10-year long service award

Jules Lock, Swan Lead EOLC Volunteer, was presented with her 10-year long service award at the birthday celebrations.

She is in her 10th year of volunteering at the Trust with almost nine years with the Swan Team.

Jules Lewis, Swan End of Life Care (EOLC) Facilitator and Lead Nurse, said: “Jules joined me as a volunteer. I was working across both sites part-time alone for the first few years and Jules was such a support in the launch of the Swan model of care, the Swan EOLC volunteers’ service, taste for pleasure and many other amazing improvements with the whole team since.

“She has become not only a great colleague to work with but a dear friend to us all. Not sure what we would do without her, her passion and determination is something to be proud of as we only get one chance to get it right for every person every time. She lives and breathes this message every day.”

Her proudest achievements are being one of the authors of the bereavement book with Jules Lewis and Roy Lilley; the taste for pleasure work; Dundas Medal; the Swan EOLC volunteers and Swan model of care and the staff bereavement support work.

Julia Clark, Director of Public Participation, presented Jules with her award.

Charity skydive for daredevil swim buddies

Fundraisers Karen Breese, Dementia Care Clinical Specialist, and her friend Helen Edwards, both pictured, are taking to the skies for their first ever skydive tomorrow (Saturday 22 July).

They are hoping to raise more than £500 for the Dementia Appeal and are doing the skydive at Tilstock Airfield, Whitchurch.

Karen said: “I met Helen through wild swimming and gym classes at Love to Stay. She is an amazing support and undertook the cold swim a day in November alongside my other fabulous swim buddies.

“I always said to my friends and family ‘I will never jump out of a plane’, but thought it needs to be something to push me out of my comfort zone. “I am scared already. Helen is always up for a challenge so is a super support.”

Karen added: “A hospital admission can be a distressing and/or a boring place at times for people living with Dementia or cognitive impairment. We use activities for psychological support/distraction/comfort as part of our strategies to try to deliver good dementia care in environments that are far removed from what people in our care are used to.

“These activities range from colouring, dominos, word searches, playing cards to soft toys, therapy dolls, fidget items. Any money we raise will help towards these costs.”

If you would like to donate through their JustGiving page please click here