Greenwich & Bexley Community Hospice Spring 2022 Newsletter

SUMMER 2022

NEWS Rebuilding for the future, with you

INSIDE HELPING PEOPLE AT HOME PAGE 4

GOOD COMMUNICATION IS KEY PAGE 8

ORDER YOUR ROSE TO REMEMBER PAGE 14

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people with terminal across Greenwich home, in hospital or atillnesses the Hospice, your support w home, in hospital or at the Hospice, your support care to those that need it most. All our care is pro Greenwich & Bexley Community Hospice care to those need it most. our care is pro supporters to that play our raffles andAll support us in oth supporters to play our raffles and support us in o

WELCOME

As we move on from the pandemic, taking on board everything we’ve learned and everything you’ve told us, we want to share our plans for the future with you.

Thank you to everyone who answered our call for feedback and ideas. For the last year, we have been reviewing every area of our work and the positive things to have come from the pandemic. We asked you to help make sure we were focusing on the right things, as we plan for how we continue to serve our community in the best way we can in this post-COVID world.

To everyone who took the time to engage with us, thank you. It is only through hearing from so many voices, that we can celebrate the richness of our community and shape our services to best meet your needs.

Hospice care has always been special and some things will never change – care that centres around you and your wishes, the compassion and kindness of our team, support that encompasses the whole family from living with a terminal diagnosis, through to death and bereavement.

And it’s only £1 per ticket!

And it’s only £1 per ticket!

As someone a special friend is familiar withwork, our work, As who iswho familiar with our you’llyo k We determined that every dying person big are difference to the lives of people that depend difference to the lives of people that depend on o u in Greenwich and Bexley will receive the heart about what the Hospice means to her. heart about what Hospice best care, and the the need for thismeans care is to her. growing.

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Read her storyover ove sure everyone in our community has a good death, whether the hospice leads or whether Early Bird Prize Draw we are just playing a supporting Early Bird Prize Drawrole with partners. We are stepping up to lead the way and drive excellence in back end care. send your to us If you send your tickets tickets backof tolife usby by28 28February, February chance to win a £30 Amazon voucher.

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Thedraw drawclc You’ll read in this£30 newsletter ourThe on Friday be drawnas onwe Friday 20 March. priorities plan20 forMarch. the future and how we’re already working differently. Please join better way start the New Year than What better wayto to start thebuild Newa Year thanwith witha us on our journey and help hospice people in Greenwich Greenwich and Bexley.

Bexley.We Make winning that is right for our community. want to and Make aawinning hear from you - tell us how we can work with you to make a difference for everyone who Best wishes, Best wishes, needs us. We’re listening.

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IN THIS EDITION SUMMER 2022

NEWS Rebuilding for the future, with you

INSIDE HELPING PEOPLE AT HOME PAGE 6

GBCH Spring 2022 Newsletter A5 4th.indd 1

GOOD COMMUNICTION IS KEY PAGE 8

ORDER YOUR ROSE TO REMEMBER PAGE 14

05/05/2022 18:00

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3 We’re listening 4 Helping people at home… whatever ‘home’ means Please complete and return this slip to them with your payment and completed ticket stubs (we’veall included some the hospice 6 I’ve been surprised about the ways to make it easier!) in the has helped usstickers envelope supplied by 17 March 2020.

8 Good communication is key If you reply by 28 February, you will enter into a free win a community 10 I feel like I’m doing my bitprize fordraw mytolocal £30 Amazon voucher.

11 Pushing beyond boundaries Mr A J Franklin <Title> <First name> <Surname> 129 Wren Road 12 Our family wasn’t alone – thanks to the hospice <Address 1> SIDCUP <Address 2> DA14 4NQ 14 Rose to Remember <Town/City> <Postcode> 16 Colour Run Party 13439 <Reg number>

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SUMMER 2022 NEWS

WE’RE LISTENING We are holding a ‘listening event’ on Wednesday 15 June at 1pm – the event will be held online as we hope this will enable the most people to attend.

We would like to invite anyone who has experience, either current or recent, of the support we provide, so that we can get a clear idea of the things we need to focus on the most. If you are interested, please email us at feedback@gbch.org.uk – we will share the joining instructions nearer to the time.

Our new plan outlines our priorities for the next five years – priorities centred around our patients, their families and the needs that they encounter through their journey from diagnosis through to death and into bereavement.

Listening to all voices in our community, understanding their stories and challenging inequalities so that we develop support which is responsive, compassionate and flexible to meet differing and individual needs

Growing and empowering our hospice team, working to our strengths alongside system partners and developing others to give the best support they can to dying people and their families

Making the most of digital technology to assist us in delivering outstanding care, increasing reach, demonstrating impact and maximising income

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4 Greenwich & Bexley Community Hospice

Helping people at home… whatever ‘home’ means to them

Senior Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS), Lisa Morris, has worked within community district nursing for a quarter century, including 11 years for Greenwich & Bexley Community Hospice. A mum-of-four, 49-year-old Lisa says she is passionate about end-of-life care, and being able to give people the kind of peaceful death they wish for, at home – whatever ‘home’ looks like to them.

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or Lisa job satisfaction means being able to support patients to achieve a ‘comfortable’ death in the place where they want to be. And at the same time knowing the peace of mind that this offers their families.

But it can also mean helping people to make precious memories.

This was certainly the case with a gentleman that Lisa helped to care for recently, before he sadly died of cancer and dementia.

“Ken loved Spain, he and his wife, Christine, had a villa there,” Lisa explains.

“They wanted to make one last trip and I

managed to do a COVID swab so he could take this final journey. No one else would come out to do the swab, so even though it wasn’t strictly our job the hospice team did it because it was so important that he get to Spain.”

“His wife then sent me a lovely photo of him sitting in the sunshine with a hat on, a pint of zero alcohol beer and his pipe, with no tobacco in. He was just looking out to sea.

His wife was so thankful that they were able to make some last memories, before it was too late. She wrote a card after her husband had died thanking the hospice nurses for ‘going above and beyond.’ That’s what this

SUMMER 2022 NEWS job is all about.”

Lisa joined the hospice in 2011 and is a CNS. She works for half the week in dementia palliative care and the other half in care home settings.

“Our role is about helping people to have a comfortable, peaceful death in the place of their choice,” Lisa says. “People don’t want to be in hospital, they want to be at home or perhaps in their care home – whatever ‘home’ means to them.”

Lisa now cares for many patients with advanced dementia, and the hospice nurses are seeing more and more people that have dementia as well as another terminal condition.

“Situations for these patients can really vary – some have private care, some are cared for by their children, but they might also be a 93-year-old wife looking after a 92-year-old husband,” Lisa shares.

“Pressures on carers have increased, especially during the COVID pandemic. But the hospice care team offers essential support.

Our care is very family orientated and holistic.

When we walk into a situation we want the best for everyone.”

The hospice care home team are also there to support colleagues working in other settings that have become very isolated, particularly over the past two years.

Referrals to care homes are currently very high, so it’s a particularly challenging

time for the sector.

Lisa says: “The hospice team go wherever we’re needed, covering up to 30 care homes. We carried on right throughout the pandemic, wearing PPE.” “I’ve really felt for staff working in care homes. Only last week I was in a care setting speaking with one of the sisters, and in the whole unit of 22 patients, only five were clear of COVID. They’d had about six residents who had died in a few days and she looked so defeated.”

“The people they care for are like the staff’s second families and they’re tired, working 12-hour shifts and having to cope with incredible loss.”

Lisa’s team care for adult patients of all ages, including younger people with dementia and people with learning difficulties.

“Our patient caseload

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is so varied now and so is the job. My role can also include looking at housing need, financial difficulties, whether someone is entitled to NHS funded care etc.”

“I’m really proud of the 24-hour care the hospice provides. Just knowing we’re there is reassuring for people.”

“I spoke to a lady recently whose mum we were caring for and when I told her I was a palliative care nurse she cried. ‘Please do your magic’, she said. ‘Make my mum comfortable and help her to die where she’s happy and peaceful.’ That made me smile.”

Ken enjoying his trip to Spain

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Greenwich & Bexley Community Hospice

Susan Ross, 71, from Welling, has had to be a tower of strength for many members of her family over the past three decades – so being able to rely on Greenwich & Bexley Community Hospice herself for support at some very difficult points has been a lifeline for her. Here Susan explains why the help offered by the hospice’s varied services means so much…

“I’ve been surprised about all the ways the hospice has helped us”

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usan’s youngest daughter Caroline was just a teenager when she started noticing worrying health symptoms.

By age 15, Caroline, now 44, could no longer walk in a straight line and was frequently falling down stairs. Tests revealed she had a condition called Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, where a thickening of the heart muscle makes it hard for blood to be pumped around the body. But this was only the start. Further tests carried out at St George’s Hospital in Tooting found mumof-one Caroline also had a condition called Friedreich’s ataxia (FRDA) – a neurological

disorder that affects mobility and coordination which deteriorates over time.

The knowledge that Caroline would need a lot of support in later years and likely would die young, was very hard to come to terms with for both Susan and her late husband Nigel.

Susan says: “We discovered that both Nigel and I carried the gene that causes FRDA, but our two other daughters weren’t affected by the condition. Caroline has been very poorly for a long time and we don’t expect her to live long. I’m surprised she’s still here in some ways. It’s very hard all round.”

Caroline was first referred to the hospice

SUMMER 2022 NEWS

care team in 2020 – but the family already knew first-hand about its work.

“The hospice had cared for Nigel before he died in 2011,” Susan explains. “He’d had bowel cancer and was ill for a couple of years. By the end he was too poorly to undergo any further treatment.”

“The hospice took over his care from hospital, got him a bed in the Inpatient Unit and sorted out his medication. He was supposed to come home and the hospice had organised all the equipment we’d need, but he actually died in the IPU.” “Nigel was very content there and was so well taken care of that I could go home at night with some peace of mind. His pain was dealt with, the carers would wash him, and all this meant that I could just be his wife and spend time with him. The staff were also lovely with me and I could talk to them about anything.”

After losing Nigel, Susan – who also lost her eldest daughter Francesca to cancer aged just 52 - had weekly counselling for several months.

By the time Caroline was referred to the hospice, Susan had moved into her home in Erith to help care for her and look after Caroline’s son Leon, who’s 16.

“I’ve also received wonderful support from the hospice social worker Wendy after deciding to apply for special guardianship of Leon,” Susan reveals. “I’ve always been close to him so it made sense that I would continue to look after Leon after Caroline is gone. I started the application process in October 2021.”

“Leon is supposed to be doing exams at school but he’s not coping very well with his mum’s condition. He’s developed anxiety as a result of the pandemic and has been referred for counselling. He also has an underactive thyroid that makes him very tired, and lost his dad in 2013 so he’s been through a huge amount.”

The process to become a special guardian is time consuming and complicated, with police checks, many references required and forms that are hard to complete. But with Wendy’s help, Leon and Susan received the

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“He was so well taken care of that I could go home at night with some peace of mind. This all meant that I could just be his wife and spend time with him.” wonderful news that the guardianship had been granted in April.

“Wendy has been there every step of the way and it’s been lovely to have the moral support as it’s quite an intimidating process,” Susan says. “It was such a relief when the news came through.”

“I’ve been surprised about all the ways that the hospice has helped out our family. They do a great job and they’re not only there to support you at the end-of-life. The hospice helps people to live better.”

Wendy, Hospice Social Worker

8 Greenwich & Bexley Community Hospice

GOOD COMMUNI ‘When we’re all on the same page it empowers patients’ To achieve its vision of delivering the highest quality holistic care for every patient and family it supports, Greenwich & Bexley Community Hospice works closely with other partner organisations, including Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust.

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ogether hospice staff and the community teams at Oxleas work tirelessly to ensure seamless nursing care is provided for people living with life-limiting illness in local communities across the two boroughs.

Here Charlotte Steward, lead nurse for endof-life care (Greenwich) and Karen Smith, lead nurse for end-of-life care (Bexley) at Oxleas, explain how working in close collaboration with the hospice is paying dividends for patients, and their families.

When you work in the field of end-of-life nursing care only one thing is certain – that no two patients are the same.

Forging strong links between the organisations that provide this seamless care is crucial, especially when you’re dealing with complex cases. It’s definitely good to talk, and that’s exactly the approach that both the clinical teams at Greenwich & Bexley Community Hospice and the community nursing teams at Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust take.

Charlotte Steward Within Oxleas community service the two London boroughs are supported to develop their palliative and end of life care by Charlotte and Karen. Charlotte having joined the role in March 2021, and Karen started this April, both have extensive backgrounds in District Nursing.

There are six district nursing teams working in Bexley, and four in Greenwich, with additional ‘twilight’ team nurses who work from 5 to 11pm, and overnight cover in Bexley.

“To do the job you need empathy, compassion and to be a great listener, also to have a good knowledge basis and experience in end-of-life care,” Karen says.

“The nurses don’t just care for patients but for their families as well. It is our district nurses who provide most symptom management and pain support, in conjunction with the hospice.”

Charlotte explains: “The relationships have always been good between our wider nursing team and the hospice community team. Good communication is key. Our

SUMMER 2022 NEWS

NICATION IS KEY

Karen Smith district nurses can always call the hospice community nursing team with a specific question or for reassurance, and vice versa.

The teams support each other.”

Both Oxleas and the hospice community nursing teams attend regular meetings with all local organisations involved with end-of-life care across the boroughs. This group, which is chaired by Graham Turner, Director of Care and Service Transformation at the Hospice, includes Queen Elizabeth Hospital, the local Clinical Commissioning Group, social services and GP leads for end-of-life care. Charlotte and Karen also hold regular meetings with the hospice’s hospital discharge coordinator about patients being discharged home.

“Managing all the different facets of a patient discharge can be tricky,” Karen reveals. “A few months ago, we had a lady who lived alone and had concerns about whether she would be well enough to call if there were changes in her symptoms”.

“But by working together we can ensure an appropriate care plan is in place”.

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“All our patients are on different journeys when we meet them – but we’re led by what they want when we provide care at home, working together enables us to focus on what matters most to them. Having the knowledge that the hospice community nurses can be easily contacted and provide support to us when it is needed is most reassuring”.

With both the hospice and Oxleas’ nurses working on the front line across Greenwich and Bexley during the pandemic, it’s fair to say that COVID strengthened the bond between them even further.

“It was challenging, and we were seeing an increase in patient numbers.” Karen says.

“Emotionally it was a difficult time.”

“I remember seeing six patients back-toback who all needed syringe drivers in one day,” Charlotte says. “I’d not had that happen before, but with the support of the hospice nurses we were able to ensure seamless care to the patients.”

Working in partnership can also be beneficial when the nurses are confronted with a difficult situation.

“We had one young patient who was finding it difficult to accept how serious her diagnosis was. She couldn’t accept that she was dying,” Karen says. “Our nurses needed help and one of the hospice specialist nurses arranged a joint visit to support us with this difficult situation, as a result of our visit this lady was able to die at home, which was her wish.”

“When we’re all on the same page it empowers patients.”

Charlotte concludes: “What matters most to each patient varies, and that’s why our care is so important, because it is organised around the person so they can have the best experience possible.”

“By working closely together as a team we can get people talking more about death and break down the taboo surrounding it.”

10 Greenwich & Bexley Community Hospice

Fran Clark has been volunteering for Greenwich & Bexley Community Hospice for the past 11 years – ever since she retired from a career as a messenger for the Cabinet Office. Fran volunteers three mornings a week at the hospice’s main donation centre in Welling, and says the lovely people she’s met through her role have made a big difference to her life.

“I feel like I’m doing my bit for my local community”

“W

hen retired early at the age of 62 back in February 2011 it was quite scary,” Fran says. “I like being busy.

That’s why I walked into my local Greenwich & Bexley Community Hospice shop and filled out a volunteer application before I’d even given up work.”

“I didn’t have any personal experience of the amazing work they do, but since then I’ve been lucky to meet some of the nurses and have visited the hospice. It’s nice to feel that as a volunteer I’m doing my bit for my local community.”

Fran started by sorting through donated clothes and items in the Welling hospice shop but then moved to the hospice warehouse just down the road. At this main donation centre a dedicated volunteer team carefully sort items donated by the public.

“It’s amazing the things people give,” Fran reveals.

“We’ve had Victoria Beckham jeans come in before and recently a brand-new Versace children’s dress.”

“Even if items aren’t good enough quality to sell we add them to the ‘rag bags.’ It’s all money for the hospice.”

Fran says that she gains a

great deal from volunteering, including meeting friends from a wide range of backgrounds.

“I’ve met some lovely people through the hospice,” she says. “Currently I volunteer with a lady who used to work for the jobs and benefits office and another who was a primary school teacher. We share stories and chat about everything.”

“It’s the people who make the experience for me – that and knowing we make a difference. I’ll carry on volunteering for as long as I can and I’d recommend it to anyone.”

SUMMER 2022 NEWS 11

“Volunteering gives me a sense of purpose” Denese D’Costa has been volunteering for the hospice since 2019, and knows all too well through personal experience the incredible work the charity does. Denese is part of the RePurpose team, where once-loved items of all kinds are restored or repurposed to sell in aid of the hospice.

“I

t was two years before I retired as an RE teacher that I learned first-hand about the incredible work of the hospice,” Denese says.

“Just after Christmas 2016 my mum had a fall and broke her hip. The doctors weren’t able to operate as she had a weak heart. I nursed her at home for over two months.

Watching Mum die when there was nothing I could do was heart-breaking, but thankfully I had support from the amazing hospice community palliative nursing team.”

Denese struggled to come to terms with her loss, but after speaking to the hospice she was offered bereavement counselling.

“When I needed help the hospice immediately responded. It made such a big difference to me. That’s why I was inspired to volunteer.”

Then Denese saw a leaflet about the hospice Repurpose project.

“I went to visit the workshop and signed up there and then,” Denese reveals. “I

Lawrence and Denese instinctively knew that this was the way I could raise some money and make a difference.”

“From sorting and unpacking donations, pricing items or repairing things, I didn’t mind what I did and loved volunteering as part of such a lovely team.”

When the COVID pandemic hit, Denese stopped volunteering for several months, but in early 2021 began working for RePurpose again from home, drafting and listing donated books to sell on eBay. “I’ve since become the ‘book expert’ and it’s fascinating. I research information on the book, cleaning it if necessary, taking photos, drafting and listing online.”

“I sell books nationally and internationally.

I have sold to Europe, America, and as far as China. In total we’ve raised £1,460 to date for the hospice through online book sales.”

“It’s wonderful to be able to give something back to the charity who gave me so much. Volunteering gives me a sense of purpose and keeps me fulfilled.”

Our sixteen shops raise vital funds to help us support our local community – and they’re powered by volunteers. We’re looking for people to support our shops with all kinds of things including: sorting stock, serving customers, displaying items for sale. All training will be provided – what’s really important to us is that you want to be part of our team and come ready to share your time and skills. If you can support for a few days or even a few hours, we’d love to hear from you.

Please contact the Volunteers Department at volunteersdept@gbch.org.uk for more information.

12 Greenwich & Bexley Community Hospice

“OUR FAMILY WASN’T ALONE – THANKS TO THE HOSPICE”

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Ellis Belcher, from Sidcup, Kent, will be running the London Marathon in October 2022 in aid of Greenwich & Bexley Community Hospice after we cared for her grandparents Victor and Pauline Belcher.

he couple had been married for The Hospice were involved with Victor’s over 60 years and were 79 and 81 care from the beginning. The hospice when they sadly died. The whole community team cared for him largely at Belcher family had been involved home before he died in November 2019, in caring for them, including their also helping the family to have equipment, daughter, Ellis’ Aunt Lesley. Here Ellis and including a clinical recliner chair, delivered Lesley explain what a difference support to keep him comfortable there for as long as from the hospice made to them at a very possible. difficult time.

Ellis explains: “Granddad went into the “I was really close to my grandparents,” hospice three days before he died. By this Ellis says. “I did show-jumping as a child and stage the hospice at home carers were Granddad was my biggest coming out on regular visits supporter. He was a retired and had some important London black cab driver conversations with him and a real character.” which we appreciated.

“I used to go to Nan with Granddad wanted to all my problems. Nan and understand what was Grandad were always there going to happen.” for me and my sister Jerrie.”

“The hospice also gave “When Granddad was my Nan amazing support diagnosed with pancreatic at a very difficult time. She cancer in July 2019 it was felt relief that Granddad a real shock. The only sign received such good care that something was wrong and it helped us knowing was that he’d lost some that she wasn’t on her Pauline and Victor weight. His GP arranged for own. At the end of his some blood tests and he life, he was peaceful and was diagnosed with stage 4 contented at the hospice.” cancer. Granddad was told that there was The day after Victor died, Pauline sadly fell nothing really that could be done.” over in her garden and broke her arm. She “At first I couldn’t believe it. We’d only had went to stay with Lesley, and never went a 60th wedding anniversary party for them home. weeks earlier. They’d received a letter from “The hospice staff were so reassuring,” the Queen.”

Lesley recalls. “Mum wasn’t sleeping

SUMMER 2022 NEWS 13

Pauline and Victor with their family because of her arm but the Hospice team came out to see her and got a hospital bed delivered.”

“It was during the spring of 2020 when Mum was diagnosed with multiple myeloma with amyloidosis – a rare type of bone marrow cancer. That time is really a blur.”

After undergoing chemotherapy for a short period, Pauline decided to stop treatment. The hospice’s community nurses were keeping her comfortable, caring for her at home.

“The nurses really knew their stuff,” Lesley says. “Due to them Mum had seamless care.

“The hospice even sent out their health care assistants when I needed help with Mum’s personal care.”

“By mid-April 2021 Mum had deteriorated and really needed inpatient care, and thankfully the hospice managed to find her a bed. She went in on the Wednesday and passed away peacefully on the Sunday.”

“We were able to spend some quality time with her. The nurses had picked up on the fact that I was struggling with the thought of Mum dying at home, and she wanted to go into the hospice because after our experience with Dad she knew she would be well looked after.”

“Mum’s welfare was so important to the

Ellis with her Nan, Pauline staff and they took care of all the small details. I can’t tell you the difference that made.”

“The hospice know that people don’t fit into pigeon holes, and with chronically ill patients no one size fits all. They offered individualised care. They had calm conversations with Mum about her end of life. They helped me by helping her.”

“I think the positive end of life experience my mum had should be available to everyone. The hospice team got it so right with both my parents. When I left Mum there I knew she was going to be looked after properly and treated with respect all the way through.”

Ellis concludes: “With both Nan and Granddad we knew that with support from the hospice we weren’t alone. The nurses did little things that meant so much – like helping Nan to have a little of the fizzy drink she loved. They offered exactly the right balance of support and space.”

“I’ve always wanted to run a marathon and our experience has spurred me on to do it.

I’m aiming to raise £2,000 for the hospice.

I want to tell everyone I know about the amazing work they do.”

“And I also know that Nan and Granddad would be so proud of me.”

 You can make a donation to Ellis’s marathon fundraiser at justgiving.com/fundraising/ellis-belcher

11 & 12 JUNE 25 & 26 JUNE

OPEN GARDENS FESTIVAL 2022 Beautiful private gardens in Blackheath, Charlton, Eltham and Greenwich open over two weekends in June.

For full details about the open gardens, booking, entry and directions, visit communityhospice.org.uk/ open-gardens-festival

Kindly sponsored by

Roses to Remember

This year marks the first time our ‘Tender Loving Care’ rose will be available to blossom in your own garden.

Y

ou are invited to dedicate one of our beautiful pink roses in memory of someone special.

Standing proudly within our grounds, our special rose ‘Tender Loving Care’ is a unique rose variety grown especially for our hospice.

Our flowers are inspired by this stunning pink rose, symbolizing gratitude and admiration, making them the perfect choice to dedicate to our loved ones.

We invite you to dedicate a beautiful steel rose, inspired by our ‘Tender Loving Care’ rose to someone special. Each rose you purchase will be hand placed in our Hospice gardens for a special display on 2 & 3 July.

After which your rose will be yours, to collect and display in your own homes and gardens.

Each rose will represent and celebrate treasured memories, memories like that of Jennifer’s.

2-3 JULY 10am-3pm

ROSES DISPLAY and

refreshments on sale, including cream teas made by our amazing catering team.

SUMMER 2022 NEWS 15

WE WELCOME YOU, THANKS TO BERKELEY!

“I will be dedicating a rose to my grandad. I can remember from a very early age helping him in the garden, I have so many fond memories. As an adult I still enjoy gardening and it will be a fitting tribute to have the rose displayed in my garden to remind me of those times as well as the wonderful work the Hospice does. It also feels good to know that my donation will be making a difference to the lives of others when they need it most.” – Jennifer The donation you make towards our Roses appeal means that patients receiving our care right now will feel safe and comforted at the most difficult time. Your support ensures your community will receive the best care, not just today but in the future. This is now more important than ever before. You are helping to make every moment count. With our patients in mind we have set a minimum donation of £25 per rose to support the work of the hospice.

TO DEDICATE A ROSE, simply head to: communityhospice.org.uk/roses or complete a form to send back to the Supporter Care team.

In the spirit of ‘open gardens’, we are able to once again invite you into our garden thanks to the support of Berkeley. After extending the Hospice building in 2014, access down into our gorgeous hospice grounds became limited. We were still raising funds for our ‘paths project’ when Berkeley pledged their support and work began. Thanks to their generous support, the money fundraised to date means we can improve garden access even further for patients, families and visitors. A huge and heartfelt thank you!

I would like to dedicate a ‘Tender Loving Care’ rose to someone special today.

In loving memory of: Name:

Relationship to you:

Name:

Relationship to you:

STEP 1: Your details: Title: Address:

Name:

Postcode: Email address:

Telephone number:

(To save on postage and printing costs please supply your email address for all updates on rose events)

STEP 2: How I’d like to support the Hospice: I’d like to purchase and dedicate

Roses (minimum donation of £25 per rose)

Total donation I’m sending to the Hospice £

STEP 3: Payment options I enclose a cheque made payable to Greenwich & Bexley Community Hospice Please debit my Maestro* / Delta* / Visa* / MasterCard* (*delete as appropriate) Card number (Maestro only)

Expires

STEP 4: Gift Aid

STEP 5: Keeping in touch

I confirm that I am a UK Income or Capital Gains taxpayer. I have read this statement and want to Gift Aid this donation and any donations I make in the future or have made in the past 4 years to Greenwich & Bexley Community Hospice. I understand that if I pay less Income Tax and/or Capital Gains Tax than the amount of Gift Aid claimed on all my donations in that tax year it is my responsibility to pay any difference. I understand the charity will reclaim 25p of tax on every £1 that I have given.

We would like to send you information about our fundraising and events, and other ways in which you can help us. We will write to you by post unless you ask us not to. Please tell us if there are other ways you’d like to hear from us.

Gift Aid my donations to the Hospice in the last 4 years and all future donations until further notice.

I am not a UK tax payer, please do not Gift Aid my donations.

You may cancel this declaration at any time, and you must notify us if your tax paying status changes.

Signature:

Yes, I am happy to receive occasional phone calls Yes, I am happy to receive text messages Yes, I am happy to receive emails No, please don’t send me information by post

Date:

Please send this form along with your donation in the freepost envelope provided, or return to: Freepost RTJU-GSSJ-KEAS, Greenwich & Bexley Community Hospice, 185 Bostall Hill, London, SE2 0GB. For more information about our Roses to Remember please contact Jackie Smith on 020 8320 5785 or jackiesmith@gbch.org.uk

Registered Charity No. 1017406

Roses to Remember

This year marks the first time our ‘Tender Loving Care’ rose will be available to blossom in your own garden.

Y

ou are invited to dedicate one of our beautiful pink roses in memory of someone special.

Standing proudly within our grounds, our special rose ‘Tender Loving Care’ is a unique rose variety grown especially for our Hospice.

Our flowers are inspired by this stunning pink rose, symbolizing gratitude and admiration, making them the perfect choice to dedicate to our loved ones.

We invite you to dedicate a beautiful steel rose to someone special. Each rose you purchase will be hand placed in our Hospice gardens for a special display on 2 & 3 July.

After which your rose will be yours, to collect and display in your own homes and gardens.

The donation you make towards our Roses appeal means that patients receiving our care right now will feel safe and comforted at the most difficult time. Your support ensures your community will receive the best care, not just today but in the future.

This is now more important than ever before. You are helping to make every moment count. With our patients in mind we have set a minimum donation of £25 per rose to support the work of the hospice.

2-3 JULY 10am-3pm

ROSES DISPLAY and

refreshments on sale, including cream teas made by our amazing catering team.

TO DEDICATE A ROSE, simply head to: communityhospice.org.uk/roses or complete a form to send back to the Supporter Care team.

FOR MORE INFORMATION about our Roses to Remember please contact Jackie Smith on 020 8320 5785 or jackiesmith@gbch.org.uk We have a limited number of roses which will be allocated on first come first serve basis.

Each rose is made of steel and stands at 24 inches tall and 3 inches wide. Roses will be available for collection from 3pm on Sunday 3 July after the display has finished.

Kindly sponsored by

 Sunday 25 September 2022  Danson Park, Bexleyheath  communityhospice.org.uk

 185 Bostall Hill, Abbey Wood, London, SE2 0GB

 communityhospice.org.uk @gbchospice

Registered Charity No. 1017406. A company limited by guarantee. Registered in England and Wales No. 2747475.