Treetops Today - 2015 Autumn newsletter

Today

Treetops

All the latest news from Treetops Hospice Care

Autumn/Winter 2015

A new name for Treetops Hospice‌

Credit to Gary Murfin

Treetops Hospice Care provides nursing care and emotional A new name 4-5 support for anyone affected by a life-limiting illness in Derbyshire On the buses 6

and Nottinghamshire.

Contents

Trekking for Nana 8-9

> Support and Information Service What it’s like to > Day Care do my job 11 Student counsellors

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Bridal Boutique

15

Events Diary

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> Hospice at Home

> Counselling & Emotional Support Service

Treetops Hospice Care, Derby Road, Risley, DE72 3SS General Enquiries: 0115 949 1264 treetopshospice.org.uk Registered Charity No. 519540

Treetops Today is produced by Treetops Hospice Care’s marketing team – Helen Trubridge and Lizzie Banks.

To update your contact details or mailing preferences, email marketing@treetopshospice.org.uk

Day Care places for new patients

are now available

The Day Care Unit provides: > > > > >

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Nursing and emotional care Peer support and opportunities to socialise Art and complementary therapies Creative activities Respite for carers

To use the service, patients must have a progressive illness of any diagnosis, with a prognosis of approximately 12 months.

For an assessment or more information, phone the Day Care Administrator on 0115 949 1264.

Search for Treetops Hospice Care to follow us, like us, and say hello

eve Ingers Credit to St

700 people took part in Treetops’ first ever Colour Rush on 13 September at Elvaston Castle. Once all the sponsorship money has been collected, it’s expected to have raised over £24,000.

Ladies, gents and children aged 3 and up completed a 5k loop around the grounds, whilst being showered in a kaleidoscope of coloured powdered paint.

Credit ve to Ste Ingers

Credit to Gary Mu rfin

eve Credit to St

Ingers

Credit to Gary Mu rfin

www.treetopshospice.org.uk

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Sam, Penny, Kathryn and Jules from the Counselling & Emotional Support Service

A new name for Treetops Hospice…

For 25 years, staff and volunteers at Treetops have been caring about people. It begins as soon as someone finds out they have a serious illness, and continues long after a loved one has died.

Treetops began with a small Day Care facility and a sitting service with volunteers offering respite to people caring for seriously ill loved ones at home. Now there is a purpose-built Day Care Unit, a Hospice at Home service employing 50 nurses, as well as a new home for the Counselling and Emotional Support Service. Most recently, a Support and Information Service was created to help people newly diagnosed.

To better reflect these diverse range of services, the charity will now be called 4

Treetops Hospice Care.

Chief executive, George Cameron, explains: “The common perception is that a hospice is where Chief executive George Cameron people go to die but Treetops is far more than just a building.

We are a modern hospice; there are no beds here. It isn’t just about the end of a person’s life; it’s about supporting them and their families for as long as they need us.

“By adding the word “care” to our name we want to make people think about what we do, rather than the building we have. Care is very

Visit treetopshospice.org.uk for more information

We’ll start using Treetops Hospice Care during Hospice Care Week (5 – 11 October). The theme this year is “Connecting Care”.

Art therapist Lisa Waugh

Clinical nurse specialist Alison Hembrow

much at the centre of everything we do so it makes perfect sense to have it included in the organisation’s name.”

Treetops cares for the whole family Caring for a loved one who has a serious condition can often be lonely and stressful.

Treetops support carers in many ways such as giving them complementary therapy.

Pat Shirra from Beeston remembers getting the phone call.

“My mother-in-law Frances had stomach cancer and it was agreed that when she got really ill she would move in with me. Treetops’ nurses came regularly to care for her so I could have a break, it seemed like we had

Helen, Stuart and Teresa from Hospice at Home

everything we needed. I then got a phone call from Treetops offering me a massage. It made me want to cry because it was so unexpected.

I was so touched and the lady on the phone said “well we do look after you as well.”

“I had several sessions and I tried everything: reiki, aromatherapy, reflexology but the back massages were my favourite.

“You don’t really expect a hospice to do something like that but it was heaven for me.”

To find out more about Treetops Hospice Care, visit treetopshospice.org.uk or call 0115 949 1264.

www.treetopshospice.org.uk

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New transport provides link to Treetops

Pauline Wilcox behind the wheel of one of 2 new minibuses

Treetops have bought two brand new minibuses, which means guaranteed transport for hundreds of people needing to access Day Care and other appointments every year. They replace ones which had been on loan from Castle Donington Volunteer Centre.

Day Care Services manager, Julie Mehigan, said: “Up until now, we have relied on the generosity of the volunteer centre in providing us with not only two buses but volunteers to drive them as well. I would like to thank all of their staff and volunteers for providing that essential service to so many people. As Treetops grows, it is vital we have our own

transport which we know will get lots of use. I plan to take full advantage of this by arranging more trips out for our guests.”

John Williams, chair of Castle Donington Volunteer Centre, added: “Our volunteers have become very attached to the passengers they carried, and have gone out of their way to ensure that they are transported not only safely but in a friendly environment. To quote one of our teams “we enjoyed helping and doing our best for the clients who without fail were amazing upbeat people and always very thankful for the CDVC teams efforts.

Pauline Wilcox has been a volunteer at Treetops for 7 years, and drives the minibus every week. She explains what a typical shift is like…

“Driving the minibus involves collecting guests from their homes, bringing them into Day Care and taking them home at the end of the day. It may involve several guests which means working out the best and most comfortable route for the guests, for example, avoiding speed humps. It may be a guest’s first visit to Day Care so we aim to make them feel as relaxed as possible, as it can be a daunting experience for them.

“I enjoy the role for several reasons…

“I know how much the guests enjoy their

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days at Day Care guest Tony is brought in by Cris Bacon Treetops and to be able to get them there is very rewarding.

I also enjoy meeting so many different people and I like driving, so having the new buses is great and having air con makes the whole experience so much better for all concerned.”

To access any Treetops Hospice Care service call 0115 949 1264

Alison Hembrow with Helen Jordan

Making memories Many parents love making memories with their children. But what if you knew you wouldn’t be around as your children grew up?

For Helen Jordan, 48, this is the reality she is preparing her family for. A single mum of four, Helen has secondary breast cancer which she knows she won’t recover from.

Helen with daughter Hannah in 2013

Helen explains: “I didn’t deal with it well at first. It was just a complete shock. Having four children makes it harder. The youngest is 17 so they all understand what’s going on.”

After receiving Complementary Therapy at Treetops, Helen was referred to the Support and Information Service, which supports people with any life-limiting illness, from diagnosis onwards.

The service’s specialist nurse, Alison Hembrow, has helped Helen to plan for her future and to make sure her wishes are fulfilled after her death. Together, they have written an advanced care plan and funeral instructions.

“I started putting together folders for the kids and my two best friends, so they would know exactly what I want.” says Helen. “Some of the things are proper documents and have been taken to the hospital or my GP because they contain important instructions.

“I’ve put together books and written letters for certain milestones in my children’s lives, like their 21st birthdays, and I’m in the process of knitting baby blankets. When things get to me, it’s nice knowing these things are there for my children.” www.treetopshospice.org.uk

The Support and Information Service is open to anyone with, or caring for someone with, a life-limiting illness.

This includes cancer, stroke, heart and lung conditions, motor neurone disease and multiple sclerosis. From the point of diagnosis onwards, the service offers: • A ‘sounding board’ to help you understand what you have been told, and to answer your questions • A confidential chat with someone who understands what is happening • Explanations of treatments and symptoms • Information on finances, wellbeing, groups, specialist organisations, welfare rights, benefits, grants, staying in work and getting back to work.

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Much missed June Taylor

Taking on a challenge to remember a special lady A large part of Treetops Hospice Care’s support is for patients who are reaching the end of their life. This respite might be brief but for many it arrives when they and their families need it most.

This was the case for June Taylor’s family. June was a treasured partner, mother and grandmother when she died in June 2014 of stomach cancer.

Treetops’ nurse Liz Docker was able to care for June the night before she died; giving June’s daughter Claire the support she’d been hoping for.

Claire says: “We were told in the April that mum had 5 or

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6 months left. In reality it was much less and her condition deteriorated really quickly.

There were lots of healthcare professionals visiting the house, but none seemed to know what to say to us.

When Treetops got involved it was a huge relief and the difference in their knowledge and experience was obvious.

“I’m the sort of person who likes to know everything and Liz was able to explain what

had been happening to mum and what we should expect.

It was a huge relief to have her there. Mum died the next night, just before Liz’s shift but she still came to support us.”

On the first anniversary of June’s death, her five grandchildren, Andy, Sam, Luke, Joe and Johanna, took on the 3 peaks challenge to raise money for Treetops.

Andy said: “Our Nana’s wish

For more challenge ideas, visit treetopshospice.org.uk

About the 3 Peaks Over 24 hours, walkers tackle the 3 highest peaks in England, Scotland and Wales: Scafell, Ben Nevis and Snowdon.

The walkers weekend…

Saturday, 9am set off from home to drive to Ben Nevis in Scotland, arriving to start the climb at 5pm. It takes them 4 hours and 20 minutes to complete. They drive through the night before tackling Scafell Pike in the Lake District which takes 5 hours to climb. From there, they drive straight to Snowdonia in Wales where they complete their final mission Mount Snowdon in 4 hours. They arrived home in Derby at 11pm on Sunday.

From left: Sam, Andy, Luke and Joe in their local pub

was that when she did pass away, she wanted to be at home surrounded by her family and loving partner Colin. This was a very difficult time for us, seeing someone who you love so dearly and is usually so full of life become so ill.

“Treetops Hospice was there to provide the care Nana needed at home and also to give support to our family in understanding the stages of cancer and what she was

The intrepid trekkers with Claire and Jimmy.

going through more clearly.”

His brother Sam added: “We wanted to do something in honour of Nana and we realised that if we were going to do something this tough, it should raise money for Treetops.”

Claire, who is mum to Luke and Joe, and Andy and Sam’s dad Jimmy, drove the walkers on the weekend of their challenge.

www.treetopshospice.org.uk

Claire said: “I am immensely proud of what they achieved and I know my mum would have been too. It gave us something to focus on while remembering that it was a year since mum had died. I could hear them all chatting about their Nana while I drove and it was lovely to hear them sharing their memories.”

The group raised over £5,700 for Treetops.

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Ultra Marathon Man

alk Moonlight W

in on 12 d torrential ra ve ra b en ht om 600 w xth Moonlig part in the si ke ta e. ic to sp ne ho Ju the £66,000 for Walk, raising e left, from ictured abov Ann Jarvis, p in memory of d ke al cote w from Swadlin ied in March r Ellie who d enital her daughte Ellie had cong gular .

29 ed ag 2013 n a re and had bee heart disease t. ni U e ar C Day guest at the out emotions ab have mixed re he p Ann said: “I mos as a lovely at tonight. It w would have e lli E . ss ne d sa ith w d tinge r, she’d have walking so fa us e at d le gg gi rows but sh ised her eyeb tutted and ra been proud.” would have

Tea for Tre etops

Damon said “Mum lived a full and active life after her diagnosis.

This was, in part, he lped by the wonderful people at Treetops. Words cannot express ou r gratitude for all the staff there did.”

Picnic Proms

Move over Great Briti sh Bake O – Treetops ff supporters have been baking up a storm th roughout July, by ho lding tea p arties to ra money for ise the hospic e.

In total, 24 Tea for Tre etops part have raise ies d nearly £4 ,000. Pictu above, De red lene McCu lloch raise £200 at he d r tea party.

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Damon Wheatley, pic tured, from Spondon completed a 36-mile ultra-marathon and a 30-mile Peak Skyrace to raise ov er £1,300 for the hospice. Damo n’s mother, Dawn Wheatley, die d of cancer in December and enjoy ed weekly visits to the Day Care Un it.

were Ilkeston Brass, pictured, t ever firs the at tion the star attrac t.

Picnic Proms on 15 Augus d an Nearly 250 people enjoye pular po the by sic mu of evening for 400 local band, raising £2, Treetops Hospice Care.

For the latest news, follow us on Facebook and Twitter

What it’s like

to do my job…

Mary Rose Community & Events Fundraiser

I started to work in fundraising in 2002 when I lived in Staffordshire. I was inspired by my friend Gill who worked in the local hospice shop. She had lost her husband to a brain tumour about a year earlier; he was such a lovely man. Gill needed to do something and asked me if I would help her raise £5,000 to buy aid for a refugee camp in the Western Sahara desert, which we would take ourselves.

After one glass of wine too many I agreed to go with her and we started fundraising, We did tombolas in local shopping centres, curry nights at the local pub, car boot sales every Sunday morning for weeks on end, and talks at local churches.

After 18 months of fundraising we managed to reach our target.

We bought a long wheelbase Land Rover and off we went driving 3,000 miles across Europe. We travelled into Algeria with an armed guard.

Two weeks later we returned and I was a different person, I knew that I needed something more in my life because I couldn’t settle at all.

I got a job as fundraising assistant at Mary Anne Evans Hospice Warwickshire. 13 years later and I’m still hard at it fundraising for Treetops Hospice Care.

I organise nine Treetops events from small ones like the dog show to larger events like our flagship Moonlight Walk. I give presentations to local organisations and help Treetops supporters to organise their own events. I attend every carnival in the Nottingham area over the summer, and organise many collections at local supermarkets; raising funds and awareness of the charity. I also recruit and organise volunteers to support at many events, and source local outlets for our collection tins.

It’s very busy at certain times of the year when the phone never stops ringing and you have your post to reply to. Often volunteers will be popping in to see me or emailing with offers of help, there is a lot of juggling many plates at the same time, but that’s the nature of fundraising.

www.treetopshospice.org.uk

What I love most is the buzz when you get a sponsor for an event or your event goes well and you raise the money you needed. It’s great fun.

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Treetops is just the placement Eddie Deaville is a familiar face in the Cheetham Centre at Treetops. As a student counsellor, he combines his studies with providing one-to-one support sessions for people who have been bereaved.

The counsellor placement scheme is run by Jules Kirk, a senior counsellor within the Treetops’ Counselling and Emotional Support Service.

“We give counselling students the chance to put their skills into practice.

I was a student counsellor and I know how difficult it is to get placements that give you a good learning experience.

“Students get the whole package at Treetops - growth and development.

It’s been really successful for us and for them. We’ve also developed a good reputation among training agencies.”

Eddie Deaville

“I wanted to give my time to Treetops but to also be in a place where I felt supported. It was important to me that I was joining a ‘Centre of Excellence’. In many ways it has exceeded my expectations. The training I’ve had has been excellent, some of it has been essential to my role but I’ve also had the chance to learn more about palliative care which has been really interesting.”

The placement lasts for two years and applicants must be in their second year of a counselling and psychotherapy diploma or higher. Once the placement ends, students are able to continue to volunteer.

Eddie currently sees around 6 clients and can’t imagine being anywhere else.

“I feel a real sense of belonging at Treetops which is so important to me.”

Eddie is studying for an MSc in Person-Centred Psychotherapy at the Sherwood Institute in Nottingham. He applied for a placement after meeting Jules at a placement fair.

Jules Kirk

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Visit treetopshospice.org.uk for more info on the counsellor placement scheme

When lottery comes knocking More than 7,500 people play the Treetops Lottery each week; and many will have joined through our door-to-door promotions team.

The canvassers are a valuable way of reaching new lottery members, as well as telling people about the work of Treetops Hospice Care.

Mrs Mellors from Ripley won £1,000 after signing up with Mike, who called at her door.

She said: “I’d never heard about Treetops before but I like the idea of supporting a local charity. Mike was so friendly, explained everything and wasn’t pushy.”

Mrs Mellors with grandson Alfie

Lottery manager, Mel de Vos, said: “We get good feedback about our canvassers and that’s because they are highly trained to respect the wishes of the home owner. By joining the Treetops Lottery, people are supporting a local charity as well as being in with a chance of winning a cash prize each Friday.”

Sign up at treetopshospice.org.uk/lottery

www.treetopshospice.org.uk

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Photo: Thomas Nicholson, Network Rail

Network Rail A team of cyclists from Network Rail have cycled 221km from Bedford to Sheffield to raise £9,800 for Treetops Hospice Care.

The Midland Main Line Programme Team are working to electrify the rail route between Bedford and Sheffield, so they set themselves the challenge of cycling between these two stations.

Senior project engineer, Matt Parkin, was inspired to support Treetops after his father died of cancer earlier this year. Matt said: “Treetops provided the nurse at home service overnight to look after Dad almost every night for the last 2 weeks of his life.

This support to our family was incredible and enabled my Mum to get some rest at night so she could look after him in the day. That’s why I requested we raise all of our sponsorship for Treetops Hospice Care.”

Treetops loves working with local businesses. If your company would like to support Treetops, call the fundraising team for a chat on 0115 949 1264.

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For more fundraising ideas, visit treetopshospice.org.uk

The Bridal Boutique above the Treetops shop on Bramcote Lane, Wollaton, sells high quality pre-loved bridal gowns, bridesmaid dresses and a selection of hats, veils, tiaras, jewellery and shoes. Clothes for grooms, as well as prom dresses and special occasion wear, are also available.

Most of the items have been donated by ladies who have worn their special dress on the biggest day of their life, and donated it so that Treetops can benefit from its resale.

The Bridal Boutique gives brides and their parties the opportunity to find the perfect outfit at a reduced price whilst supporting their local hospice.

White strapless lace dress £125 by Wedding Dre ss Ltd Company

t and Two piece fishtail skir p button up spaghetti stra 5 bodice (polyester) £12

by Tous Les Jours

A personal shopping service, by appointment only, is offered to ensure brides get the attention and time they need.

To book or enquire, call the boutique on 0115 928 9165.

Special offer:

get 20% off your wedding dress when you show this newsletter.

broidered 50’s neckline em r) £200 ste lye (po e dic bo

www.treetopshospice.org.uk

White, strapless, net and diamante £175

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Dates for your Diary

Unless specified, all events are at Treetops Hospice Care, Derby Road, Risley, DE72 3SS

Phone fundraising on 0115 949 1264 or email events@treetopshospice.org.uk

Vintage Fair

Light up a Life

Stalls, live music, food and drink; something for all the family. £3 entry.

Sponsor a light on our Christmas Tree in memory of a friend or relative. Join us for the lighting ceremony at the hospice 4-5pm. Make a dedication at treetopshospice.org.uk/lights

Sunday 27 September | 10am – 4pm

Car Boot Sale

4 October | Gates open at 8am Last car boot of the year. £10 cars, £12 car & trailer, £15 large van.

No need to book, just turn up.

Voices for Hospices

Saturday 10 October | 7pm

Friesland School, Nursery Avenue, Sandiacre, NG10 5AF Tickets £6 each, available from treetopshospice.org.uk or 0115 949 1264

Support Treetops

this Christmas…

Christmas Shopping Evening Thursday 26 November | 7pm

Local crafts, gifts, cards and refreshments all available under one roof. £2 entry (includes a free tea/coffee).

Sunday 6 December

Santa Dash & Paws Walk Sunday 13 December West Park, Long Eaton

Join us for a sponsored 5k walk or run dressed as Santa or bring your dog for the Paws Walk. treetopshospice.org.uk/santa

Toddle for Treetops Throughout December

A great event for pre-schools, nurseries and toddler groups; organise your 1 mile toddle for Treetops on a day that suits you. treetopshospice.org.uk/toddle

Christmas Treecycling 9 and 10 January 2016

Save yourself the mess and stress of disposing of your real Christmas tree this year. For a donation, we will collect your tree for recycling. Visit our website to check your area is on our route. treetopshospice.org.uk/treecycling

Contact us Treetops Hospice Care, Derby Road, Risley, Derbyshire, DE72 3SS General Enquiries: 0115 949 1264 treetopshospice.org.uk | info@treetopshospice.org.uk Registered Charity No. 519540