Hospice News Autumn 2023

Welcome to your latest Hospice News

I’m Ethera, the Social Work Team Manager and Carers Lead at the Hospice. My team supports patients and carers with a range of things such as care, finances, housing concerns, planning for the future and ways to help unpaid family carers. The support is vital for our patients who can find their lives turned upside down when coming to terms with a life-limiting diagnosis.

We recently launched a carers support line and we’ve implemented a new tool, developed in affiliation with Hospice UK, which will enable nurses to connect more carers with carer support.

The development of this is exciting and our partnerships with other local organisations helps us be more consistent, holistic, and culturally sensitive in our work.

Thank you to all the unpaid carers who dedicate their time to helping loved ones, and thank you to you, our supporters. Without you, we couldn’t do any of this.

Ethera Morgan Social Work Team Manager and

Carers

Lead

0117 915 9400 24/7 Clinical Advice Line: 0117 915 9430

A year in Volunteering

A year in Volunteering

We’re so grateful for our volunteers who dedicate their time to helping the Hospice. Here’s a look at over the last year.

We’re so grateful for our volunteers who dedicate their time to helping the Here’s a look at volunteering in figures over the last year.

Keeping your batteries charged

Our Fatigue and Breathlessness (FAB) course is a five-week course for outpatients held at the Hospice in Brentry and The Park community centre in Knowle.

During the two-hour sessions, our Physiotherapists help patients with things like activity and movement, energy conservation, and sleep.

Retired builder James lives with his wife Lynn and his extended family on a farm in Chew Valley. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer over 20 years ago and the cancer has now spread to his spine. James has been attending our FAB course in Knowle.

“I can’t work like I used to. I’m always doing something on the farm, but only in the workshop. I’m not out working with the animals. It’s the fatigue. I haven’t got the strength and I can’t move so fast.

The FAB team have been brilliant. Last week they told us to think of ourselves like batteries. If you have a full battery in the morning and you go out and do stuff, your battery starts to fade.

"It’s like therapy. I chat on like there’s no tomorrow – they have to shut me up!

I try to give people a bit of a laugh."

So you sit down, put yourself on charge, boost yourself a bit and carry on again. It’s all about pacing yourself.

Before the FAB course, I wouldn’t have bothered with exercise. They showed us how to do lifting, stretching and twisting with your walking stick. When you’re sitting watching the television, you can put a bit of elastic around your feet and move your legs in and out. I do it in the afternoons when I’m watching A Place in the Sun. All the lovely beaches, the water – my wife Lynn says I’m hooked on it!

It’s been nice to meet other people at the FAB course. We talk about our different problems and get things off our chests. It’s like therapy. I chat on like there’s no tomorrow – they have to shut me up! I try to give people a bit of a laugh.

Other people on the course live alone - that can’t be easy. Meeting them has made me think I’m lucky to have my family around. Lynn’s good as gold the way she looks after me. While I’m at the course, she can have a bit of a break.”

Helping patients live well

Launched this year, our Living Well programme offers patients tips for managing their conditions and living well with their illness.

Those who come, join the wellbeing programme for two hours each week, over a course of eight weeks. Each session covers a different topic including appetite, movement, rest and planning. Our Complementary Therapists and Spiritual Care team are on hand to chat through the emotional side of a diagnosis.

For 83-year-old Margot, who has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, breast cancer and COPD, the Living Well programme has been invaluable. “I’ve learned a lot at the course about learning to pace myself because while you’ve got the energy, you’ve got to do it, because you are on borrowed time. Now, if I get the slightest bit sick, I sit down, and I’ve never sat down, I’ve always been totally hyperactive.

It’s been a lovely group, the nurse and everybody here. You can’t fault it. It’s been wonderful.”

Helen's Story

Helen, aged 55, has come to the Hospice for pain management. She has cancer in more than one area of her body, in her liver and lung and the cancer has spread to her bones. Helen has suffered from intense pain in her left leg for months which has prevented her from walking short distances.

An intervention from a friend led to her arrival at the Hospice. Helen was staying at her friend’s house and was in such intense discomfort, that her friend rang 111 who advised that Helen should contact St Peter’s Hospice for help with the pain.

Helen said: “My friend begged me to go as I didn’t want to. I said, “as long as I haven’t got to stay there then I’ll be alright”. But when I arrived at the Hospice the bed was ready, and they gave me pain relief.”

It’s taken weeks to find the right balance of pain relief, but Helen’s intense pain is now dulled, reduced to an ache. Helen said: “When I was in pain, I needed to focus on something else. The pain was there all the time."

“It's been incredible being here. Everyone, even the domestic staff has time to talk to you. I’ve been in a lot of hospitals, but you feel this place is so serene. It’s homely – you ask for a tea or coffee and they bring it. I drank them

out of orange juice when I arrived. The food the chef cooks is fabulous and, you’re not afraid to ring the bell if

you need something. I’m glad my friend made me come here. It’s amazing and I’m so grateful for the staff and what they do. I love this place – it’s so lovely."

“This is the third time I’ve had cancer and this time it’s terminal, which is upsetting because I have six kids, aged from 19 - 37. I won’t be able to see my youngest walk down the aisle which is hard.”

Our Occupational Therapy team are working on helping Helen return to her flat in Henbury. They’ve assessed her needs and are arranging

adaptations to her flat to help her cope at home, including the installation of a second handrail so that Helen can move around safely.

“I’m getting better and am excited about going home,” says Helen. “It’ll be a phased return. At first for a few hours before returning to the Hospice and then I go back for longer each time.

“My body will let me know when the time is right for me to come back into the Hospice. I would be happy to die here as I know I will be treated with dignity.”

"It's been incredible being here. Everyone, even the domestic staff has time to talk to you. I’ve been in a lot of hospitals, but you feel this place is so serene."

Our local heroes!

In May, 128 runners made their miles count in the Great Bristol Run, raising a staggering £22,000. We were also supported by the annual Winterbourne Down Carnival, and a coronation party organised by ladies’ group Tours Galore.

Six-year-old Lochie impressed with his Mile-a-Day-in-May challenge with his dad, raising £1,322 in sponsorship and earning cake with the Hospice CEO!

Acton Aid, an organisation based in Iron Acton and supported by superstar tenor Russell Watson, raised an impressive £4,354 through two 30-minute

collections at their July concert!

We want to say a big thank you to all those who support us, whether through organising, volunteering or joining us at an event. To find out how you can get involved please email community@stpetershospice.org.

St Peter's and Bristol Rovers Women Team up!

St Peter’s Hospice and Bristol Rovers Women’s Football Club have joined forces in a winning partnership.

The Rovers Women's squad will proudly display the St Peter's logo as sponsor of their pink away kit this season.

The partnership between the club and St Peter’s aims to raise awareness for the Hospice while promoting women’s football and inspiring young athletes.

“I am delighted we are donating our shirt sponsorship to St Peter’s,” says Chairman Adam Tutton. “I have personal experience of the wonderful, unique care

provided to my wife. The support was not only physical but psychological, social, and spiritual, and enabled us to continue as a family during the most difficult of times. “The launch of this partnership will see the Gas Girls offering player visits to patients, as well as volunteering, match tickets, and fundraising for the Hospice. We are honoured to support such an important charity.”

We are hugely grateful to have the support of the Gas Girls and the Rovers Community Trust and are excited to see the kit in action on the pitch!

Pedal to Paris for our patients

Join our team for Bristol to Paris, a brand-new bucket list challenge.

In May 2024, a team of fundraisers will saddle up at the Hospice and head to the French capital in our longest cycle challenge yet. We'll ride through England's countryside lanes, take a ferry across the channel, and glide through the beautiful French landscape before arriving at the iconic Eiffel Tower.

All cycling abilities are welcome, and you'll ride together with a common purpose to give care when it matters most.

Anna, from our Day Services and Therapy Team, has signed up: "I am a very enthusiastic but amateur cyclist, and knew this challenge was for me! It’s a great opportunity to do what I love and help others in need."

Join Anna for this unforgettable fourday, 400km adventure: find out more at stpetershospice.org/BristoltoParis.

Upcoming Events!

Walk to Remember

8 October, Ashton Court - Join us for a 5km family walk through autumn scenery to share memories and remember loved ones together, before adding a message to our Memory Tree.

Knitivity

December, John Lewis, Cribbs Causeway

Christmas doesn’t start until our life-size knitted nativity scene makes an appearance!

Cold-Water-Dip

2 December, Portishead Open Air Pool - Gather your friends and all your courage this winter for a dip in a cold pool! Discover the exhilaration of cold-water swimming before warming up in style and celebrating the achievement.

Light up a Life

9 December

Remember your loved ones at our Hospice remembrance evening.

Christmas Tree Collection

5 & 6 January

We will be collecting and recycling real trees again in January. Teams of volunteers and local companies will be out across the two days collecting trees, where they will then be chipped and reused at the Hospice gardens, and across allotment sites in Bristol.

Rugby March

March, Ashton Gate - We’re returning to Ashton Gate for another Bristol Bears game! Conquer our six-mile route or try the new three-mile option, before taking your seat in the lively stadium to cheer on the Bears.

To find out more or to register for one of our events please visit stpetershospice.org/events

Doing things differently on Whiteladies Road

We were thrilled to open our flagship shop on Whiteladies Road in March. Here, manager Thom tells us how it’s been a hit with local customers and national influencers alike.

Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

I spent 13 years working in visual merchandising in corporate retail before joining St Peter’s around seven years ago. I really love being in the charity sector. Working with volunteers is amazing. Everyone’s here because they want to be and that’s something you don’t necessarily get in a corporate environment.

What’s special about the shop?

We wanted to make a statement and do things differently. The biggest thing we decided to do was to split the clothing brands into ‘contemporary’ and ‘classic’. The contemporary section is led by on-trend brands like Zara and Topshop and the classics are brands like Hobbs and M&S. There’s a bit of science behind visual merchandising - we’re making it easier for customers without them really knowing it!

How has that gone down with customers?

Customers have been really complimentary about the way we’ve curated the shop - it's been quite overwhelming. A social media influencer with 22.5k followers said this was the most beautiful charity shop she’d ever been in. We’re quite a modest team – we

don’t blow our own trumpets! So that was a really good endorsement for us.

What do you love most about working in the shop?

It sounds cheesy but there's such a good atmosphere here. I can’t really describe itotherwise I’d sell the concept for millions to retailers everywhere! But it’s really special. I’ve got volunteers who say, ‘I absolutely love coming here every week.’

Register for our house clearance service

We tailor our House Clearance service to your needs, whether you need help packing items within a property, removing white goods, or clearing a garden. Our team are on hand to help in whichever way you need.

How does it work?

1. Make an enquiry by emailing. house.clearances@stpetershospice.org.

2. Our team will meet you at the property to complete an assessment.

3. You’ll receive a quote with an offer to the next available date.

The fee we charge for this service goes directly towards supporting the work we do for people in the community.

Items from house clearances are sorted and then sold through our high street shops, online via Depop or ebay, or in auction rooms – helping to fund the work of the Hospice.

If you’re interested in booking a house clearance, visit our website.

www.stpetershospice.org/houseclearance/

When a loved one dies, deciding what to do with their home and possessions can be upsetting and overwhelming. Our House Clearance service aims to make this as stress-free as possible for you.

Introducing our new Bereavement Group for young people

With your support, we are bringing young people experiencing bereavement together to share what they’re going through in a safe, non-judgemental space. We spoke to Drama Therapist and Group Leader Pippa to find out more.

In May, we launched a new service for young people who’ve experienced a bereavement, a fortnightly drop-in group here at the Hospice. “In one-to-one therapy, young people were talking about feeling quite isolated by their bereavement” Pippa explains. “Even if their friends are

really supportive and caring, no one really knows what it’s like to lose a parent or a significant person in their life. So the new drop-in group is our response to that. It’s about helping them meet peers who can relate to what they’re going through.”

The 90-minute sessions start with the young people designing their own ground rules so that everyone feels safe in the space. “As well as the basics like being respectful when someone’s talking, there’s an agreement that other people’s stories won’t be shared by others outside of the group,” says Pippa.

"It’s about helping them meet peers who can relate to what they’re going through."

Exploring complex emotions

A ’creative check in’ or ice breaker is a tactic used in the session. The group might be invited to go into the gardens and find natural materials that represent how they are feeling or how their week has gone.

“No one is expected to participate or speak if they prefer not to,” says Pippa. “It’s a big thing for a young person to come into a new group, particularly when the theme is so emotive.”

Making connections

The group is lightly structured so there’s plenty of time and space for the young people to talk in smaller groups, eat cake and get support from staff and volunteers as well as each other.

Learning about what is ‘normal’ in grief and what happens inside the brain and body helps the group members to feel that they’re not alone. They discover that, very often, their experiences are shared by their peers.

Creative activities can help participants express things that words cannot quite convey effectively. “It’s also a safe way to explore ‘big’ emotions from the safer distance of an item or an image, rather than talk about yourself directly,” says Pippa.

Pippa is constantly adapting the sessions in response to feedback from the young people so that it feels relevant and useful, and so that it becomes their space.

So far, the group members are voting with their feet and choosing to come back each time. It’s a welcome space for new members each week too, which means that relationships can grow.

“That’s exactly what this group is for,” says Pippa. “It’s a place for bereaved young people to connect.”

Paul's Story

Paul was diagnosed with Prostate cancer in 2013 and was referred to the Hospice after being cared for at the Bristol Royal Infirmary. He reflects on his experience of the Hospice and the wonderful people he has met during his time here.

“My name is Paul and I’ve had Prostate cancer since 2013. I’ve had various treatments over the years including an operation which worked for about 18 months, then radiotherapy and chemotherapy, neither of which worked in the end and the cancer stayed.

I’ve been under the care of the BRI who are very good, and then recently, I was referred to the Hospice. I had started to go downhill quickly. It was incredibly hard. I couldn’t eat, I couldn’t even get up the stairs – I was sleeping on a chair. I needed to come to the Inpatient Unit in Brentry.

I’ve been at the Hospice for just over a week and already my confidence has renewed. When I heard the word Hospice it freaked me out. But the person dealing with my referral told me, you’re not here to die, you’re here so that we can help you feel better. And they were right. I know I’ll never get completely right again, but they’re helping me feel as well as I can. A weight has been lifted off my shoulders. It’s brilliant.”

“The Hospice is wonderful. I can’t believe that there are so many fantastic people in

"I can’t believe that there are so many fantastic people in one place. Even the cleaners care so much."

one place. Even the cleaners care so much.

And you’re never alone here. People pop in and out all day long. I have Aromatherapy with Claire which I enjoy. Maddie, one of the nurses, helped me and my family talk about my funeral plans. I’ve also seen

people from the Spiritual team to help me deal with the psychological side of facing death.

I’ve been visited by a very lovely Buddhist lady and someone from my Roman Catholic church. What I love is that it doesn’t matter what religion you are, they just come and

talk to you and read you a nice passage. I love the gardens here at the Hospice as well. I can’t do much any more so when my son and daughter-in-law came to visit last week, they wheeled me out to the gardens, and we sat out there and had a coffee. It was so special; the gardens are beautiful.

I’m hoping to take a friend out there when they come to visit next week.

My view on hospices has changed since I’ve been here. It’s a comforting place where I would encourage anyone to come.”

Cauliflower Cheese Soup

Hospice Chef Louise and Assistant Chef Gerry dedicate their time to making delicious recipes throughout the year for both the Hospice patients and the café.

Their Cauliflower Cheese Soup is a spin on the comforting and classic Cauliflower Cheese and is the perfect warmer to start the autumn season.

Download your free pdf copy of their delicious cauliflower cheese soup now.

Simply scan the QR code above or visit the link above to download your copy.

Lou (left) &t Gerry (right)t

Gifts in Wills: Securing the future of our services

Gifts in Wills pay for the care of one in four of our patients. By leaving the Hospice a Gift in your Will, you can secure a legacy of care and kindness for the people of Bristol.

Edward’s daughter Samantha was cared for by St Peter’s, and he has pledged to leave a Gift to the Hospice in his Will.

“The care every member of staff showed my daughter Samantha and myself was exemplary.

They responded every time Samantha needed help, whether medication, reassurance, or comfort, both at her home and at the Inpatient Unit.

St Peter’s did everything possible during those last ten days. A bed was made up for me every night; shower facilities, towels, shaving kit

supplied daily. The doctors, senior staff and carers kept me up to date.

On Samantha's passing the staff were so thoughtful, and when I left on that sad day members of staff went out of their way to comfort me. I will never forget the kindness shown towards us by St Peter’s Hospice. That is why I decided to leave a Gift in my Will.“

To find out more about Gifts in Wills, including how you can make or change your Will for free, please contact Matt on 01275 391432 or email legacy@stpetershospice.org.

Thank you

Because of you, we can be a nurse on the doorstep, a voice at the end of the phone, a hand held through the darkest of times.