St Richard's Hospice Heartbeat newsletter spring 2023

Welcome to Mike - our new Chief Executive

We’re delighted to warmly welcome Mike Wilkerson as our new Chief Executive, following the retirement of his predecessor June Patel.

have moved to Worcester and he is looking forward to leading the hospice team of 240 staff and 658 active volunteers from the hospice in Wildwood Drive, Worcester.

Mike said: “It’s a pleasure and a privilege to join the team. St Richard’s is a fantastic, modern hospice in a beautiful environment and I’m looking forward to being part of the team that delivers excellent care and support to our patients and families.

“We are privileged to hear from many patients, families and health professionals the huge difference that our care makes at such a difficult time. In the future we will continue to build on the best services we offer whether that is in the hospice, in people’s own homes or in the community.

Reg. Charity No. 515668

Reg. Company No. 01850502

HEARTBEAT SPRING 2023

Mike joins St Richard’s from Saint Catherine’s Hospice in North Yorkshire where he has been Chief Executive for the last eight years. He has extensive experience of working in palliative and end of life care, with previous roles at Rotherham Hospice and St Wilfrid’s Hospice in West Sussex. Mike and his wife, Alison,

"After just a couple of months in post, I can see the fantastic support from the people of Worcestershire whose generosity makes all this possible. It’s heartwarming to see how much St Richard’s is valued and respected in the community.”

Chair of St Richard’s Governors, Jenny Cowpe, said: “We are

delighted that Mike has taken up his post as our new Chief Executive, leading our dedicated and highly-respected team.

"His experience will help shape continuous improvements in the quality of care that the hospice provides for more than 3,100 patients, loved ones and bereaved people each year in our community."

How to access our care

Patients who would like support from St Richard’s can be referred by the GP, consultant at the hospital, district nurse or other healthcare professional.

Our Gateway referral team is also available should a patient, or person close to them, wish to talk the them directly for information or advice. No charge is made to patients and their families for any of our services. This is made possible due to the generosity of our donors, volunteers, supporters and local community.

If you would like more information about referrals, please contact the Gateway Team on 01905 763963.

Supporting the family

“Mum and I would like to say a big thank you to Andy because he is great,” said Jen.

Four-legged joy

It’s always lovely to see four-legged friends bringing smiles to our patients and families.

Here is Jacqueline meeting mini pony Miss Penelope, who visited us late last year with mini donkey Mr Heehaw Henley.

On another visit the pair met children who go to our bereavement Dragonfly Group. This group offers children, and their families, the chance to meet and talk to others in similar circumstances, and support one another.

The children enjoyed brushing and walking the animals around our gardens. Thank you to Worcester Riding School and Pony Club Centre for bringing them to see us!

Jen Chesterman, from Droitwich, has been supported by Specialist Palliative Care Social Worker

Andy Schwab following the death of her dad, Max, last year. Andy regularly met Jen to offer bereavement support, offering her a chance to chat through her feelings and to remember her dad.

As part of the support, Jen decorated a memory box and filled it with special items to remind her of her dad. She has also decorated pebbles to place at his grave and a wooden heart to hold. Julia, who is Jen’s mum, added: “To have that dedicated time to chat to somebody about her feelings, with somebody who is not family, has been very helpful.”

Find out more about our bereavement support on our website www.strichards.org.uk

Staying in touch

Please would you help us save money and paper by receiving information about hospice news, events and activities by email rather than by post?

We are hoping to be more cost effective and reduce the number of paper mailings, including Heartbeat. You can join our email mailing list for regular hospice updates.

Let us know how you prefer to be contacted (by post, email, telephone or no further contact) by visiting our website www.strichards.org.uk/contact/ or emailing us at appeals@strichards.org.uk or telephoning 01905 958262.

Andy Schwab, Specialist Palliative Care Social Worker

Jen with her memory box

Hayley and Andy’s story

“Hayley outlived her prognosis, and I do believe that was down a lot to her hospice nurse Sue, and the amazing support we had around us.” These powerful words are from Andy Woodward, whose wife Hayley was cared for by St Richard’s before she died last October, aged 33 years young.

Hayley lived with breast cancer and, since 2018, had been supported by our Secondary Breast Cancer Nurse Sue Sharp. Sue helps patients through the complex journey of treatment and the emotions that go with it. She was there for Hayley: from attending oncology

Lydia is nursing star

We’re proud of our Staff Nurse, Lydia Dyson, who was presented with a Cavell Nurses’ Trust Star Award.

appointments with her to liaising with her GP and ensuring she had the right support at the right time.

She also offered the couple reassurance in uncertain times by helping to answer their questions.

Andy, who lives in Kempsey, said: “She would go above and beyond to speak to Hayley. She just had everything we needed at the time we needed it.”

It is thanks to the support of our community that we can continue funding our care for people like Hayley and Andy.

More than £3,370 has been raised in Hayley’s memory, for which we are truly grateful.

Read more of Andy and Hayley’s story on our website: www.strichards.org.uk/ hayley-and-andys-story

Lydia was awarded the prize for going over and above for her colleagues on our In-patient Unit (IPU).

Cavell Star Awards are given to nurses, midwives, nursing associates and healthcare assistants who shine bright and show exceptional care.

"Although the whole team deserves recognition for the dedication and commitment to the St Richard’s values, Lydia has really gone the extra mile to support her colleagues," said Jamie Yeomans, In-patient Unit (IPU) Manager.

Outstanding learning award

The IPU was named Outstanding Practice Learning Environment Award Winner: Nursing and Midwifery at the University of Worcester Mentor Awards.

IPU Manager Jamie Yeomans said: “Winning this award demonstrates the positive environment and atmosphere we’ve developed on IPU.”

John and Ros’s story

“In a way, our love for each other came from previous sadness and heartache.”

These words are from John, who met his new wife Ros, at our walking group for bereaved adults. The group offers a space for people to meet others in a similar situation, and support one another.

After first meeting, the pair – who both live in Malvern – slowly began to spend more time with each other.

“From day one, it was obvious we were comfortable with each other,” said John, who we supported with counselling after his wife died in 2019. “I could talk to Ros about anything. We were both still grieving. It was still too early for us to even consider a relationship and we both respected each other.”

Over time, they grew closer and married last summer. Ros, whose husband was cared for by St Richard’s before he died, explained: “John and I can talk to each other about bereavement. We can respect each other’s feelings if the other one is having a sad moment.”

Supporting patients to live well

Patients attending our Therapeutic Programme take part in a wide range of activities, including painting, tai chi and horticulture sessions.

Their day is aimed at helping them to live well, have a good quality of life and feel empowered. It’s wonderful to see everyone enjoying themselves in our relaxed and welcoming environment.

Find out more about our Therapeutic Programme on our website: www.strichards.org.uk

Above: Larry Robins with his sunflower. Left: Living Well horticulture. Right: Living Well Creative Therapy

Seeing the light

Spiritual care at St Richard’s takes many forms, including egg-shaped! Clare Griffiths, Lead Chaplain, is pictured holding our new sensory egg light, which glows in a range of soothing colours. It offers a peaceful and calming experience that can comfort people cared for in our In-patient Unit. And, it’s huggable too!

Our Chaplaincy Team forms part of the holistic care provided by St Richard’s. They support people of all faiths and none – whatever their spiritual care needs.

Clare said: “Our team spends a lot of time working with patients’ spiritual care needs – whatever it is that feeds their spirit and makes them feel more like them, whether or not that includes a formal religious practice.

“This could include being outside in nature, being creative, nurturing family relationships, fulfilling a dream or finding inner peace.

“Our new sensory light will help support the spiritual well-being of patients.”

Another awesome art trail is on its way and it’s your chance to make some adorable feathered friends while supporting our care. Next summer will see the city transformed into a free, fun art space as a huddle of wonderfully designed penguin sculptures waddle their way through Worcester’s streets and public spaces.

Around forty large penguins will go on display during an eightweek art trail alongside forty chicks designed by local schools and community groups.

A Wild in Art trail, we’re bringing our third such event to the city in the hospice’s fortieth year to say thank you to our incredible community for its support over four decades and to help create lasting memories for everyone.

We also see the event as an opportunity to raise awareness about issues including loss, loneliness and bereavement and signpost local residents to support services. Sara Matthews, Business Development Manager for St Richard’s Hospice, said:

“The great Waddle of Worcester is all about celebrating our wonderful city once again and giving back to our amazing community who show such love and care for everything we do here at St Richard’s.

“As we celebrate 40 years of hospice care across the county we’re excited to see everyone out making lasting memories with their loved ones.”

Each large penguin is being funded by companies and individuals from across Worcestershire before being auctioned in October 2024 to raise funds for the free care and support we provide. The project builds on the hugely successful Worcester Stands Tall and Worcester’s Big Parade trails in 2018 and 2021 which saw giraffes and elephants march into the city. Together the trails raised an incredible £704,000 for St Richard’s.

The great Waddle of Worcester will run from Monday 22 July until Sunday 15 September 2024.

It is supported by partners

Clare Griffiths, Lead Chaplain, with the egg sensory light for IPU

Challenges & events

Come and join us! Here’s a brief snapshot of some of our challenges and events coming up this year.

Snowdon at sunrise

Sun, 7th May

Standing at the summit by moonlight will be an unforgettable experience, as will seeing the sunrise from the mountain slopes as you descend.

Worcester Full & Half Marathon & 10K

Sun, 21st May

Now in its 12th year, this popular challenge, organised by Tempo Events, has dug its running shoes firmly into the calendar. The full marathon takes in two laps of the loop around beautiful rural lanes. The half accompanies the full for the first lap before splitting away at 11 miles and heading back to the finish. Go the “extra mile” and pledge to raise sponsorship towards our services and care. Please note – these places are limited. Supported by Scimitar Sports.

Wales End to End

Thur, 10th – Sun,13th August

Pedalling from the most northern point of Wales down to the vibrant capital of Cardiff, experience diverse beautiful landscapes of majestic woodlands, rural lanes and distinct mountain ranges from start to finish.

This is a tough challenge, but with a magnificent support crew and camaraderie within the team, the miles will fly by as you enjoy this cycling challenge.

Euro City Cycle

Wed, 6th – Sat, 9th September

Your journey will begin with a ride to the east coast of England to catch an overnight ferry to the Netherlands. From here, it's windmills and fast flat cycling to take you into Amsterdam where you can enjoy the delights this city is famous for. Pushing on, it’s back in the saddle for a further 2 days as we ride to Brussels! You will take on 4 days of cycling and approximately 266 miles. Suitable for every level of cyclist. This is an exciting event combining breathtaking city sights and superb cycling.

Paddle, Plod, Pedal

Sat, 30th September

This event follows a circular 35 mile route through beautiful Worcestershire countryside along the Rivers Avon and Severn and quiet country lanes.

A fantastic all-day challenge on water, wheels and land. Teams of up to 10 compete at their own pace. No entry fee, but we ask team members to pledge to raise £200 or more each for our care.

Trek to Petra

Sat, 16th – Sat, 23rd March 2024

Visit one of the New 7 Wonders of the World with our 2024 trek! This stunning and remote trek takes you on an adventure following an ancient Bedouin migration route to Petra, experiencing some of the most spectacular natural scenery in Jordan along your journey.

You will cover up to 10 miles a day over 5 consecutive days. This trek is voted by National Geographic as one of the world’s best hikes and it is growing a reputation as the ‘Inca Trail of the Middle East’.

Other events

Spring Golf Day

Fri, 21st April

Join us for friendly 18-hole competition, fabulous company and fantastic food at the stunning Worcestershire Golf Club, Malvern! The brilliant day of golf will then be followed by a twocourse dinner served on a rolling basis as each team finishes.

Sponsored by Whiting Landscape and Handelsbanken.

Ladies Day

Sat, 3rd June

Ladies Day is back for 2023, join us for exclusive hospitality in the St Richard’s Hospice marquee and enjoy the races in style.

Summer Skydive

Sat, 10th June

You will fly through the sky in a tandem free-fall at 120 mph from 10,000ft! The group skydive takes place at Hinton-in-the-Hedges Airfield, Northamptonshire.

Woo Fest

Fri, July 7th / Sat, July 8th

An award-winning music festival is set to return this summer at the Drum and Monkey in Upton upon Severn. The festival was created by Luke and Ria Simons in memory of their father, John Simons, who was cared for by St Richard’s Hospice.

Autumn Golf Day

Thursday, 14th September

Join us for this friendly 18hole competition at our new autumn course for 2023, Fulford Heath. A great day of golf will be followed by a two-course dinner and prize giving.

Sponsored by Hallmark Whatley Hulme.

For full details on all the events on pages 6 and 7 please visit www.strichards.org.uk/events or call the Fundraising Team on 01905 958262.

Walking

Malvern Hills Walk - Sat,13th May

Join us for a 2, 5 or 11 mile walk along the beautiful Malvern Hills. The 2 and 5-mile walk are circular and perfect for families. The 11-mile walk involves trekking across the length of the Malvern Hills from Chase End.

Sponsored by Speller Metcalfe.

Let’s Glow - Sat,17th June

Join us in your brightest outfit and glow for hospice care this summer. Enjoy entertainment, street food and glitter painters. Get ready with a fun dance-inspired warm up before striding out together on this 5 or 9 mile route at 10.30pmcreating a shining spectacle as we go.

Sponsored by Spa Decorators LTD.

Worcestershire Way Walk

- Fri, 7th July

Take on the Worcestershire Way challenge covering 31 miles in a day, and raise funds for our hospice care. Stride out across the wonderful Worcestershire countryside before finishing with the spectacular slopes of the Malvern Hills.

Sponsored by Hagley Homes.

Jurassic Coastal Trek - Fri, 7th –Sun, 9th July

This fantastic UK event takes trekkers on a weekend adventure along England’s only natural World Heritage Site, the awesome Jurassic Coast! You will start with a journey from Peveril Point to the beautiful Kimmeridge Beach, where you can dip your toes in the sea and search

for fossils among the ancient rocks. You’ll trek further along the South West Coast Path on your second day, taking in views of Worbarrow Bay and the blue waters of the famous Lulworth Cove. The finish line is at the iconic Durdle Door, a limestone arch formed more than 10,000 years ago!

Volunteer News

Thank you to all our amazing volunteers who give so much time and energy to St Richard’s. Here’s just a snapshot of some of their activities:

Eunice named Platinum Champion Volunteer Eunice Williams had her decades of exceptional dedication to St Richard’s recognised with a Platinum Champion Award.

As one of the original volunteers at the hospice when it first began in Droitwich Spa in 1984, Eunice continues giving her time, energy and enthusiasm until this day in a range of roles.

Eunice said, “I was honoured to be named as a Platinum Champion. This award is in recognition of all the work volunteers do for the hospice. I have made great friendships and had lots of fun, being a volunteer at St Richard’s really adds to my life.”

Meet and greet

Arriving at our In-patient Unit (IPU) for the first time can be an important moment for patients and visitors.

Our new IPU meet and greet volunteers will give a warm welcome and help people settle in at what can be an uncertain time for them. They will also introduce patients to key staff members and spend time with them, providing companionship.

We are grateful to the kind people who volunteered for this rewarding role, which will make a difference to those we care for.

more. We’ve even had one fantastic team giving the toilet blocks a fresh coat of paint at our Warehouse!

Tree-mendous!

A huge thank you to the 61 teams of 192 volunteers who helped collect 2,246 Christmas trees to chip and recycle, raising an incredible £49,155 for our care. Kindly supported by Aptean and St Peter's Garden Centre.

Will you be a hospice hero?

We have an amazing team of volunteers and couldn’t provide our support to patients and families without them.

If you would like to join this band of local heroes then we would love to hear from you. We are flexible and happy for people to volunteer on a regular or occasional basis.

Businesses get stuck in!

We’re indebted to volunteers from the business community who tackle much-needed one-off jobs such as gardening, weeding, painting and much

Volunteer opportunities are available at the hospice in Worcester, at our shops across the county, and at our warehouse in Leigh Sinton.

Just visit our website or call us on 01905 763963 to learn more about the opportunities.

www.strichards.org.uk/

Mike Dean of Tewkesbury Van Sales, Stephanie Dean of SD Social Media Solutions, and Jim Walton

Staff from Barclays spruce up the warehouse loos!

Volunteers from Worcester Bosch at work in the gardens

Shops new s

Thank you to everyone who continues to support our shops across the county by buying and donating goods towards our care.

Donating and shopping pre-loved is a fantastic way to promote sustainability while helping us continue to be there for patients, their loved ones and bereaved people.

Full details of all our shops and how to donate are on our website.

Stylish silk scarves

These beautiful silk scarves featuring the hospice emblem, the snowdrop, are now available to buy in support of our care. Evesham-based digital fabric printing specialists, The Silk Bureau, held a design competition to create our very own St Richard’s silk scarf. Available in two different colourways, and as a square or long scarf, the luxurious silk scarves range from £50 - £60. Treat yourself or someone you love via our online shop, where you can also read more about how each scarf is created and hand-finished: https://shop. strichards.org.uk/the-st-richardsscarf with 100% of funds to St Richard’s.

Scarves are also available in our charity shops at Broadway, Déjà vu in Malvern and St Swithin’s Street, Worcester. With heartfelt thanks to the winning artist, Amy Gazeley of Little Prints Charming and to Evesham-based, The Silk Bureau for gifting their time, expertise and the finest materials to support our care.

Here comes the bride

We ‘unveiled’ our pop-up bridal shop in Worcester in February and have been thrilled with the response.

With your help by gifting gowns, we’ve made some perfect days for brides finding the dress of their dreams.

The shop sold pre-loved and new wedding and bridesmaid’s dresses, outfits and accessories. Look out for more pop-up shops coming soon.

Drop and go at donation station

Shop with us online

Discover pre-loved styles this spring in-store and online https://shop.strichards.org.uk

You can now drop donated goods to a container in the car park at St Richard’s Hospice.

Quality clothes, books and bric-abrac can be placed in the donation station outside Wildwood Drive, Worcester, between 10am and 4pm, Monday to Friday.

This is part of a donation drive to support our care, while helping the planet through reuse and recycling too!

You can also take donations to our shops and warehouse. To give furniture, please register items for collection online.

Please don’t forget to label your bag or box of donations with your Gift Aid number, so we can raise an extra 25p in the pound.

If you are not registered for Gift Aid, or have forgotten your number then go online or call the Commercial team on 01905 763963.

Pop into The Green and enjoy a tasty treat

Did you know The Green café is open for you to drop by and enjoy a tasty snack or delicious lunch in beautiful surroundings?

You can choose from a choice of hot dishes, soup, salads, madeto-order sandwiches, cakes and desserts at great prices, all helping to raise funds for our care.

The Green is open from 8am to 4pm Monday to Friday.

From 8am hot and cold drinks are available with the option to sit in or take away. From 10am cakes, desserts and snacks are available and hot dishes from 12 noon to 2pm.

potatoes all served with homemade coleslaw. These choices are available from 12pm to 3.30pm.

A variety of salads are available from the salad counter for you to add to your order if you wish. There are also a range of special fillings changing on a daily basis.

So if you are looking for a new eating venue, do come and see us. You’ll receive a warm welcome!

Having an up to date Will is the only way to be sure the people and causes you care about are looked after, however, so many of us do not yet have a Will in place.

Working with our partners, Bequeathed, we’re pleased to offer a free and easy online Will writing service. Detailed guidance will help you consider everything you need to and identify any issues where expert legal advice could be valuable.

Everyone who makes their Will with Bequeathed receives up to 30 minutes of free legal advice from an accredited firm, or 45 minutes if you are a couple. This can be by phone, video call, at-home or in-office.

If you don’t yet have a Will, please consider making your Will For Good and leaving a gift to St Richard’s – thank you!

www.strichards.org.uk/ support-us/gifts-in-wills

Give the gift of care in your Will

Last year, one in four of our patients was cared for thanks to a gift in a Will.

An act of kindness that lives on for years to come, your legacy could be to ensure patients all over Worcestershire receive exceptional care to their last days.

Leaving a gift in your Will, no matter of its size, will make a big difference to those who need us most.

- A gift of £1,000 could pay for 12 hours of bereavement counselling for a local family, helping adults and children to talk about their experiences of death, dying and grief.

- A gift of £7,500 could provide more than 100 hours of Hospice at Home care to patients in the community.

- A gift of £25,000 could cover the cost of 40 days’ specialist care on our In-patient Unit in Worcester, allowing a patient to receive specialist care and support for themselves and their loved ones.

- A gift of £100,000 could fund a whole month of specialist nursing care across the county, enabling patients to stay at home at the end of their life.

Regular Giving Regular Giving

Our amazing community of regular givers help us ensure that ongoing services like our family support and bereavement programmes are there when people need us most.

We know times are tough for many, but anything you could

spare on a regular basis, monthly, quarterly or annually, could be lifechanging for families grieving for a loved one or preparing to say goodbye. Please visit www.strichards.org.uk/ donate to set up your direct debit amount and frequency.

Together our wonderful regular givers raised £173,565 last year and knowing we have this regular income helps us to plan our services with confidence.

Thank you to you all!

How to make a donation

We rely on donations to fund the majority of our care and greatly appreciate any gifts which help us to continue to support patients and their loved ones in the future. If you would like to make a donation to our ongoing care then please go online to www.strichards. org.uk/donate

If you would prefer to send a cheque then please make it payable to

St Richard’s Hospice and send to the Fundraising Department, Wildwood Drive,Worcester WR5 2QT.

We would be grateful if you would fill in the donation form, available to download on our website with the Gift Aid option and return with your donation. Alternatively, you can donate over the telephone with your credit/debit card by calling the Fundraising Team on 01905 958262.

Ken Stark, is pictured handing over a legacy gift to St Richard’s, which was bequeathed by his late wife Gwen.

Thank you to all our fundraisers

Marathon success

battle and provided the best care for her when she needed it most,” said Josh.

The Cup event raised £1,545 for St Richard´s in memory of Mark´s mum, who was cared for by the hospice.

Three Peaks triumph

George Lavis tackled the National Three Peaks Challenge in 24 hours and raised a brilliant £7,217 for our care. He completed the epic event in memory of his dad.

Our St Richard´s London Marathon runners, raised an incredible £34,737 for our care!

We had a team of 12 runners and those who could make it got together for a celebratory meal in The Green at St Richard´s. They shared their experiences and raised a toast to their fantastic achievements!

Piano marathon

Josh Graesser took on a marathon with a difference when he played piano for 12 hours raising an incredible £2,465 for our care.

“St Richard´s were there for mum and our family throughout mum´s

Footie challenge

“Beyond the general tranquillity of the place, the quality of the medical equipment, the food and range of support, what underpins St Richard’s as such an incredible place is undoubtedly the staff,” said George, pictured below right with his brother and dad. “The extent of their attention, kindness, empathy and patience has been truly inspiring, and not only towards my dad but my mum also who remained by his side throughout.”

County estate agency Nicol & Co have raised more than £10,000 and counting for our care by donating £100 to a community cause with every property it sells, allowing sellers to choose a charity close to their hearts. A big thank you to the generosity of Nicol & Co and the amazing sellers who selected St Richard’s as their charity of choice.

This saw teams from Tesco and Morrisons in Evesham go head-tohead at Evesham United Football Club´s Jubilee Stadium.

Mark Payne, pictured with hospice fundraiser Ria, organised the popular 24th annual Retail Challenge Cup.

We are grateful to the fantastic business community for supporting our care.

A huge thank you to each and every one who fundraises for our care.