

Veteran support
Philanthropy news
Community

Address: St Wilfrid’s Hospice, Walton Lane, Bosham, PO18 8QB
Tel: 01243 775302
Email: general@stwh.co.uk
Website: stwh.co.uk
Registered Charity No: 281963 @stwilfridschichester @StWilfridsHospice



Veteran support
Philanthropy news
Community
Address: St Wilfrid’s Hospice, Walton Lane, Bosham, PO18 8QB
Tel: 01243 775302
Email: general@stwh.co.uk
Website: stwh.co.uk
Registered Charity No: 281963 @stwilfridschichester @StWilfridsHospice
Welcome to the 2025 winter edition of St Wilfrid’s News!
Firstly, I’d like to thank you for your continued support during what continues to be a challenging financial time for the hospice sector.
It’s been a busy and eventful spring and summer here at St Wilfrid’s, and you’ll read all about what’s been happening at the Hospice; in your community; the events that many of you will have taken part in – as well as our amazing volunteers, fundraisers and donors. You’ll also find updates on our wonderful clinical team whose expertise and passion for great care is at the heart of what we do.
There have been so many fantastic moments over the last six months.
One highlight, as always, was our annual Moonlight Walk, which was a huge success again this year – so thank you to everyone who walked, fundraised and volunteered.
Looking forward, we have some exciting events coming up this autumn and winter, including our new Firewalk, Woof for Wilf and our Christmas Light up a Life. You’ll find all the information on how to get involved inside.
Once again, I’d like to thank you all for your unwavering support and generosity – and I hope you enjoy the read.
Best wishes
Lois Howell, CEO
The Living Well Centre at St Wilfrid’s is a space where people living with life-limiting or progressive illness, as well as their families, friends and carers, can focus on what matters to them - whether that’s staying active or simply finding moments of calm.
Thanks to your generosity, the Centre provides a wide range of services under one roof - from physiotherapy and occupational therapy to complementary treatments, counselling, spiritual care, social work support and more. It’s all delivered by a skilled, compassionate team that includes nurses, doctors, therapists, chaplains and dedicated volunteers - all working together to help people live as well as possible, for as long as possible.
This summer, the team welcomed Louise as a full-time Occupational Therapist. She brings over a decade of NHS experience and a focus on personcentred care.
Louise first joined us as a student on placement - and something clicked.
“I saw straight away how different
“I saw straight away how different it was,” she says.
“The care here is flexible. It’s built around what’s meaningful for the patient - what’s important to them. That’s exactly how I think Occupational Therapy should be.”
it was,” she says. “The care here is flexible. It’s built around what’s meaningful for the patient - what’s important to them. That’s exactly how I think Occupational Therapy should be.”
Now, Louise divides her time between supporting patients on our Inpatient Unit and visiting people in their own homes in the local community.
“I’m really enjoying it, mostly because the care we give is person-centred,” she says. “I get time to sit with my patients, ask them what they want to get out of our sessions - how I can best help them. No two days are the same.”
“We work closely with specialists when needed. It’s a broad and flexible rolepeople’s needs change day to day, so we adapt what we do to suit them. I was really happy with what I saw during my placement, and now even more so working here full-time”
This November, St Wilfrid’s Hospice will be attending Hospice UK’s Annual National Conference in Liverpool - a key national event that brings together professionals from across palliative and end-of-life care. This year’s theme, Equity, Sustainability, Quality, will explore how hospices can continue to deliver outstanding care in a changing world.
We’re proud to share that Dr Claire Magee, Medical Director and Consultant in Palliative Medicine at St Wilfrid’s, will be presenting a powerful patient study titled ‘A Big Safety Net’. It highlights how our clinical team came together to care for a 16-year-old patient - even though adult hospice services usually begin at age 18.
The young person, who had terminal cancer, expressed a clear wish to be supported by St Wilfrid’s for end-of-life care, rather than the local children’s hospice. Respecting that wish meant adapting our usual processes - and working closely with children’s services, hospital teams and regulatory bodies.
Following a thorough review, including a home assessment by Claire and input from the Teenage and Young Adult Palliative Care Team, our multidisciplinary team agreed we could meet the young person’s needs safely
and effectively. The team updated policies, arranged joint outpatient reviews with paediatric oncology and psychology teams, and created a 24/7 care plan spanning both hospice and home.
Two weeks before he died, the patient was admitted to our Inpatient Unit – we also arranged for his sofa to be brought from home to make the space more familiar and comforting. His complex symptoms were managed with care and dignity, and his family and friends were supported throughout.
“We’re proud to share this work at a national level,” says Dr Claire Magee. “It shows what’s possible when services come together to do what’s right for the individual - even when that means stepping beyond the usual boundaries.”
This story is a powerful reminder of how personalised care, flexibility and collaboration lie at the heart of everything we do at St Wilfrid’s.
We’re especially grateful to the patient’s family for allowing us to share this story.
Following their fabulous second visit to the Hospice in 2024, the Hogsback Chapter of Harley Davidsons kindly visited us again in July this year to meet patients, volunteers and Hospice employees – and provide rides for anyone who wanted one.
This year, there were over 20 rides enjoyed, and patients who couldn’t go out were able to come and see the bikes while enjoying some cake and refreshments.
A huge thank you to the Hogsback Chapter for visiting our patients again. It really is such an amazing experience. We look forward to seeing you in 2026!
Thanks to your support, we are able to provide vital care services to local people in our community.
We are proud to now have over 350 reviews, and are still rated 5 star across all four key areas on iWantGreatCare, which is down to the excellent end-of-life and palliative care provided by our clinical teams. It’s also because of you that we are able to offer these services. Thank you.
Everyone we came into contact with, visiting us or over the phone, were just lovely. They were kind, gentle, compassionate, caring, just everything you would need from people when you’re scared, worried, grief stricken. I was the carer, but I know my lovely Stepdad would say how very good everyone was, too.
My brother received support, kindness, and care in his final days. He was reluctant to leave his own home but once in the hospice, he settled in very quickly and felt safe and confident in the care he received. He passed away peacefully with a nurse holding his hand. Our family also received amazing support and kindness. We cannot thank you enough!
Visit from Nurse Specialist was very informative and supportive of my future needs etc. Listened and explained very well.
Patient
Scan the QR code to visit the iWantGreatCare website to see how you have helped
We’re pleased to share that we have joined the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS), recognising the Hospice’s commitment to supporting the Armed Forces community - not just as colleagues but as patients and families facing some of life’s toughest moments.
At the heart of this commitment is Suzy O’Callaghan, St Wilfrid’s Director of Clinical Services and a former Army Reservist, whose military background has shaped how the Hospice cares for those who’ve served.
“I come from a military family, and I spent over 20 years as an Army Reservist including time in Kosovo and Afghanistan,” said Suzy. “That experience means I understand how hard it can be for veterans to ask for help, even when they really need it. But we make sure they’re met with respect, understanding and care that feels familiar.”
That’s where the Hospice’s personalised approach comes in - from
adapting how staff communicate, to understanding the value of privacy, independence and acknowledging past experiences including trauma.
Receiving the ERS award follows on from our membership of the Armed Forces Covenant. By signing the Covenant, we pledged to always acknowledge and understand that those who serve or have served in the Armed Forces, and their families, should be treated with fairness and respect.
At St Wilfrid’s, we apply the fairness and respect principles of the Covenant to any patient in our care, their family members, our volunteers and our employees - both current and future.
The ERS award reflects St Wilfrid’s promise to make sure every veteran, reservist and military family feels seen, valued and understood when they access our care – and it also recognises the Hospice’s support for employees with military backgrounds or reservist commitments.
On 9th May, retired Army veteran Michael Stanley, known as Major Mick, took to the seas on his self-built boat, Tintanic!
The 84-year-old was seen off by the Duke of Richmond at Chichester Yacht Club on the first leg of his sixth year of rowing. Major Mick is hoping to fundraise another £12,000 to take his total to £100,000 – covering 500 miles of rowing.
Very generously, the funds raised from his challenge are being donated to St Wilfrid’s Hospice. Everyone at the Hospice is extremely grateful to Major Mick for his support.
justgiving.com/page/major-mick-stanley-1
A Huge thanks to The Hospital Saturday Fund, Petworth Town Council, Sussex Masonic Charitable Foundation and Bersted Parish Council for providing donations to enable St Wilfrid’s to purchase Avoset Pumps.
These compact, versatile pumps are a valuable addition to our clinical toolkit. They can deliver medication in several different ways - from syringes, cassettes or bags and are especially useful for subcutaneous infusions, a gentler and more practical option for many of our patients.
In recent years, more medications have become available in this form, especially in palliative care, both on the Ward and out in the community. Subcutaneous infusions are often more comfortable for patients and can be used when swallowing medication is no longer possible.
Your support means we can keep up with the latest advancement in care and ensure every patient receives the most comfortable and effective treatment available.
We’re so pleased to have the Avoset Pumps on the Ward. They’re clever, flexible pieces of kit that will genuinely change how we deliver care. They replace our old equipment and will make things smoother for staff and better for patients, both here and at home.
Mandie Tonge, Clinical Development Nurse
St Wilfrid’s is pleased to have received funding from the Banham Foundation to purchase two Hydoflex tilt-in-space chairs. This follows their recent funding of a new ECG Machine and Ultrasound scanner.
The Hydroflex chair is ideal for individuals with limited mobility, adapting to a patient’s needs and providing important postural support and pressure redistribution, ensuring greater comfort.
Its numerous features make this an essential piece of equipment for providing palliative care. If a patient’s muscle strength is reduced as a result of their illness, even being able to hold their head up or sit upright can become a real struggle, which can affect other body functions, such as respiration.
The chairs will enable patients to sit comfortably while maintaining a better upright posture - and breathing will be greatly improved; limiting the risk of further health issues such as respiratory infections.
Thanks to the Banham Foundation, both chairs will be lent to patients to support them through their progressive illness, for which we are truly grateful. Thank you!
On Saturday 14th June, over 750 walkers took to the streets of Chichester for our 17th annual Moonlight Walk; a special, memorable evening that raises money to help fund end-of-life care for people across the local community.
Once again, the walk set-off from our event village at Chichester College where there was entertainment from a local Choir and Steel Band; face painting; a fun warm-up to music; Wilf and his owl friends – and pizza and burgers for that well-needed energy! As always, walkers could opt for either a 5- or 10-mile walk around the beautiful city of Chichester, and on the return journey, visited the memory arch at Guildhall and the spectacular light display at Bishop’s Palace Gardens.
Our brilliant walkers and supporters raised a total of £86,137.63, which is amazing!
A very generous local donor has matched funded up to the first £50,000 – and so the grand total is an incredible £136,137.63 for local hospice care!
A huge thank you to all of the walkers, volunteers, marshals and supporters – and, of course, to the event sponsor, Henry Adams. The Moonlight Walk would not be able to run without the vital support of everyone who generously donates their time and efforts.
Moonlight Walk 2026 Early Bird tickets are on sale! Secure your place at a reduced price by 1st December 2025. Sign up today at stwh.co.uk/moonlight
Sponsored by
Firewalk - Friday 17th October at Chichester High School
Woof for Wilf - Sunday 16th
November at Goodwood Motor Circuit
Light up a Life ServiceSunday 7th December at Chichester Cathedral
TreeCycle - Friday 9thMonday 12th January 2026. Bookings close January 5th
Make a Will FortnightMonday 9th - Friday 20th March 2026
Brighton Marathon - Sunday 12th April 2026
Moonlight Walk - Saturday 13th June 2026
We’re excited to be launching our New Year Raffle on 2nd January 2026! Look out for further information over the coming months about how you could win £1,000!
Visit stwh.co.uk/events to see all events.
Our Hospice gardens have been looking absolutely gorgeous over the summer, and that’s all because of our wonderful volunteer gardeners who have created and maintained it during the six years that we have been in Bosham.
Not only do patients have a colourful, tranquil view from their windows - and a space to go out to, which attracts lots of birds, butterflies and bees –but Hospice employees also benefit from the courtyard area, which is a beautiful place to take a well-deserved break.
We caught up with John who has helped in the garden since the Hospice moved sites in 2019. John joined the volunteer gardening team when he retired from the ambulance service and was looking for something useful and enjoyable to do.
“I have watched the gardens take shape and mature into a beautiful space for the Hospice’s patients. When I arrived at the site six years ago, there weren’t even any hedges and we looked straight out on to a field! The site used to be a
mushroom nursery and so there was lots of land and not a lot else! We had a total blank canvas and started from nothing.”
“All the beds have been meticulously planned for size and colour, and the plants are now happily growing together creating a lovely colourful display. It’s so important for patients and also employees that the borders in the gardens all look lovely. We also have a wild meadow and bug hotel – and there’s a lot of wildlife that visits us too, including hedgehogs, foxes and even deer!”
12 volunteers come to the Hospice every week on either a Tuesday or Thursday, and some even come both days. They tend to the gardens in the morning until about midday.
“A normal day for me this time of year is cutting the grass. We all know what to do and what our roles are –for example, Jo and Leona look after the plants and the colourful displays are all down to them! There’s lots of pruning in autumn and compost and mulch goes down to protect the
plants during winter. We’re always busy and constant attention is needed.” John explained that it’s not just about maintaining the gardens and feeling useful – that it’s also about the people, and being part of what feels like a family.
“It’s great for socialising. We always sit down and have a coffee and chat at 10. A huge reward from volunteering here is meeting people. I enjoy gardening, but it’s great to meet the other volunteers every week and keep the Hospice gardens looking good together. And, it’s for such a great cause too. I don’t miss work but I do miss the camaraderie of it all – so being part of the volunteer gardening team is great.”
If you are interested in volunteering in our gardens on Tuesday or Thursday mornings, please let our volunteering team know by contacting 01243 755815.
stwh.co.uk/volunteer to find out more and get involved. Visit:
Golfers at Chichester Golf Club once again entered this prestigious competition in memory of their friend and fellow golfer, Stevie B.
£1,530
The Stevie B Cup raised Maggie and the Sussex Dubfest team returned to Pagham Football Club for the second year. Festival goers enjoyed live music and had fun decorating their camper vans, motorbikes and scooters.
Lauren Naylor completed the IOW Ultra Marathon in May, walking and jogging an incredible 111km over the 2 days with no sleep. The incredible challenge was in memory of her dear Mother-in-law Marj.
The students at Bourne Community College raised funds for the Hospice by holding a teacher karaoke competition and cake sale. Lots of fun was had by all! £5,263.95
Pam Evans hosted a party in her garden to celebrate 80 years since VE day. Party goers dressed in red, white and blue; enjoyed live music, delicious food and shared memories of World War 2.
Pam raised
£135
Sandra Sedgwick and the Catenian Arundel 320 Circle fundraised for the Hospice, while enjoying delicious Irish food and merriment celebrating St Patrick’s Day.
Sandra Sedgwick and the Catenian Arundel 320 Circle raised
£3,859
Havant Rotary Club once again kindly donated a huge hand-crafted Easter egg. The egg was the star prize in an Easter raffle!
Bella Rose raised
£51
The Easter egg raffle donated by Havant Rotary Club, raised
£312
An aspiring young baker, 10-year-old Bella Rose baked, decorated and sold 48 delicious cupcakes!
West Sussex Sings fundraised throughout their events in 2024, including choir performances and an art auction. We got to celebrate with them in January at their fantastic choir rehearsal.
West Sussex Sings raised
£1,381
The Big Bathe raised
£71,500
Victoria Hall-Hulme was diagnosed with stage 3 bowel cancer in August 2021. When she found out her diagnosis was terminal, she started on a journey to raise awareness and money for both Bowel Cancer UK and St Wilfrid’s Hospice
Shortly afterwards, The Big Bathe was born - an annual charity swim at West Wittering Beach in memory of Victoria and her passion for water and swimming. Now in its third year, The Big Bathe has raised vital awareness of both bowel cancer and St Wilfrid’s, as well as donating an incredible £71,500 to the Hospice.
Sadly, Victoria lost her battle with bowel cancer in September 2022 aged just 33, surrounded by her family at the Hospice. Her memory will continue to live on through the Big Bathe.
At Christmas, Seal Bay generously wrapped and delivered Christmas presents for the Hospice. In the New Year, their security team supplied vans and volunteers for TreeCycle, and in May, they returned to support us as marshals on the Moonlight Walk.
Woods Travel raised £1,328
Woods Travel held raffles on their Christmas coach tours again this year, fundraising for the Hospice. A huge thank you for their ongoing support.
The team at the Marks and Spencer Foodhall in Chichester, supported the Hospice by doing lots of fun fundraising activities together.
M&S Foodhall, Chichester £2,983.20
We were so lucky to have a very special Easter delivery of over 200 eggs, kindly donated from Volker Highways. We distributed these across the Hospice, community and our shops. Everyone was delighted and they brought lots of smiles to faces.
We held our first Charity Golf Day at Cowdray Park Golf Club, and had the most wonderful participants and sponsors. A huge thank you to our headline sponsor, Barratt Homes, and our hole sponsors: Goodwood, George Ide, Fred Olsen Travel Agents, Farndell Estate Agents, Tesco and Bird & Blend Tea.
We’re here to share our expertise. St Wilfrid’s Education Team can provide all aspects of palliative and end-of-life care education for health and social care professionals.
We offer a wide range of education and training opportunities to support health and social care professionals in delivering high quality end-of-life and bereavement care. We are very happy to discuss bespoke training needs if you are unable to find what you need here. Most courses are virtual, which provides flexibility - but we’re also able to offer face to face delivery when it’s felt more appropriate.
All bookings can be easily booked online, however, if you have any questions you can contact us at:
education@stwh.co.uk or 01243 755830 (Monday to Thursday)
We have moved!
The Education Team is now located at St Wilfrid’s Hospice in Bosham, but our contact details remain the same.
Visit:
stwh.co.uk/ education to find out more and to book a course.
Intimacy, sex, and relationships towards end-of-life
Tuesday 30th September 2025
09.30 – 13.00 (via Teams)
When to talk and when to listen
Wednesday 15th October 2025
09.30 – 12.30 (via Teams)
Principles and practice of end of life care for health care support workers and social carers
Tuesday 14th & 21st October 2025
09.30 – 16.00 (via Teams)
Intermediate Communications Skills
Thursday 2nd October 2025
09.30 – 15.30 (via Teams)
Understanding the needs of the LGBTQ+ Community at end-of-life
Tuesday 11th November 2025
09.30 - 13.30 (via Teams)
Inequalities in Palliative & EOL Care
Tuesday 18th November 2025
12.30 – 16.30 (via Teams)
Introduction to supporting bereaved people at work
57% of employees will have experienced a bereavement in the last five years, and every day, more than 600 people leave the workplace to look after older and disabled relatives. Fewer than one in five managers feel confident supporting someone they manage with a bereavement.
Our 2.5-hour session will include:
1. Overview of grief and bereavement
2. Strategies to support a bereaved person
3. Tips to support a bereaved/distressed person
Training
As both a doctor and member of the LGBTQ+ community, this is deeply personal to me. I’m passionate about empowering professionals to deliver inclusive, compassionate care so every LGBTQ+ person feels truly seen, respected and supported.
St Wilfrid’s Hospice is launching a new discussion-based workshop to help healthcare professionals understand and support LGBTQ+ people, including trans and gender-diverse individuals approaching the end of life.
Developed with the Education Team by Dr Tara Bergara, Palliative Care Doctor and Trustee of Chichester Pride, the workshop combines medical expertise and community insight to address the barriers LGBTQ+ people face in healthcare.
Drawing on Hospice UK’s I Just Want to Be Me (2023) and the Learning Framework for LGBTQ+ Care in Later Life (2023), the course is focused on palliative and end-of-life care but also the principles of strengthening person-centred practice across all healthcare; echoing Hospice UK’s call to “listen, hear each person’s story, and help them live freely while ultimately caring for them with compassion.”
It’s
Shop, donate goods or volunteer to support St Wilfrid’s and make a difference to local lives. Every purchase, hour volunteered and item donated, helps to provide vital care to a patient and their family – so thank you for supporting our shops.
Thank you so much for your donations!
There’s still time to book your place at the Fill a Bag sale on 27th and 28th September!
We’re pleased to be holding our Fill a Bag sale again on Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th September at our Terminus Road outlet - inviting the local community to come along and grab a bag full of bargains!
For £10, you will be given a bag to fill with as many items as you can. Or you can pay £15 for two bags; doubling your haul of pre-loved treasures! Whichever you pick, you'll be supporting your local charity hospice.
We appreciate them all – especially good quality furniture, clothing and bric-abrac.
Unfortunately, there are a few things we can’t accept:
Anything broken, dirty, incomplete or unsafe
White goods, computers and gas appliances
Firearms, knives and weapons
Pillows and duvets
Upholstered furniture without the correct fire labelling
Any safety equipment inc. child car seats and helmets
Handmade toys
We need your quality furniture!
Due to demand, we’ve space at Terminus Road and our Furniture Outlet in Chalcroft for more of your pre-loved furniture.
By giving furniture a new home, you can contribute to the valuable cycle of reusing and recycling instead of buying new – as well as knowing that your donation has helped to provide expert care to local people with a life-limiting illness.
We just ask the items are in good, saleable condition for our shops - and that fire labels are attached, where applicable.
Did you know that we can get an extra 25% through Gift Aid?
If you’re a tax payer, you can Gift Aid your donations at no extra cost to you.
As a charity, we are able to claim an extra 25p for every £1 you donate. So long as you’re a tax payer and have paid the basic rate of tax, you can increase the value of your donations by 25%. Last year, our shops claimed an extra £110,000 for the Hospice through Gift Aid.
Ask in-store or visit stwh.co.uk/shop/ donating goods to fill in a Gift Aid form and start adding 25% to your donations!
Do you have a large item of furniture to donate?
We understand that furniture can be difficult to transport, especially large items, so please ask us about our delivery and collection service and we’ll do what we can to take the burden away.
With Christmas not too far away, there are lots of ways that you can remember loved ones and also support your local Hospice.
At St Wilfrid’s, our doors are open all year round, ensuring that people in your community continue to have access to the vital palliative and end-of-life care they need – even on Christmas Day.
Thanks to you, we’re able to continue to do this.
From our Christmas TreeCycle scheme run by volunteer elves, to attending our annual Light up a Life Service, to purchasing our Christmas cards (see page 24) and pre-loved treasures, there are so many ways that you can help.
We know that Christmas can be a difficult time of year, especially if it’s your first without a loved one, and we hope that you find peace from your precious memories.
Thank you again for your support this Christmas.
From January 9th – 12th, we will collect your real Christmas tree from your doorstep and recycle it. If you can, we suggest a donation* of £15 to support the work of St Wilfrid’s Hospice.
Book by 5th January 2026. Add Gift Aid to make your donation go 25% further.
Fancy volunteering and helping with the TreeCycle scheme? If you’re interested, please call us on 01243 755184.
We are delighted to announce the return of Light up a Life at Chichester Cathedral on Sunday 7th December 2025 at 6pm.
Entry is free.Pre-bookingis essential.
Book your free place at stwh.co.uk/light-up-a-life Places are limited and you are advised to book early.
As part of this year’s Light up a Life service, you are invited to include a dedication in the order of service by adding the name of a loved one. This is a meaningful way to honour and remember them during this special service.
If you would like to make a dedication, please select this option when registering and kindly make a donation in their memory.
Dedication bookings will close on Monday 17th November.
Booking will open January 2026
March 9th - 20th 2026
In March, you can write your Will with a local solicitor, and donate their usual fee to St Wilfrid’s Hospice.*
By writing your Will, you can ensure that the people and causes that you care about the most will be looked after when you die.
You may also choose to leave a gift in your Will to St Wilfrid’s Hospice, so that we can continue to provide vital and expert end-of-life care in your community.
*The average Will costs upwards of £300, and you will be guided by the solicitor on their usual fee.
Please email: fundraising@stwh.co.uk to register your interest and be the first to receive the list of solicitors when announced.
Complete our word search and figure out which word is missing. Email us your answer for the chance to win a £20 voucher to use at any of our charity shops.
A gift in your Will to St Wilfrid’s Hospice could reduce the amount of tax you have to pay
A gift left to any charity, such as St Wilfrid’s Hospice, would be taken off the value of your chargeable estate before Inheritance Tax is calculated. Plus, if 10% or more is left to charity, your Inheritance Tax rate could also be reduced.
Your gift could help protect the future of hospice care in your local community. It’s simple to do and we are here to help you every step of the way.
Thank you so much for your support.
Charity No. 281963 Visit stwh.co.uk/gifts-in-wills or call 01243 755184 to find out more.