

The group has been named ‘Mollie’s’ in memory of Mollie Southway, who was introduced to Treetops by the MND team at the Queen’s Medical Centre (QMC), Nottingham, following her MND diagnosis.

Mollie Southway

Mollie and her husband, John, were visitors to the Wellbeing Café and Mollie’s family and close friends were touched when the MND Support Group was named after their mother. Mollie’s daughters have said:

She would’ve been extremely flattered to have such a worthwhile service named after her and it’s a wonderful tribute that will allow us as a family to honour her memory forever. Thank you to Treetops for providing this opportunity to create hope amongst loss.

Mollie’s MND Support Group is a place where people can go and meet others who are going through a similar situation and receive support, information and perhaps a slice of cake too!

The group drop-in sessions run on the first Friday of each month, 13.00–15.00, at Treetops, Derby Road, Risley, Derbyshire

Treetops Hospice Care have to raise over £4.3 million through donations, shops, events and lottery memberships so that they can continue to provide their vital services, free of charge.

These services include Support and Information, Hospice at Home, Therapeutic and Counselling Services, Wellbeing Services and much, much more.

www.treetopshospice.org.uk

0115 949 1264

Treetops Hospice Care, Derby Road, Risley, Derbyshire, DE72 3SS

Registered Charity Number 519540