Care News Winter 2017

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Winter 2017

Vietnam Trekkers raise £110,000!

Why not join us for our Great Wall of China Challenge this year? see page 15.

Isabel Hospice Head Office, 61 Bridge Road East, Welwyn Garden City, AL7 1JR. Tel: 01707 382500.

Registered Charity No. 1046826

A message from our Chairman of Trustees Welcome to the first edition of Care News for 2017 and the first of our 35th Anniversary year.

the Hospice, the last 5 as CEO. Thank you Nigel for all the hard work and dedication in taking Isabel Hospice forward over that period of time. It is much appreciated.

Following Nigel’s retirement, we are delighted to welcome Robin Webb to the organisation. Robin is currently CEO of St Luke’s Hospice in Harrow and will be starting towards In this newsletter, amongst other the end of March. Robin brings to things, you will read about how Isabel a wealth of experience and we have successfully managed understanding about hospices, and the temporary relocation from our his background in banking brings Howlands based In-Patient Unit to excellent business and financial the Hatfield Residential and Nursing Home, our Enhanced Hospice at knowledge. Recent Trustee, Helen Glenister will continue in her role as Home Service, the appointment of Interim CEO until Robin takes up his a new Chief Executive Officer, Robin Webb, how our Living Well With Isabel position, for which we are all very appreciative. programme is progressing and the fantastic fundraising achievement of As you read Care News you will see our Vietnam trekkers. the wonderful work and commitment of all our staff and volunteers, and I Firstly, let me take this opportunity would like to thank them personally to thank Nigel Furlong for all he has contributed to the Hospice in his time for all they do. with the charity. Nigel retired at the Having proudly provided specialist end of December after 12 years with care for 35 years this year, it is

clearly vital that we sustain this high quality of care into the future.

Therefore, we are embarking on a refreshed strategy which we are calling ‘Living Well with Isabel’. This will embrace and support national ambitions for end-of-life care, which envision that each person is seen as an individual, each person gets fair access to care, comfort and wellbeing are optimised, care is co-ordinated, all staff are equipped to care and each community is prepared to help.

You can read one patient’s experience of this on page 12 and also read about another strand of the service, “Singing Well with Isabel” on page 7.

On 7th November, our In-Patient Unit building, behind the QEII Hospital in Howlands, Welwyn Garden City transferred to the Hatfield Care Home in Tamblin Way, Hatfield. The decision to relocate was not taken lightly, but it was not practical or appropriate to continue end-of-life care on the Howlands location during the demolition of the old hospital building.

In 2017 we have challenges to meet and opportunities to grasp. I’d like to thank you all for your continuing support as without you, we would not be able to continue to provide our free specialist care to the people of eastern Hertfordshire.

“Please accept our thanks for all your help during Dad’s recent illness. Everyone who came was so caring and supportive – not just for Dad but also his immediate family. We would never have managed by ourselves and we are truly grateful.”

Rod Leggetter Chairman of Trustees

service receive up to four visits a day from Isabel Hospice Registered Nurses, working with a Nursing Support Assistant. We are able to support those patients with ad hoc short visits for urgent symptom control working alongside the District Nurses.

Desiree Zimmerman It is with great sadness that we share the news that our Director of Fundraising and Communications, Desiree Zimmerman passed away on 11th January 2017, at home, with her family around her.

Prior to joining Isabel Hospice, Desiree worked for 10 years as a Community and Events Fundraiser at the Royal Brompton & Harefield Hospitals Charity. Upon joining the Hospice in November 2015, Desiree took up the role of Fundraising Development Manager. She quickly settled in and became a popular member of the fundraising team.

Then, in February 2016, the Director of Fundraising and Communications position became vacant. Desiree applied and was appointed to that role in April last year.

Desiree was excited about this position, and the fundraising team were delighted to have her lead them.

In the early months Desiree worked tirelessly to meet people and attend events. She immersed herself in the job so that she could completely understand the activities in fundraising and communications, and this knowledge would inform the development of her own plans and leadership of the fundraising team. Desiree brought many positive experiences and ideas from her time at Harefield and thought ‘outside the box’. She had started to develop many creative ideas and initiatives, which were beginning to be implemented, when she was taken ill in August last year.

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Enhanced Hospice at Home and IPU update

We are pleased to tell you that the Hospice clinical and administration teams worked together tirelessly, alongside our much valued volunteers to make this a seamless transfer for our patients and their families.

Our bed capacity at Hatfield is 5, (we have capacity for 12 at Howlands) and so we have put in place an Enhanced Hospice at Home provision in order to continue to meet community need and to make up any shortfall.

Patients admitted to the Enhanced Hospice at Home

Staff and volunteers on Bluebell Ward at our relocated IPU Patients are also seen by one of our Doctors and are visited by our physiotherapist or occupational therapist.

Complementary therapists also visit if the patient chooses, so the service we are able to give is extensive.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved in the temporary relocation and to stress that we still need your donations to enable us to continue to provide our specialist end-of-life care.

Elizabeth Paske Isabel Hospice Director of Clinical Services

As well as being professional, Desiree was great fun! She had a lovely sense of humour. She quietly questioned if she didn’t think things were quite right, and was always looking to improve ways of working. She was very conscious that any money spent on fundraising was therefore not being spent on the care and support of our patients, so there always had to be a return on investment.

Desiree was inspiring to her team. Even in December 2016 when she was admitted to Luton & Dunstable Hospital, Desiree was thinking about the team and how work should go forwards. She was an amazing lady. In the short time Desiree spent with us at the Hospice, she had a positive impact on everyone she came into contact with. We will all have fond memories and are thinking of her family and friends at this sad time.

BRAND NEW 5k RUN, Cheshunt Park, Sunday 16th July 2017 Tickets are selling fast! Adults £25, Children £8 Team (Minimum of 6) £20 per person. We are hoping to double our runners and reach 2,000 participants! Sign up at www.isabelhospice.org.uk Sponsored by:

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Make A Will Week 6th-10th March 2017

Time to make or update your Will The perfect opportunity to ensure that your wishes are recorded and to support Isabel Hospice Local solicitors will prepare or amend your Will.

Instead of charging a fee, they will invite you to make a donation to Isabel Hospice.

Suggested minimum donations: basic Will £100, a pair of basic Mirror Wills £150. More complex Wills may incur a charge.

To make an appointment, contact any participating solicitor quoting ‘Isabel Hospice Make a Will Week’.

Book early as some solicitors are only able to offer a limited number of appointments.

Why make a Will?

Making a Will is one of the most important statements you can make, yet most people find the thought of making a Will a bit unsettling. They don’t want to ‘tempt fate’ and even when they know they should make a Will, they just can’t find the time to do it.

There are several excellent reasons for making a Will: •

• • • • •

You will be helping your family after your death, at a very difficult time, if you have made your wishes clear. Your Will can include plans for your funeral and whether you prefer cremation or burial.

You can ensure that your Estate is distributed in the way that you want.

If you have young children, you can specify who will care for them.

A Will may help to reduce the amount of Inheritance Tax you have to pay.

You can specify to whom you want to leave your car, specific pieces of jewellery or other precious items.

You can leave gifts outside your immediate family, such as a gift to a charity.

What happens if you die without making a Will? The simple answer is that you die ‘intestate’, the law takes over and distributes your Estate for you. You may not think you have an ‘Estate’, but if you own your own home, bear

in mind that the average price of a 2 bedroom house in Hertfordshire is over £350,000 according to home. co.uk and that will form part of your Estate. If you are not married or in a civil partnership, your partner may not receive anything. Your entire Estate may go to your children or siblings, leaving your partner with nothing. If you are married and it is a second marriage, everything may go to your new spouse and nothing to your children.

Once you have provided for your family and other loved ones, a gift in your Will to Isabel Hospice is a wonderful way to ensure the Hospice can continue to offer our services into the future. Leaving a small percentage of your Estate to the Hospice will make little difference to those closest to you, but would be hugely important to the Hospice, helping us to continue to deliver our full range of services as well as enabling us to introduce new, innovative projects in the years ahead.

To make your Will and benefit Isabel Hospice, find a solicitor from the list opposite, and make an appointment.

If you wish to leave a gift in your Will to Isabel Hospice, speak with your solicitor or call Christine Mills at Isabel Hospice on 01707 382500.

P.S. Don’t forget, once you have made your Will, and had two people witness you signing it, tell someone where it is!

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BISHOPS STORTFORD Breeze & Wiles Solicitors Ltd 11 Ducketts Wharf South Street Bishop’s Stortford CM23 3AR Tel: 01992 558 411

Lever & Co. Solicitors And Notary Public 25B White Horse Court North Street Bishop’s Stortford CM23 2LD Tel: 01279 758 760 or 07957 377 587 Nockolds Solicitors 6 Market Square Bishop’s Stortford CM23 3UZ Tel: 01279 755 777 Tees Law 95 London Road Bishop’s Stortford CM23 2GW Tel: 01279 755 200

BROXBOURNE

Braddon & Snow Solicitors 1st Floor North Park House High Road Broxbourne EN10 7HY Tel: 01992 464 552 BUNTINGFORD

Judkins Solicitors The Manor House High Street Buntingford SG9 9AB Tel: 01763 448 152 CUFFLEY

Angela Lever Lever & Co. Solicitors and Notary Public Tel: 01279 758 760 or 07957 377 587

ENFIELD Breeze & Wyles Solicitors Ltd. River House 90 Church Street Enfield EN2 6AR Tel: 01992 558 411 Duffield Harrison LLP 626A Hertford Road Enfield EN3 5TG Tel: 020 8804 5271 GOFFS OAK

Gisby Harrison Goffs Oak House Goffs Lane Goffs Oak Waltham Cross EN7 5HG Tel: 01707 878 300 HERTFORD

Betteridges Solicitors Ltd 25 London Road Hertford SG13 7LG Tel: 0333 12 12345

Braddon & Snow Solicitors 23A Fore Street Hertford SG14 1DJ Tel: 01992 536 503

Judkins Solicitors The Rotunda 1 Old London Road Hertford SG13 7LA Tel: 01992 500 456

Duffield Harrison 56 High Street Hoddesdon EN11 8EX Tel: 01992 442 911

Breeze & Wyles Solicitors Ltd Second Floor Stag House Old London Road Hertford SG13 7LA 01992 558 411

Longmores Solicitors LLP 24 Castle Street Hertford SG14 2HP Tel: 01992 300 333

Crane & Staples Longcroft House Fretherne Road Welwyn Garden City AL8 6TU Tel: 01707 329 333

Duffield Harrison 27A Fore Street Hertford SG14 1DJ Tel: 01992 587 065 Garden House Solicitors 23 London Road Hertford SG13 7LG Tel: 01992 422 128

HODDESDON

Braddon & Snow Solicitors Montagu House 68 High Street Hoddesdon EN11 8HA Tel: 01992 464 552 Curwens LLP Estate House 19 High Street Hoddesdon EN11 8SX Tel: 01992 463727

WELWYN GARDEN CITY

Ewart Price 1st Floor 16-18 Church Road Welwyn Garden City AL8 6PS Tel: 01707 332 383 HRJ Foreman Laws 10 Parkway Welwyn Garden City AL8 6HG Tel: 01707 887 700

Ken’s Gift To Isabel Hospice

Isabel Hospice became an integral part of Ken’s life and testament to this is the amazing gift he left us in his Will.

Isabel Hospice,had Head 61 Bridge Road East, Welwyn Garden City, Herts AL7 1JR Tel: 01707 382500 Ken Carpenter beenOffice, volunteering for Isabel Not only did Ken support us when he was alive, he has Hospice for over 20 years. He joined us after his wife also supported us in his death and the ripples of that gift died in our care and wanted to ‘give something back’ as will be felt for many years to come. Many will benefit from he felt there was a debt he could never repay.Registered Charity No. 1046826 his kindness and generosity. That is how I will always Over the years, Ken had donated his time in many remember Ken, a wonderful volunteer and the most kind departments, and spent much of his time either driving and generous man I have ever had the pleasure of working patients to day services or attending the gardens at Hall with and calling my friend. a4 poster with list.indd 1 19/01/2017 Grove under the guiding hands of Fred and Sylvia Hyland.

Linda Wood, When Ken became ill, his request was to spend his final Voluntary Services Manager days in the Hospice.

www.isabelhospice.org.uk

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10:07

Forthcoming events March 25th March Jumble Sale Thundridge Village Hall – 2pm – 20p entry.

April 1st April Quiz Night Memorial Hall, Welham Green, AL9 7PG – 7.30pm. Run by the marvellous North Mymms Support Group.

Bring your own drinks and glasses. Light refreshments included in the ticket price of £12.50. Tickets from 01707 658531.

22nd April Mayors Civic Dinner at Rhodes in Bishop’s Stortford, in aid of the Hospice. Tickets: 01279 715000.

29th April Abseil London’s ArcelorMittal Orbit see below.

May 19th May Isabel Hospice 35th Anniversary Dinner to be held at Tewin Bury Farm, Welwyn Garden City. Enquiries, Barbara Doherty MBE 01279 842140 20th May Jumble Sale Thundridge Village Hall – 2pm – 20p entry.

Further details can be found at www.isabelhospice.org.uk in our events calendar.

21st May On Your Bike sponsored bike ride in Bishop’s Stortford. See page 2.

26th May Isabel Hospice Spring Golf Day at Essendon Country Club, Hatfield. Join us for a fabulous day, playing on the New Course. Teams of 4 are £500.

Enter online or call Liz Laing on 01707 382500.

June 17th June Garden of Memories Van Hage, Great Amwell near Ware – 3pm. Join us for a summer remembrance ceremony, where the name of your loved one is hand-written on a sunflower icon to plant in the Garden of Memories. Online dedications are now open at www. isabelhospice.org.uk Call Laura Pigott on 01707 382500 for more details.

23rd June NGS Open Garden raffle and refreshments in aid of Hospice.

6pm - 9pm. Mackerye End, AL5 5DR. Evening 6pm - 8pm.

Enquiries: 01279 755320.

July 6th/7th & 8th July Loves Labour’s Lost performed by the Water Lane Theatre Company - Monastery Gardens, Windhill, Bishop’s Stortford – gates open at 6pm.

This fantastic performance starts at 7.30pm and tickets are £5 each and sold by the Tourist Information Office on Market Square. Telephone 01279 715001.

9th July Skydive for Isabel Hospice see below.

15th July Jumble Sale Thundridge Village Hall – 2pm – 20p entry.

16th July Bubble Rush 5k run Join us for this fantastic fun run through foam. Fun for all the family. See page 3.

31st August Ladies Open Golf Day 21st Anniversary Ladies Open at Brookman’s Park Golf Club. £120 per pair.Coffee/tea & biscuits on arrival18 Holes 4 Ball better Ball Competition, Summer buffet & dessert.

Contact: Jan Leggetter 01438 716079 or email Jan. leggetter@btconnect.com

July 2nd July NGS Open Garden Teas in aid of Hospice. Mackerye End, AL5 5DR. Midday - 5pm. Enquiries: 01279 755320.

September 7th September Fashion Evening ‘Another Change of A Dress’ for WI at Charis Centre, Bishop’s Stortford. Enquiries: 01279 755320.

16th September Jumble Sale Thundridge Village Hall – 2pm – 20p entry.

24th September Bridges of London is back! Take part in this fabulous London walk, taking in all the sights, with coaches from Welwyn Garden City. £20 per adult, £10 per child with £8 per person if you decide to join us in London at the start point, Battersea Park. Sign up at www.isabelhospice.org.uk.

October 14th October Voices for Hospices Isabel Hospice 35th Anniversary concert. More details to follow.

14th – 22nd October Great Wall of China Trek Challenge join us in this adventure of a lifetime trekking on the Great Wall which stretches over 5,500 miles and dates back over 2,000 years.

Finish your adventure with a visit to Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City. Limited places. Call Megan Sparrey on 01707 382500.

Tickets £15

to include festive refreshments

London’s The Chapel, Haileybury College, Hertford Heath, SG13 7NU Arcellor Mittal Orbit Abseil

Sunday 9th July 2017 3 ways to sign up:

2 ways to sign up:

1. Sign up online at www.isabelhospice.org.uk 1. sign up online 2. Sign up over the phone on 01707 382500 sign up by calling 01707and 382500.

3.2.Fill in the form overleaf post back

Saturday 29th April 2017 The UK’s tallest sculpture at the famous Olympic Park, Stratford. £80 entry Minimum £150 sponsorship – Sign up at www.isabelhospice.org.uk

Irene Calvert from Buntingford has suffered from serious depression for many years. She didn’t want to leave the house and found it hard to go out for the shortest time.

Brought up in a children’s home after her mother died when she was 3, Irene didn’t have the best of childhoods but has a very supportive doctor who made a suggestion one day that changed her life.

“I was talking to my doctor, who is wonderful, and she said “Why don’t you think about volunteering for Isabel Hospice at their shop in the High Street.” I went home and thought about it, and although I didn’t want to put myself under that stress, I knew it would probably be good for me if I could pluck up the courage, so I went to the shop with my sister-in-law for moral support and they were just so lovely to me!

I started volunteering just one morning a week, but now I do four shifts a week and I love it. My real love is children’s toys, books, jigsaws and DVDs. I come in and sort them, put batteries in to check they work, and arrange them on the shelves. I quite often buy toys for my new grandson too!

I’d really recommend it to anyone as it builds your confidence, you meet new people and you get to socialise too.”

If you would like to find out more about volunteering in one of our shops, or in any capacity, contact the Volunteer Office on 01707 382500.

Feel Good Singing Living Well with Isabel Day Services recently ran a trial of a ‘Feel Good Singing’ group. The 8 week trial was run collaboratively with Jill Dean (our very own Gareth Malone) from Hertfordshire Music Service who gave invaluable support to the project.

Singing is recognised to give benefit to anyone living with a long term condition, as evidence shows that those attending report an improved sense of wellbeing. This is particularly so with those living with a lung condition who benefit from the mechanical effects of deeper controlled breathing. This group was open to both patients cared for by ourselves and also any others in our community living with long term conditions, the partners and carers were also welcome to attend.

We were grateful for the support of volunteers to establish the sessions both in making those attending comfortable and adding their voices to the singing. We hope to be running the group as a permanent fixture later in 2017.

What our patients say “I really enjoyed the singing it lifted my spirits. Having had chemo last year I am suffering from depression. It really helped.” “ An excellent rapport with fellow singers. The laughter and spontaneity with the whole group was excellent.

Look forward to further times.”

Chatteris Airfield, North London Skydiving Centre, Block Fen Drove, Wimblington, March. PE15 0FB

Sign up at www.isabelhospice.org.uk T: 01707 382500 Charity Number: 1046826

www.isabelhospice.org.uk

Skydiving Leaflet 2016 v2.indd 1

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How volunteering has changed my life

Like us on Facebook Isabel-Hospice

Follow us on Twitter Isabelhospice

27/01/2016 10:41

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Corporate Fundraising I cannot believe how quickly time has passed since I joined Isabel Hospice in July 2016.

I feel blessed to be able to fundraise for such a worthy cause knowing that every £1 you raise will help towards the cost of providing free care and support for patients and their families living with cancer and other life-limiting illnesses.

Elizabeth Laing - Corporate Fundraising Manager Tel: 01707 382500 Email: Elizabeth.Laing@isabelhospice.org.uk

Make A Will Week

Golf Updates Our Brocket Hall Golf day in October raised £16,687. Thank you to all our teams and our marvellous auctioneer Willy Dunn. Thanks also to our sponsors, Conlon Construction, SJS Plumbing & Heating, CCTV Monitoring Ltd, AMP Air Conditioning Experts, Fujitsu Air Conditioners and Aegis Construction Design Management Services.

s below:

________to

________ and any 4 years to Isabel

me tax and/or Capital donations in that tax stand the Charity will

Still time to sign up to our next Golf Day. Fantastic new venue. £500 per team.

Could you win £10,000 with our Hole-in-One challenge?

Spring Charity Golf Day Friday 26 May 2017

Date

Sign up at www.isabelhospice.org.uk or call me!

n City, Herts AL7 1JR

Hospice

ward to urse!

to tell us about your ing that you feel might publicising this event.

Sign up online

g.uk www.isabelhospice.or Tel: 01707 382 500

£10,000 prize Hole in One Sponsored by

No. 1046826 Registered Charity

Essendon Country Club Bedwell Park Essendon, AL9 6HN

You can read on page 4 & 5 about Make A Will Week.

In November, Longmores Solicitors hosted the campaign launch at their offices in Hertford. Valeside Catering donated a delicious breakfast and we thanked participating solicitors, who had come to meet and network.

ury. By providing your our records. Unless ou about future might nt.

Corporate Sponsorship Did you know that we have tailored sponsorship packages for many of our mass events including On Your Bike, Bubble Rush and Bridges of London? See your logo on leaflets, our event banners and get great publicity in the local media. Call me, Elizabeth Laing, to find out more.

Sunday 21st May 2017

purposes with any nformation, please see

th to participate and all riders or concerns about their health panied by an adult and must have al injury, loss or damage caused or

ate the risk of injury, as with ure that their bicycles are in a

Bishop’s Stortford Rugby Club, CM23 2EQ

Sign up at www.isabelhospice.org.uk

Sponsored Cycle Ride 25K - 50K - 100K ROUTES

Sunday 21st May 2017

Bishop’s Stortford Rugby Club, Bishop’s Stortford, CM23 2QE You can sign up online by scanning the QR code on your smartphone.

www.isabelhospice.org.uk Registered Charity No. 1046826

Thank You on the top right hand side. This is just a snapshot of some fundraising events that have taken place. We don’t have room to thank everyone in Care News, but we are very grateful!

Thanks to St Joseph’s in the Park at Hertingfordbury for £500 which was donated by the School Parents Fellowship.

EARLY BIRD ENTRIES CLOSE ON MONDAY 6TH MARCH (£12 INSTEAD OF £18) Sponsored by

Thanks to the staff at Waitrose in Welwyn Garden City for adopting us, we look forward to hearing their fundraising ideas for 2017. Thanks too for £485 from Waitrose Hertford for allowing us to be their Charity of the Month.

Thanks to all at the East Herts Miniature Railway Society at Van Hage’s for £3,250.

Thank you to Jackson Square, Bishop’s Stortford for making us their Charity of The Year for 2016.

Our Bridges of London walkers raised over £43,522. Thanks to everyone who took part.

That is amazing!

Thanks also to long time sponsor of our Bells & Bows pin badges, Pexhurst.

Pexhurst has had a long standing partnership with Isabel Hospice and has been supporting the charity since 2000, when the firm’s late founder, John Vella started the partnership. Over the past 16 years, staff have been involved in a range of activities to help raise money and awareness for this very worthy cause - one which is close to the hearts of its employees. Director Nick Tagliarini represented Pexhurst at Isabel Hospice’s Lights of Love ceremony held recently at the Campus in Welwyn Garden City.

Nick Tagliarini, said: “Being a local business, many of our people know a family member or friend who has needed the support of Isabel Hospice at some time, including John Vella who received support from the charity. We are proud to have supported the charity for 16 years and we look forward to continuing our partnership with Isabel Hospice throughout 2017 and beyond.

Thanks to Gill, Sumi and all the generous supporters at Crumbs Coffee shop in Watton-at-Stone for the donation of £1,066.

It was raised from a party in December, where long-standing volunteer Michael Freeman became Santa for the day!

Thanks to Rhodes Arts Centre for hosting our first ever Comedy Night. The fun filled evening raised £2,642.64. Thanks to sponsors Coopers of Stortford and Stansted Airport Community Fund.

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After 32 years, the coffee morning held in Place House, Ware has come to an end due to decreasing numbers. Thanks to Ann Davey, Joyce Reynolds, Vera Bentley, June Isaac, Ann Titmarsh, Vera Robinson, Rosemary Ravenscroft and Eileen Wells. Over the years the event raised in excess of £26,000!

Thank you to Whithern Bowls Club for their donation of £1,200.

In the 6 years that Make A Will Week has been running £149,310 has been raised for the Hospice and over 989 Wills have been written.

25k + 50k + 100k routes

on to use this information r Bike’

TH ANK YO THANK YOU! U!

Thanks to the owners of The Mango Tree, Eddie and Joyce Lim for enabling us to hold a prestigious dinner in their Belgravia restaurant where they supplied the dinner free of charge. The night raised around £50,000.

Thanks to Haileybury and to Braughing for hosting Carols in the Chapel Sing for their wonderful performance. The night raised around £8,000. Thanks also to our programme sponsors, as well as Derrick Wade Waters for their donation of £500.

Dee Ginnity adopted Isabel Hospice as her charity during her year of Captaincy at Great Hadham Golf Club raising just under £10,000. Dee has recently moved out of our area and we would like to wish her luck and happiness for the future.

Our Special Events Committee organised a wonderful Christmas at the Manor of Groves in Sawbridgeworth. The popular lunch and shopping day raised a wonderful £15,477.

Thanks to Barbara Doherty MBE and all her committee.

Thanks to our friends in our supporters in our local Rotary Clubs of Hertford Shires, Hatfield, Hertford and Great Amwell for their continuing support..

Thanks to all of our Fundraising Groups and volunteers for their hard work over the Christmas period including Renee Friend and her Fundraising Support Group whose activity recently including late night shopping in Florence Walk, a shop window competition and the retiring collection at Bishop’s Stortford College Herts & Soul concert.

Thanks to Paradise Wildlife Park for once again hosting our Bereaved Children’s Christmas Party and providing so much food and entertainment during the day.

Thanks for £2,841 as a result of the Codicote Panto Team production of “Jack and the Beans Talk”.

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Shops & Donations

Family Support Cheshunt shop – photos attached How we use your donated goods - can you do a flowchart – I think I’ve made it clear but if not, let me know.

Cheshunt Shop – Flood Update!

Can you use some stock images for it too?

Eg see attached.DSC72227 is for the £2 shop.

Our Cheshunt shop will reopen soon! We are really proud of our Cheshunt shop - it was one of our first shops to open and has been popular with customers and volunteers for a number of years. Unfortunately in October it was damaged in a flash flood. So much water flooded in that the wall fittings were ruined, as well as the floor.

We are working with the landlord, our insurance companies and various building companies to dry out, repair and refurnish the shop as quickly as we can. We are really disappointed that this process is taking so long, but it is important to ensure that all the relevant regulations and safety standards are met. The profits from all our shops are one of Isabel Hospice’s main income streams and provide vital funding for the free palliative care services we provide. As soon as we have a date for reopening we will let everyone know via our website and social media. We look forward to seeing you in our refitted shop soon!

Thank you for your donations!

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“Grandad was a real down to earth person. When he got cancer it was really hard for me and for my mum, sister and nan too. I just couldn’t cope. I stopped going out, stopped going to school (I was 12) and worried a lot about my nan. Isabel Hospice’s nurses had looked after grandad at home when he was ill and after he died the Hospice asked if the family needed help. That is when I met Tracie, the Hospices Children’s Service Manager. She came to the house and we talked. She made me feel better.

She set me small challenges, like going out or something like that. She gave me coping mechanisms for life without grandad. I just want to thank them for everything.

From when I was very young me and grandad used to do the garden together. I’m now at Writtle University College in Chelmsford studying horticulture. My grandad went there too which is another reason why I love it. I am the assistant gardener at my old school and maintain the gardens there where I see a little robin flying around all the time. I think of it as grandad watching over me.

Nathan’s mum spoke about Nathan after his grandad’s death, “He was just a broken boy, not the Nathan we knew. Tracie was just fantastic with him and her help with Nathan changed all our lives. Everyone needs a Tracie and we want to thank BBC Children In Need for the money they give to Isabel Hospice that meant Tracie was in our lives.”

What happens to your donated items?

We’d like to say a big thank you to all our local supporters who have donated goods to the Hospice. We are really fortunate to receive so many donations and are grateful to everyone. Without your support we would not be able to deliver the range of free specialist services we do.

SHOPS

WAREHOUSE

We often receive questions about the way we use the clothes, ornaments and other items that are donated and how we ensure that we make as much money as possible from each item.

Our staff and volunteer then sort and assess each item

We work very hard to ensure that the only donations that are thrown away are those that are damaged, broken or faulty. However, to achieve this we do have to refuse to take certain items either for health reasons – we do not sell used earrings for pierced ears – or for safety reasons – we do not sell soft toys without a CE label – or for practical reasons – we do not sell most sofas, as in most cases, the cost of handling and storage of these large items, exceeds the price we can get for them.

They are then sold in

Please keep giving – we will make as much money as we can from each donation and are very grateful for your support!

How Children In Need funds have helped Isabel Hospice provide care to a ‘broken boy’

•

Sent to another shop eg vintage items go to Hertford shop or lower value items go to our £1 or £2 shop.

•

Sold on eBay

•

Sold in bulk to dealers

•

Broken/damaged or faulty items are disposed of (this incurs a cost to the Hospice)

Did you know?

BBC Children in Need has funded the Isabel Hospice Children’s Bereavement Service since 2008. We are in the third year of our third three-year grant.

This funding has enabled Isabel Hospice to provide a bereavement service to support children in eastern Hertfordshire who have experienced the death of someone close to them. The grant pays for the work and travel expenses of the Children’s Service Manager.

The Children’s and Young People’s Bereavement Service at Isabel Hospice offers both pre and post bereavement support to children known to the Hospice.

Services include •

one-to-one counselling

•

family counselling

•

group work for three different age groups –

• Kittens from 3 to 5 years old plus a carer • CATS from 5-11 years old with a separate group for carers • Youth Group for teenagers from 12 – 18 years old.

Family/group events include a Christmas party and a summer party each year, including children and carers.

Activities for children are also offered at the Isabel Hospice Remembrance Service, held each autumn.

Group activities particularly are aimed at reducing isolation and supporting emotional wellbeing.

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Celebrating the 35th Anniversary of Isabel Hospice

Mud, rain and true grit lead to Vietnam trekkers raising £110,000!

Isabel Last

On the 21st April 1982 Isabel Last, our founder, held the first trustee meeting of her new charity, The Welwyn & Hatfield Hospice Service, and appointed as founding, Chairman, Harry Overy MBE and other enthusiastic trustees.

The trekking group had been fundraising for a whole year as they worked towards their target of being able to donate £100,000 towards our end-of-life care nursing.

They held a Right Royal Party and also staged an epic It’s A Knockout competition at Haileybury, as well as personally fundraising tirelessly.

Isabel Last lived with cancer for 18 years, and through her creation of a church visiting group in Welwyn Garden City, laid the foundations for the fledging charity, now known as Isabel Hospice.

The Hospice began in the community with specialist nurses and grew to cover the old East Herts Health Authority area.

Once in Vietnam (5th – 14th November) the group split, with 4 of them taking on Mount Fansipan, the highest mountain in Indochina (3,143 metres), whilst the remaining adventurers took on the hill tribe region of Sapa covering up to 14km per day in very wet conditions.

By 1990 the charity now known as The Hospice Care Service for East Hertfordshire, had expanded to offer an In-Patient Unit, Day Hospice, family support teams and specialist nurses covering every town and village in the catchment area of eastern Hertfordshire. In 1995 the name of the Hospice was changed to Isabel Hospice in honour of our founder, Isabel Last.

Laura Blight, from Wareside was in the Mount Fansipan group “We had to dig deep, pull together and not let the weather hinder our amazing experience.” Clare Trevillion from Hertford took on the Hill Tribe regions said “ The weather made for a challenging trek but thanks to the amazing local guides and my fantastic trek buddies we had a truly memorable time. “

Isabel Hospice continues in its 35th year to give vital specialist care to local people, delivered with compassion and love by expert doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, counsellors, occupational and complementary therapists and nearly 800 volunteers.

The vision of Isabel Last to bring care to those living with cancer and other life limiting diseases and to give support to their families has been fulfilled in the expansion of the Hospice services throughout the community, enabling those living with these conditions to live as well as they can. In return, the community has generously supported the work of the Hospice for 35 years and enabled this vital work to continue free of charge to local people.

Our thanks to everyone for this loyal and ongoing support, please continue this help as we care for local people in future years.

Do join with us in our events to celebrate this 35th Anniversary.

Details of our Anniversary Dinner, to be held on 19th May, can be found on page 6.

Our 14 Vietnam trekkers have raised an incredible £110,000 for the Hospice and returned safe and sound after a mud and rain filled trek in the mountains and hills of Vietnam.

Sue Sexton owner of Headlines in Hertford said “I was originally due to go on the trek but due to the death of my father just before departure I was unable to join the team.

However, I was definitely with them in spirit and felt very emotional throughout the trip as I saw their adventure unfold on the blog.”

Megan Sparrey, Isabel Hospice Challenge Events Co-ordinator at Isabel Hospice said “I was part of the Mount Fansipan team and it was certainly the most challenging but amazing thing I have ever done. We can’t thank the team enough for raising this amazing amount of money for the Hospice. Many of the team have self-funded the trip, and raised an enormous amount of money in sponsorship too. Their commitment to the trek was evident as they trained together most weekends to ensure they were prepared for the challenge. We saw some amazing things, (when the mist cleared) and I can’t wait to lead the next Isabel Hospice Challenge which is walking The Great Wall of China in 2017.

The Vietnam trekkers were:

Tony Last, Isabel Last, Harry Overy Chairman, HRH The Duchess of Kent, Dr Richard Dent (hidden) Sir Simon Bowes Lyon, Lord Lieutenant, Kay Mason, Day Hospice Sister

Laura Blight from Wareside, Lesley Reeves from Hoddesdon, Clare Trevillion from Hertford, Sasha and Paul Spencer from Welwyn, Marion & Roger Gray from Hertford Heath, Jill Taylor from Sawbridgeworth, Madeline Heal from Saffron Walden, Sue Andrews from Stanstead Abbotts, Soula Chrisoula from Hoddesdon, Patrick Hudson from Thundridge, Melvyn Brown from Hertingfordbury and Megan Sparrey from Welwyn Garden City. Unable to attend due to Sue’s Dad’s death were Sue and John Sexton.

Barbara Doherty MBE President Isabel Hospice

Contact Details:

Would you like to help us save money?

Why not have your next issue of Care News emailed to you?

Of course we are happy to continue to send you it in the post if you prefer. If you would like to receive it by email, or no longer wish to get it at all, please email enquiries@ isabelhospice.org.uk, or call Fundraising on 01707 382500.

Isabel Hospice Head Office (incorporating fundraising and trading teams) 61 Bridge Road East Welwyn Garden City, AL7 1JR T: 01707 382500 F: 0843 2905771 E: enquiries@isabelhospice.org.uk Isabel Hospice In-Patient Unit Hatfield Residential and Nursing Home, Tamblin Way, Hatfield, AL10 9AX T: 01707 382500 T: Patient & family 24 hour advice line for urgent clinical advice 01707 382575 Day Services Stanstead Abbotts, Thorley and Welwyn Garden City T: 01707 382500

Great wall of china challenge

Join us for a once in a lifetime trekking adventure!

14th - 22nd October 2017

To find out more about this exciting challenge, please contact Megan Sparrey on 01707 382 544 or visit www.isabelhospice.org.uk

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Cream Cakes

A short story in two halves Mummy has picked me up from school, and we are going shopping. We head for Hoxton market, and we go from stall to stall buying this and that. In the winter I like the lights hanging from each stall, making everything yellow in the dying light. There’s a cosiness here I love, making me feel warm inside. But now it’s summer, bright, and we finish our trip, popping into the ABC bakers on the corner of Bacchus Walk.

The ABC displays all sorts of things I like: potato straws, iced fingers, apple doughnuts. The best thing about the bakers is when Mummy says, “Shall we have a fresh cream cake?” Fresh cream cakes are a treat, and because they are special the lady always puts them in a box. I get to carry them home, keeping them upright so as not to squash them one against the other.

Our favourite is the chocolate éclair because it really comes in two halves. The top half has thick chocolate on,

and the bottom has the fresh cream. No matter how hard I try to stop them falling onto each other, the two cakes always get sqidged inside, but I am allowed to scrape any cream from the box with my fingers!

Mummy has tea with hers, in her special cup with a saucer, and we both sit down to watch Peyton Place. I have that warm-inside feeling again. I like it here at home. The orange walls, the two bar fire, the settee with arms that can move…

For a joke I ask Mummy, “Shall we tell Daddy we’ve had fresh cream cakes?” and we both laugh, like it’s our little secret. “No!” But when Daddy comes home from work later in the day, we tell him anyway, and he pretends to be all excited with us. But I know he’s only pretending; fresh cream cakes aren’t a big deal to him like they are to us.

We won’t have them again the next day. Or the next…

They’re only to have once in a while, as a treat.

Mum has been in the Hospice for five days now. It’s bright here. There are fresh flowers, light coloured walls, a comfortable lounge with soft chairs to lose yourself in.

And the nurses ooze warmth. They smile, hug, tend to our every need…

But Mum is fading fast, becoming weaker by the day, and she has lost her appetite almost completely, finding it a struggle to manage anything solid, so she sticks to soups and tea, served in a beaker like I can remember using when I was very, very small. The volunteers from the kitchen pop in and out, offering to top up the water jug, and presenting a menu that goes sadly unappreciated.

But today is different! I’m here alone, having sent Dad home for some much needed rest, and I sit in the reclining chair beside Mum’s bed while she drifts in and out of sleep.

And then the Afternoon Tea Lady puts her head around the door, and Mum stirs, and the trolley is brought in with all sorts of goodies on a two-tiered plate. “What would you like?” she asks, and just as I am about to tell her that we’re fine, Mum says she thinks she might like a cake. I look at her. She means it… There are all manner of dainty sponge squares, all decorated with fresh cream, some with huge summer raspberries and some with giant chocolate buttons.

I have a raspberry one, and Mum chooses a chocolate button one, and we both have tea. The volunteer pours mine into a cup with a saucer, and I explain to her that mum usually has a beaker which she fetches from the kitchen readily. The door is closed and Mum and I are suddenly in Heaven!

something after all this time that I ask if one can be put aside for her for later on. And the lady agrees. She is an angel!

When Dad arrives later that afternoon, I tell him what he’s missed. “Mum’s eaten a whole cake!” His face brightens, his concern eases, he is elated. Never has such a small gesture been met with such joy! “A whole cake?” he asks, with genuine excitement.

The next morning, before my daily visit to the Hospice, I’m off to Tesco. The lights inside give off a false brightness; they’re hardly needed really as we are one day before Midsummer’s Day. And I’m making my way to the cake aisle, following the hum of the fresh cream cake cabinet, looking for a box of chocolate eclairs. They’re in my basket, and suddenly I’m driving, driving, driving with the treats. I can’t wait to see Mum’s face when I show herI’m asked to wait that day. “Have a seat”, the man on the reception desk says. “The doctor will be with you shortly…”

Doctor?

And I bring the cakes home later that day, having experienced Heaven, among angels, somewhere in Welwyn Garden City.

I ask Mum if she’d like me to help her, but she thinks she can manage by herself with the cake, which she nibbles at, eating every last morsel. The cream is all over her fingers but we don’t care. I can wipe it off afterwards with the wet-wipes. I drink my tea, and help Mum hold her beaker, which she takes with her swollen hands. Such a lot of effort for something so small…

The door creaks open slightly and a friendly face peers in. It’s the volunteer again, asking if we’d like more.

We decline the offer of another cake for now, but I’m so surprised that Mum has managed- and enjoyed-

Garden of Memories A Summer Remembrance ceremony at Van Hage, Great Amwell Saturday 17th June 3pm – all welcome – make your dedication at www.isabelhospice.org.uk

Uncle Bob

xx 15

Living Well with Isabel Before I went into the Hospice, my attitude was that they were just places to go to die. I now know that was a very unfair thought My symptoms were very unstable and my GP recommended seeing the Isabel Hospice Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS), Christine. I knew I had a terminal cancer.

Christine came along and gave me information about the Hospice and the services it provides and I thought I’m not ready for that! How wrong I was. I had to change GP in amongst all of this and during this time my symptoms really got worse. Christine referred me to Sharon another Isabel Clinical Nurse Specialist who works with my new GPs to look at my symptoms.

All I can say about Isabel Hospice is that the difference between being in the hospital and being in the Hospice was that the Hospice was like Heaven!

Before I went into the Hospice, my attitude was that they were just places to go to die. I now know that was a very unfair thought, as I have dipped in and out of Hospice care since I got my mesothelioma diagnosis in 2013. When my symptoms were swollen legs and trouble breathing, I went to the In-Patient Unit for a few days to get everything under control. I thought at that point that everything was on the decline, I was thinking how long have I got... but before long I felt so much better, even well enough to draw the winning £1,000 ticket from the bag for the fundraising team’s Grand Draw before I went home!

It’s not that the nurses in the hospital were bad, they worked very hard, but the Hospice was something else.

The one to one care, the food, everything. If you needed a cup of tea at 4 o’clock in the morning, the nurse would get you one, and my goodness, Dr Pia (the Hospice’s Consultant in Palliative Care and Medical Director) knows her stuff.

When I came out of the Hospice I saw Sharon who ensured everything was in place, that I had what I needed, and I was stable. As I am doing so well she has put me on her ‘non-active’ caseload which means I don’t see her unless I need to. The Hospice team are always at the end of the phone either the community team or the 24 hour advice line.

After a number of visits, my wife and I were still struggling to manage my symptoms. Sharon gave me two options 1. Stay at home and try and manage or 2. Go into the Hospice for about a week to try to sort them out as I would need that time when changing medications. Sharon assured me the admission was for symptom control only and that I would be going home again.

Gone fishing, Paul!

10

Lottery! Just £1 to play!

You can now sign up by Direct Debit quickly and easily online! By taking out a monthly subscription using this payment method, you will be paying for 15 mins of patient care! (other payment options available)

www.isabelhospice.org.uk or call 01707 382500

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The top Friday prize is £1,000 and every monthly subscription pays for 15 minutes specialist care for a patient with life-limiting illness.

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Sign Up Online - £1,000 top prize