NEWS
August, 2020
Supporting children through grief The St Richard’s Team has continued to support children and families before and following a bereavement. During the Covid-19 lockdown the Family Support Team has supported bereaved children struggling with social isolation, missing their friends, having anxiety about exams, fears for a place at university, as well as concerns for family members who are ill. Head of Family Support, Sarah Popplestone-Helm said, “With the intense media coverage of the
strichardshospice virus and daily reporting of death tolls, the general public are talking about death and grief more openly, something that we believe has, and will continue to have a significant impact on children and young people.” Mrs Popplestone-Helm added, “Many of those children and young people who were really struggling with the death of a loved one, are struggling far more. We’ve been able to support them over the phone or via video and we’ve been working with schools giving advice and guidance on how they can help their pupils who have been bereaved in difficult circumstances due to Covid-19.” To donate to help fund St Richard’s services including
Three hospice nurses featured in a photograph on the new Gary Barlow video with his latest song ‘This Calls for Love.’ The song and video capture the love shining through the months of lockdown. The nurses are photographed holding baskets full of matching pairs of handmade hearts, generously given to St Richard’s by the people of Worcestershire for patients
Keeping our gin up!
and loved ones to hold, and feel comforted by, while they are apart. Last orders are being taken for a very special St Richard’s gin, handcrafted by Hussingtree Gin near Droitwich. The juniper-led, dry gin has the sweetness of black pear and is flavoured with nutty baked poppy seeds, reflecting the importance of memories and celebration of loved ones which is at the heart of the care of St Richard’s. To register interest in one of 500 limited-edition bottles - at £40 each - and support St Richard’s, please email appeals@strichards.org.uk or telephone 01905 958262.
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helping children through grief, please fill in the donation form on page two or go online and donate at strichards.org.uk/donate
Bring on the Parade!
Volunteers vital to hospice care
Nurses feature in Gary Barlow video
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Volunteers who have been able to continue their roles during lockdown have been busy supporting St Richard’s in many varied ways. Examples of vital volunteer roles include: delivering food parcels to isolating patients; supporting loved ones and bereaved people on the telephone and in video calls; keeping the hospice’s reception open; collecting Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and working in the shops. St Richard’s relies on around 900 volunteers across all departments to ensure their care can continue. There are a wide variety of roles to suit individual lifestyles. Find out more online at strichards.org.uk/volunteer-vacancies
Next summer, a parade of colourful elephants will march into Worcester to form the city’s second, spectacular, public art trail – raising funds for St Richard’s. At least 30 elephant sculptures will line the streets and open spaces for eight weeks in 2021, creating Worcester’s Big Parade – a Wild in Art event which builds on the success of a similar giraffe-themed trail in 2018. The sculptures will be sponsored by businesses and brought to life with designs dreamed up by artists from Worcestershire and beyond. Anyone interested in creating an elephant design before entries close in January 2021 can find out more at: worcestersbigparade.co.uk/artists/ Worcester’s Big Parade is supported by partners Crowngate, Worcester City Council, Worcester Business Improvement District (BID), Worcester News and BBC Hereford and Worcester.
Community rally round for hospice Kind-hearted pupils at Nunnery Wood High School sent colourful creations to brighten up the walls of St Richard’s and bring positivity and messages of hope. These were just one example of many heart-warming messages and gifts from cakes for staff to handcrafted hearts for patients and families to hold whilst apart.
Donate by text - You can support St Richard’s by donating on your mobile. TEXT CARE to 70140 to give £10. Thank you.
