Open House - Summer 2022

Open House Summer 2022

Corporate Identity Policy A framework to help protect and enhance our visual communications.

‘The value of a corporate identity is immeasurable: its value increases each time it is presented properly and decreases with every improper application’

Draft: December 2015

Garden House Hospice Care – Corporate Identity Policy

“ ” I love being here.

Hospice comes together for Queen’s Jubilee

Inside: Caring for carers How we are looking after unpaid carers Could you fund a few minutes?

Appeal launched in response to rising costs

Started by the community. Serving the community. Started Sustained by the community. by the Community Serving the Community

Welcome It feels like we have really moved forward since the darkest days of the pandemic. The unusual silence that fell upon our corridors has lifted, with people and conversation filling them again.

Volunteers are a vital part of our organisation and sadly, so many of their roles within the Hospice itself had to be stopped to protect them, our staff and our patients. It’s been a pleasure to see them back on the Inpatient Unit this month, offering social and emotional support to patients and their visitors once again.

Meanwhile, our carers courses have re-launched (read more on page 7) and our Community Wellbeing Hubs are full of energy. The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee gave us reason to celebrate, both with our colleagues and patients. They were joyful occasions and moments to be cherished after years of keeping apart.

We remain vigilant though. Maintaining the safety of our patients is central to our daily planning. Our collaborative working with Herts Community Trust and Isabel Hospice is focusing on how we make sure that palliative care is co-ordinated post-covid, so each patient has a clear

understanding of what is going on with their own care.

In the coming months we will launch our new strategy. During the past three years, we have seen growth across the Hospice, including our Compassionate Neighbours and our Frailty service, which offered support to care homes even at the height of the pandemic. We are proud of how much we have delivered in the most testing of times.

As you know, none of this can happen without the dedication of our supporters.

While it’s great to see our best events such as Sunset Starlight back on the calendar (see page 9) you will also read about our Fund a Few Minutes Appeal on page 8, which has been launched as we deal with the rapid rise in operational costs.

Thank you to every one of you who has contributed and chosen to support the work that we do.

Sue

Sue Plummer, Chief Executive sue.plummer@ghhospicecare.org.uk

Cover story Dennis attends our Letchworth Hub every Friday, where he, in his own words, ‘gets involved in everything’. In the picture he’s chatting to Compassionate Neighbour, Nadine, at our Jubilee party. His daughter,Sharon, was one of the first nurses to work at the Hospice over 30 years ago, and Dennis used to volunteer on our Inpatient Unit, where he loved chatting to patients.

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Registered Charity 295257

A tale of two friends Dave White became a familiar character very quickly during his stay on our Inpatient Unit, due to his favoured location being on the bench outside reception, giving all passers-by a friendly hello.

He was regularly joined by his close friend, Stuart. The pair, who met at work, shared a love of golf, competing across the country.

We sat with them during one of Stuart’s visits and he told us more about Dave’s condition.

Stuart added: “The biggest thing about Dave being here is that now his pain is under control he’s engaging with people again. He’d always talk to anyone, but that had completely gone. The Hospice is brilliant, it really is.”

“Dave originally had a stroke, but when they did scans they showed stage 4 cancer in the lungs and in his stomach. The medical team at the hospital said there was nothing more they could do for him,” he explained.

“Six weeks ago, he was playing golf twice a week. His deterioration has been very rapid.”

Sadly, life at home was a struggle for Dave – he couldn’t walk safely up his stairs and he was in considerable pain.

It was agreed the best place for him was Garden House Hospice Care.

Here, staff have focused on relieving Dave’s pain, and he’s made the most of his stay – joining staff at their Jubilee party for a glass of punch and winning a few items on the tombola.

He told us: “All the staff are so lovely, they treat me with respect and care. I’ve never experienced such kindness. It’s great to be here. I can’t believe how relaxing it is.”

 GardenHouseHospice |

 garden_house_hospice_care |  GHHospice

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Last year in numb Our impact data for 2021/22 has been crunched and analysed.

Thank you for enabling us to achieve so much for so many people.

2,789 people

onto our

Inpatient Unit

30%

99.7%

of family, friends and carers describe

the care their loved one experienced as good or very good.

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Open House | Summer 2022

d ec r

inc r e

110%

ase

to

157 admissions

ea s e

e

Frailty team reviewed and made support calls

13%

e

10%

increas

9,202 home visits

patients, carers and community members cared for across all services

increas

1,989

bers day services

9%

e

cared for in our

increas

418 patients

inc r e

958 pre and post bereavement counselling sessions 39%

ase

88% increase in children and young people’s services

 GardenHouseHospice |

These statistics demonstrate a real push in community care.

People want to Sue Plummer be at home, and Chief Executive we’re helping to make that happen. One of the main aims of the hospice movement is to give people a choice at the end of their lives, so this is exactly what we want to see.

An area of decline has been on our Inpatient Unit. This has partly been down to staffing levels and our capacity to admit patients, but actually it more truly reflects our increasing ability to support people at home, where the majority want to be.

Elsewhere, we’ve had a significant increase in demand for counselling amongst young people, and major growth in the workload of our frailty team in care homes.

Their role is to see every resident in the care homes we partner with, assessing their needs and supporting care home staff and their families as their loved ones near end of life. We know this makes an enormously positive difference to everyone involved.

 garden_house_hospice_care |  GHHospice

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Introducing Liz Liz Kennedy has spent over 30 years of her nursing career working for hospices, before joining Garden House Hospice Care last July. Recently promoted to the role of Director of Patient Services, we’re delighted to introduce her to you.

You’re clearly committed to the hospice movement! What is it about working for hospices that you love?

I have always felt so privileged to be involved in the care of patients and their families at what may be a very difficult time for them, knowing you can make a real difference to people with our services. We are so lucky that we can be part of a committed team who work together towards a common goal.

What do you enjoy about leadership?

I’ve been fortunate to be involved previously in forming and developing services, which I find rewarding. It’s a privilege to make those changes and be involved in the improvement of people’s care.

I’m also a big believer in people. I am passionate about supporting patients, families, teams and individuals to support, enable, empower and develop.

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Open House | Summer 2022

What do you hope to achieve in this role?

My goal is to support every service as the teams regroup and continue to move forward after the many challenges, including covid, that they have had – what a rollercoaster it’s been.

Does working for a charity influence you?

Yes, we really value what we can do here – provide individualised care – and I believe we are able to do so because we are a charity.

I took part in our Muddy Mayhem event earlier in the year and you’ll definitely see me at more in the future!

Caring for carers One in five adults in the UK support a relative, close friend or neighbour because of chronic illnesses, according to a report published earlier this year.

These could include mental ill-health, dementia, disability or older age. The number of unpaid carers is higher than before the pandemic.

The report, ‘Making Caring Visible, Valued and Supported’ was published during Carers Week 2022, and it highlighted that one of the top concerns for carers is caring for their own physical and mental health.

Lucy Heaps, our Acting Day Services Manager, explains more: “When we first meet with a patient, we ask them, ‘what is important to you?’. The majority reply that they want their partner or carers to be supported and kept well, alongside keeping themselves as well as they can too.

“Day Services focus on supporting people to improve or maintain their own sense of wellbeing, so it stands to reason that we extend that to our community of unpaid carers too.”

Carers Week, held in June, saw the return (after a three-year break) of our block sessions for carers offering practical and financial advice and guidance, with thanks to the support from some external speakers, who gave their time freely.

“We are excited to offer more regular support to carers – we are already getting future ideas from the feedback we have received,” said Lucy. “We hope to enable carers to top up their toolbox, enhancing their wellbeing and increasing their knowledge and confidence on the practical matters of caring.”

If you or someone you know would benefit from our carers courses, visit ghhospicecare.org.uk to find out the latest courses available.

 GardenHouseHospice |

 garden_house_hospice_care |  GHHospice

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a Few M d n i u

l

es Appea t u n

The rising costs of living are a challenge for us all. For the Hospice, it means the cost of our care is rapidly going up. That is why we have launched the Fund a Few Minutes Appeal.

F

Every day we need to raise £9,500 in donations to fund our services and keep our Hospice open. That is 27% (or £2,000 a day) more than how much it cost two years ago.

The reasons for this rise include a growing demand for our care and the recruitment and expansion we require to meet this need, as well as soaring utility prices and costs of the goods and services that are essential for us to operate – such as electricity.

We know this pressure is something many of you will be experiencing too. Our aim is that if everyone helps Fund a Few Minutes – as many or as little as you can comfortably afford together, you could fund hours, days or even weeks of our care.

Every minute we need to raise £6.60. Could you Fund a Few Minutes today?

Liz Kennedy, our Director of Patient Services, explains: “A few minutes may not sound like a lot. But actually, a lot can happen in a few minutes.

“A counsellor can make a phone call to a parent, worried about how to tell their children that their dad’s illness is not going to get better, to explain how we can help. A doctor or nurse can welcome, reassure and support a new patient and their family on admission to our Inpatient Unit. A carer can take a breather and take some time, while our health care assistants are providing care and support to their loved one at home.

“We make the most of every minute we have at Garden House Hospice Care. Our promise to you is that your donation will enable us to take actions, make decisions and support people in that moment, with an impact that will last far longer on the individual, and their loved ones too.”

If you can Fund a Few Minutes today scan the QR code or visit: ghhospicecare.org.uk/donate 8

Open House | Summer 2022

Sunset Starlight – A Walk to Remember You are invited to light up the night and walk for your loved ones on Sunday 11 September. Adam Brockett, our Events Manager, is organising this special evening, which gives you a chance to celebrate the lives of those you love while fundraising for the Hospice.

What is the idea behind Sunset Starlight?

Sunset Starlight is a 6.5 mile circular walk following much of the beautiful Greenway around Letchworth, as the sun goes down. It gives people the chance to come together, dress in bright and colourful outfits and have fun - but also, remember people we love.

What can walkers expect?

As well as a scenic route, we are planning a number of audio, visual and tasty surprises along the way. These will either give you a motivational boost or an opportunity to take a moment and reflect. We promise a positive atmosphere and a feeling of togetherness – even if you sign up on your own.

Is fancy dress compulsory?

We would love walkers to be beaming and shining their way round the Greenway, so while flashing lights and head torches are recommended, the

addition of 80s disco glow sticks and crazy hats are not essential but very much welcome.

What is new for 2022?

We will have use of Mercure Letchworth Hall Hotel’s Arlington Suite, so once you’ve completed your walk, please join us for a glass of fizz, a bite to eat (included in the ticket price) and a drink or two at the bar to celebrate your achievement.

How much do I need to fundraise?

Starlight Sunset is a sponsored walk, with the aim of raising as much money as possible for the patients and their loved ones who need our dedicated care.

There is no minimum target as every penny helps, but be ambitious - we can help you smash your target.

Adam Brockett Events Manager

Entry is £20 for adults and £10 for under 18s. Sign up now: ghhospicecare.org.uk/events/sunset-starlight-walk-2022  GardenHouseHospice |

 garden_house_hospice_care |  GHHospice

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Remembering Elizabeth Sisters Collette and Liz felt they had nowhere left to turn when they first contacted Lucy, our nurse who specialises in dementia care. But their call changed everything.

Even with advanced dementia, Elizabeth, a retired primary school teacher and mum of five, welcomed all her visitors with a cheery hello, smile and a cuddle. That was until last November, when her health suddenly declined.

Her daughter, Collette, contacted our Admiral Nurse, Lucy Cosgrove. Together with our consultant, Lucy put together a plan for Elizabeth, contacting the people involved in her care, tackling the health concerns they had and making arrangements to bring her into the Hospice.

Sadly, despite Lucy pressing for urgent support, Elizabeth died within 48 hours. But Collette and her sister say the support Lucy gave them in that time transformed the last few days they had with their beloved mum.

“

Looking back at the last few months of their mum’s life, Collette explained: “We felt that we were getting nowhere, that changes we could see in mum were being dismissed. It was a bit like they thought that because she had dementia and was in a care home, she didn’t matter.”

Frustrated, the sisters admitted when they first called Lucy, they weren’t sure what difference it would make.

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Open House | Summer 2022

“But Lucy listened,” said Collette. “After me waffling in her ear, she said, ‘this is what we need to do, I’m going to do this for you’.

And she did it.”

“She talked to me, reassured me, and it was the first time we had a clear answer about how mum was. It lifted our spirits and gave us hope.”

”

Last month, they visited Lucy to hand her a cheque - money they had raised in their mum’s memory to say thank you – and to meet Lucy in person for the first time.

“We didn’t realise there was an Admiral Nurse working for the Hospice. It’s something that really could benefit people to know about, so we want to help get the word out,” said Collette.

Find out more about Lucy and how she can support your loved one at ghhospicecare.org.uk/ supporting-you/dementia-care

Gez’s Journey

Gez Lowry Wellbeing Hub Coordinator

Gez Lowry was recently appointed Wellbeing Hub Coordinator in our Community Engagement Team. A Compassionate Neighbour and gym volunteer for our Day Services team, he is a familiar figure to many having run exercise classes in our thriving Hubs for some time.

“

“When I did my personal training exams, I never wanted to work in a gym. I wanted to work with older people who incrementally would improve over time. There’s a lady at our Royston hub who said to me recently, ‘I’ve still got arthritis in my foot and I still get stiffness, but I don’t get any pain because I’ve been doing your exercises.’ That was great feedback.

“My new role involves making sure our hubs run successfully for those two hours. It’s about making sure that experience is something that works on many levels for different people, whether that’s through our exercise classes, talks, teas, coffees, cakes, quizzes and more. It’s also about bringing people together. A lot of people we work with are socially isolated, particularly after the Read Gez’s full story and discover pandemic where they lost friends, family and more about our Community just general contact with others.

Wellbeing Hubs in Stevenage, “The environment here is vibrant, buzzy and Hitchin, Letchworth and Royston by full of committed people. Whatever we do in visiting ghhospicecare.org.uk/ life, we all like to do things that make us feel supporting-you/communitygood about ourselves. Certainly working for hubs the Hospice makes me feel good about myself and I feel like I’m really contributing.”

 GardenHouseHospice |

 garden_house_hospice_care |  GHHospice

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Back of the net!

We are delighted to announce that we have scored an Official Charity Partnership with Stevenage FC for the upcoming season.

The League Two club will support us with raising awareness of the Hospice’s work in the local community and providing an exciting calendar of fundraising events.

The partnership kicks off with an unique opportunity to have your loved one’s name printed on the bespoke Third Kit, which will be designed to include our logo and brand colours.

Up to 300 names can feature on each shirt, which will be worn by the men’s first team at a home game in the second half of the season as a moving tribute. The exclusive shirts will be available to purchase from January 2023.

To submit your loved one’s name, please visit our website. Space is limited and will be offered on a first come, first served basis.

“We are thrilled to be working in close partnership with Stevenage FC,” said Carla Pilsworth, our Director of Income Generation.

“The club is known and loved by many and this is such a fantastic opportunity for us to engage with fans and the wider football loving community. We cannot wait to see what the next few months hold.”

We will release more details of the partnership and ways to get involved as the season unfolds.

Visit ghhospicecare.org.uk for the latest news and to submit your loved one’s name onto our bespoke Third Kit shirt design.

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Open House | Summer 2022

Driving up furniture donations We are now able to collect more high-quality furniture donations than ever before thanks to a new partnership with Boxmove, a specialist in collecting and delivering furniture for charities.

From sofas, armchairs and beds to tables, chairs, desks and even some electrical items, we now accept our widest ever range of high-quality furniture donations.

So if you, your friends or family know of anyone looking to donate any unloved furniture or household items, please tell them about us as we’d love to help!

Your donations are already making a massive difference to the lives of local people in our community.

Philippa Ellington, our Head of Trading, explained, “We’re delighted to partner up with Boxmove who are very highly regarded amongst many charities for their furniture collection service. An increased number of collections means more high-quality furniture in our shops which ultimately, once sold, means more money to help support the Hospice’s vital work.

What’s more, this move also frees up our own amazing van drivers to concentrate on even more exciting projects in our community.”

She added, “We’re definitely seeing a change in shopping habits with more people turning to second hand furniture.

This is down to a combination of increasing new furniture prices and the rising cost of living squeezing people’s disposable income. So if you’re looking for that perfect pre-loved item to complete your look at home, then please give your local shop or our dedicated Garden House & Home shops a visit.”

It takes just a few simple steps to book a collection: •V isit ghhospicecare.org.uk/shops/booka-collection •T ype in your postcode •C omplete the form •S elect a collection day We collect the following and so much more: •S ofas • Armchairs •T ables • Desks •W ardrobes • Coffee Tables •B ookcases • Beds

 GardenHouseHospice |

 garden_house_hospice_care |  GHHospice

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A growing trend for sustainable fashion We warmly welcome the move from prime-time reality show, Love Island, to ditch fast fashion in a bid to become more eco-friendly.

The popular ITV show, which follows a group of 20-somethings in search of love living together on a Spanish Island, announced it would leave its fast fashion sponsors. Instead, it’s contestants will instead be wearing second-hand fashion finds this summer as part of a new partnership with eBay. Currently, we sell over 10,000 pre-loved items each week via our shops and online platforms, including eBay, raising vital funds as well as preventing unnecessary waste.

“This decision sends out a really strong message that promotes reuse and slows down fast fashion, whilst also setting a good example to youngsters that shopping second-hand is cool,” said Carla Pilsworth, our Director of Income Generation. “In fact we’ve already noticed a real trend in younger, more loyal shoppers visiting our shops and purchasing online. That’s something we only expect to see keep increasing as the cost of living continues to rise and squeezes people’s expendable income.”

Should any of the contestants find true love in the villa this summer and go on to enjoy married life, our Bridal House boutique in Hitchin would be the ideal place to visit in preparation for the big occasion!

Type in your postcode and find your nearest shop at ghhospicecare.org.uk/shops/find-your-local-shop 14

Open House | Summer 2022

Another type of yarn If you picked up one (or more!) of our cheerful Charlie Chicks this Easter, you can feel delighted that your chocolate treat helped to raise over £17,000. Egg-credible! Thank you to DLRC for donating the eggs and of course our fabulous knitters. Together, you have ensured every penny we have raised helps our patients and their loved ones.

A focus on gifts in Wills Our supporters raised an incredible £1.9m to support our work last year.

With nearly 10% coming from gifts in Wills.

“Legacies are an important source of income for us,” explains Kerry Cunnane, our Legacy Manager.

“A significant amount of the care we give today is because people have made the incredible decision to leave a gift to the Hospice when making their Will, sometimes decades ago.”

Since January, legacies left to Garden House Hospice Care have ranged in size from £1,000 to £150,000.

“Many people think that it’s only worth leaving a large-figure sum to a charity, but that is wrong,” said Kerry.

“Legacies can be a smart way of supporting a cause you feel passionate about if you do not have cash to give right now.”

For those that do have larger estates, giving 10% to charity will offer relief on inheritance tax.

“Making decisions about your estate is an emotional process and choosing to support a charity is a remarkable decision,” said Kerry. “By leaving a legacy to Garden House Hospice Care, you will play a vital part in securing the future of our care for the local people who in years, even decades, may need us.”

For more information on leaving a gift to Garden House Hospice Care, or to tell us you have pledged a gift to the Hospice in your Will, please contact Kerry on: legacies@ghhospicecare.org.uk.

Kerry Cunnane Legacy Manager

 GardenHouseHospice |

Tick ‘ Ma off yo ke a Will’ ur to Write do lis or upd t ate yo exchan ur W

ge for ill in a dona hospic tion to e, with the lo waivin cal soli g their citors usual f ghhosp ees. Go icecare to .org.uk /wills.

What could your legacy be?

Below are some recent legacies we have received, and how the money could help: £500.05 could fund three days of home visits from our community team. £2,000 could fund a patient receiving round the clock care on our Inpatient Unit for five days. £7,714 could fund our Family Support Service and all the counselling and interventions they provide for two weeks.

 garden_house_hospice_care |  GHHospice

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A Right Royal Occasion Here’s a selection of some of our favourite photos as we celebrated the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee with staff, volunteers and patients.