• Link to Facebook
  • Link to X
  • Link to LinkedIn
  • Link to Instagram
  • Link to Mail
  • Link to Youtube
  • Our care
      • Our care
      • St Luke’s at home
      • St Luke’s urgent care service
      • St Luke’s at Turnchapel
      • Patient and Family Support Service
      • Therapy
      • Remember with Patches
      • Submit a care review
      • our care
      • patients and carers
  • Get involved
      • Get involved
      • Donate
      • Fundraising and events
      • Volunteering
      • Sponsor a St Luke’s nurse
      • In Memory Giving
      • Lottery
      • Lottery results
      • Summer Raffle
      • Wills and legacies
      • Corporate Fundraising
      • Key Investor
      • Gift aid
      • Compassionate communities
  • Shops
      • Shops
      • ebay shop
      • depop shop
      • Furniture collection service
      • Volunteering
      • Feedback
      • Shops
      • Furniture collection service
  • Education
      • Courses and education
      • University modules
      • Six steps + programme
      • Compassionate communities
      • Compassionate city
      • Projects and partnerships
      • Apprenticeships and placements
      • Feedback
      • Education and courses
      • Plymouth a compassionate city
  • Information hub
      • Information hub
      • Patients and carers
      • Healthcare professionals
      • One Devon EOLC resources
      • End of life care champions
      • Medical students
      • Advance care planning
      • Podcasts
      • Compassionate city
      • Dying matters
      • Hospice UK
      • Patients and carers
      • Healthcare professionals
  • About us
      • About us
      • Job vacancies
      • Our supporter promise
      • Our history
      • Our strategy
      • Governance
      • Trustees and management
      • Impact Report
      • Blog
      • Press and media
      • Information protection
      • FAQs
      • FAQs
      • Job vacancies
  • Contact us
    • Contact us
    • Feedback
    • Complaints
    • Find us
  • Donate
  • Menu Menu
  • Our care
    • Our care
    • St Luke’s at home
    • St Luke’s urgent care service
    • St Luke’s at Turnchapel
    • Patient and Family Support Service
    • Therapy
    • Remember with Patches
    • Submit a care review
  • Get involved
    • Get involved
    • Donate
    • Fundraising and events
    • Volunteering
    • Sponsor a St Luke’s nurse
    • In Memory Giving
    • Lottery
    • Lottery results
    • Summer Raffle
    • Wills and legacies
    • Corporate fundraising
    • Key Investor
    • Gift Aid
    • Compassionate Communities
  • Shops
    • Shops
    • eBay shop
    • depop shop
    • Furniture collection service
    • Volunteering
    • Feedback
  • Education
    • Education and Courses
    • University modules
    • Six Steps + programme
    • Plymouth a compassionate city
    • Projects and partnerships
    • Apprenticeships and placements
    • Feedback
  • Information hub
    • Information hub
    • Patients and carers
    • Healthcare professionals
    • Podcasts
    • One Devon EOL care resources
    • End of life care champions
    • Medical students
    • Advance care planning
    • Plymouth a compassionate city
    • Dying matters
    • Hospice UK
  • About us
    • About us
    • Job Vacancies
    • Our supporter promise
    • Our strategy
    • Governance
    • Trustees and management
    • Our history
    • Information protection
    • Impact Report
    • FAQs
    • Press and media
    • Blog
  • Contact us
    • Contact us
    • Feedback
    • Complaints
    • Find us
  • Donate
latest news

BLOG: Ladies get glowing for St Luke’s Neon Midnight Walk

Two ladies with treasured memories of loved ones will be among those getting their glow on to celebrate the life of someone special at our Neon Midnight Walk on 21 July.

Julie Barton will be striding the streets alongside friend Diana Powell. Julie was a long-serving member of the team at Toshiba and is joining fellow ‘Toshettes’, including Diana, for our charity walk.

Julie is putting on her trainers in memory of her sister-in-law Donna, who passed away aged 51 in 2016, and close friend Toni, who died last November, also aged 51. Both were cared for by our specialist team.

Julie said: “Toni and Donna were both such special people. Donna had such an engaging personality – she was loved by all who knew her. I will always remember Toni’s crazy humour and strength. Even the week before she died, she was determined to make it into town to buy herself some new clothes – and she did.”

Diana also has personal reasons for getting involved. She said: “My husband Tony was passionate about raising money for St Luke’s. In 2016 he did some cycling events for the charity, but unfortunately passed away a couple of weeks after that. This my attempt to continue raising money on his behalf.

“I first came across St Luke’s about 15 years ago when a friend’s father was in Turnchapel and I was actually quite stunned about the level of care and compassion. St Luke’s is a caring place and the whole of Plymouth knows that. We need to keep on raising that profile and keep getting the money through to them.”

The Neon Midnight Walk is sponsored by Nash & Co Solicitors. Registration is £22 and includes an exclusive neon t-shirt, as well as a medal and goody bag for all finishers.

If you’d like to register, you can sign up at www.stlukesmidnightwalk.co.uk

27th April 2018
https://www.stlukes-hospice.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/MNWBLOG.png 773 1030 Jesse Cambridge https://www.stlukes-hospice.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/st-lukes-hospice-plymouth.svg Jesse Cambridge2018-04-27 10:28:022018-04-27 10:29:01BLOG: Ladies get glowing for St Luke’s Neon Midnight Walk
latest news

BLOG: Memory Jars help cherish precious memories

When we lose someone close, memories are more precious than ever. They help us feel connected, and cherishing them is an important part of celebrating a loved one’s life.

Creating a memory jar for your written memories and messages can be so helpful and that’s why we have our St Luke’s memory jars. They are available to everyone regardless of whether your loved one was cared for by our team.

Indoors, the jar can be a lovely ornament, while outside at night its glowing lamp can help lighten your thoughts and perhaps your spirits.

You can add to the jar over time and even get other members of the family to contribute, so that every generation can play their part in creating a wonderful keepsake. And if you bought a jar last year, you are welcome to buy a second.

We will display all the memory jars created this year in the peaceful surroundings of Plymouth Hoe Garden, which will be open to the public from 6 to 28 May, between 3 – 7pm Monday to Friday (up to 10pm on Thursday), and 12 – 4pm at weekends and bank holiday Mondays.

By day, the local community will be able to visit to see the keepsakes and pay their respects to those no longer with us. By night, the individual solar lights in the jars will illuminate them, shining brightly over Plymouth Sound.

Everyone who creates a jar is invited to a non-religious service to launch the display, at 3pm on 6 May. With heartfelt readings and poems, it’s an opportunity for remembrance and reflection.

Head of Social Care at St Luke’s Jutta Widlake said: “Every day at St Luke’s we are supporting people who have lost a loved one to a terminal illness. We know that it is always a very difficult time and that sometimes, grief can rob them of their memories of the person they’ve lost.

“We understand how important it is to remember your loved ones – memories are precious and powerful. We want to give people the opportunity to remember the good things and happy times by creating a memory jar they can add to over time. If they want to, they can invite family to contribute their memories too, so that every generation can be involved. The jar can be a talking point and might also lift their spirits.”

Supporters are encouraged to collect their jars from the garden on 30 or 31 May so that they can keep it and add to it over the years.

You can create your own memory jar to join the display at www.stlukes-hospice.org.uk/memoryjar

27th April 2018
https://www.stlukes-hospice.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/MEMJARBLOG.png 773 1030 Jesse Cambridge https://www.stlukes-hospice.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/st-lukes-hospice-plymouth.svg Jesse Cambridge2018-04-27 10:43:392018-04-27 10:43:39BLOG: Memory Jars help cherish precious memories
latest news

BLOG: Brian Pollard on painting his Elmer for St Luke’s

Bold, bright and a real delight – that’s Elmer’s Big Parade, coming to Plymouth in July 2019. Last month, we shared with you news about this exciting St Luke’s project with Wild in Art and Andersen Press, which will see 40 unique Elmer the Elephant sculptures form a colourful, enchanting and educational trail across our city next summer.

A key part of the project involves established and emerging local artists being invited to submit their designs for our Elmers so that each one is bespoke. It’s these sculptures that will be sponsored to raise money for St Luke’s and later auctioned for our charity.

However, the first Elmer is already complete and attracting much admiration! It’s the handiwork of highly successful local artist Brian Pollard whose ‘naive’ images including landmarks such as Smeaton’s Tower have achieved a global reputation.

When we spoke to Brian at the recent Elmer launch, he explained why he was delighted to be involved, saying: “I have supported St Luke’s previously by contributing Christmas card designs and so on, and it was a a great honour when the charity approached me about this project.”

Brian, who worked as a GP for many years, went on to describe the sometimes challenging process of painting a three-dimensional surface, after being so used to working with flat surfaces.

“It took around eight weeks to complete the painting of my Elmer, working five days a week,” Brian said. “And some areas are so difficult to get to that you have to break off the ends of the brushes to reach them. Also, using acrylic paint means some of the colours are quite thin – I gave the yellow flowers on the face and trunk nine coats. There was a lot of refining, but it was great fun – apart from the effect on my back and my knees!”

Local artists are being invited to submit their design ideas this June. To find out more, visit www.stlukes-hospice.org.uk/elmer.

27th April 2018
https://www.stlukes-hospice.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/BRIANPOLLARD.png 773 1030 Jesse Cambridge https://www.stlukes-hospice.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/st-lukes-hospice-plymouth.svg Jesse Cambridge2018-04-27 10:35:342018-04-27 10:36:11BLOG: Brian Pollard on painting his Elmer for St Luke’s
latest news

BLOG: Rockfest raises record amount

Rock not only raised the roof but an amazing amount for St Luke’s at the recent annual live music extravaganza at Crash Manor in Plymouth.

The two-day event saw 20 bands, including Rusty Angels and Funky Munks, play for no fee, attracting a big crowd and resulting in £12,635 raised to help us continue caring for patients at the end of life – a record amount for Rockfest in the ten years it has been supporting our charity.

Cuz Cussen is the force behind Rockfest, which he started 17 years ago, fundraising for various charities close to his heart. It was following the death of his beloved mum Dot, in May 2008, that he decided to donate all the money raised each year to St Luke’s.

During the last few months of her life, Dot received our care and spent her last few days at the specialist unit at Turnchapel. Seeing first hand the dedication of our team meant St Luke’s gained a special place in Cuz’s heart, which has spurred him on to raise an incredible £90,000 for us.

Cuz said: “I’m blown away at how generously everyone has supported Rockfest, from the bands and the venue to the businesses who donated raffle prizes and everyone who came to the event. A huge thank you to everybody who has gone the extra mile, including my wife Lyn and close friends.”

Thank you so much to Cuz and everyone who helps make Rockfest the big success it is. We really appreciate your support!

27th April 2018
https://www.stlukes-hospice.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/ROCKFEST-BLOG.png 773 1030 Jesse Cambridge https://www.stlukes-hospice.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/st-lukes-hospice-plymouth.svg Jesse Cambridge2018-04-27 10:39:432018-04-27 10:39:43BLOG: Rockfest raises record amount
latest news

BLOG: Morrisons makes a difference

When a young child is facing the loss of a parent, it’s so important to communicate with them in a sensitive, age-appropriate way – it can make a big difference to the way they process what’s happening and come to terms with their loss in the longer term.

So it was wonderful when the Morrisons Foundation recently donated £20,000 towards St Luke’s Patches programme, which sees us come alongside families in this very difficult situation.

Having heard about Lisa Carter, our dedicated Patches Family and Children’s Support Worker (Patches being the cute Koi carp character who’s become a familiar face at our specialist unit at Turnchapel), the Foundation was moved to make a difference.

Since the Patches programme launched last November, Lisa has supported over 50 children, such is the demand for this service. She often uses arts and crafts activities to help open up conversation with the children, and the youngsters enjoy using the Patches activity book as well as following the Patches trail.

Angela Millin, Community Champion at Morrisons in Plymstock, said: “Having lost my own mother when I was a very young child, I know just how important this support is. To be able to help with our donation gives us a heart-warming feeling.”

27th April 2018
https://www.stlukes-hospice.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/MORRISONS-BLOG.png 773 1030 Jesse Cambridge https://www.stlukes-hospice.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/st-lukes-hospice-plymouth.svg Jesse Cambridge2018-04-27 10:12:242018-04-27 10:12:24BLOG: Morrisons makes a difference
latest news

BLOG: Remember with Patches

When young children are facing the loss of a loved one, communicating with them in a sensitive, open and age-appropriate way can make a big difference to the way they process what’s happening and come to terms with their loss in the longer term.

That’s why St Luke’s, caring for more and more parents of young children, has launched a pilot to provide much needed support for these families. Lisa Carter is the dedicated Patches Family and Children’s Support Worker, Patches being the cute Koi carp character who’s fast becoming a familiar face at the specialist unit at Turnchapel.

Patches was created by St Luke’s talented Graphic Designer Jesse-James Cambridge with the help of illustrator Marie Arroyo to extend a  fin of friendship to children facing loss. As well as featuring in ‘Remember with Patches’, a pre-bereavement activity book and the play room, our fishy figure provides clues around the grounds of the specialist unit as part ofa fun trail.

On creating Patches, Jesse said: “Patches is a great tool for Lisa in her work, but also acts as a way for children to learn about St Luke’s and continue making memories at home. We decided to give the pilot a ‘mascot’ character at an early stage, and with a beautiful Koi pond at Turnchapel and being so close to the ocean, a fish seemed like the right choice. Children reading the book at home will be able to visit the real Patches when they arrive at Turnchapel – this familiarity should hopefully alleviate some of the fear they might have on their first visit.”

“The myth that fish have very short term memories gave the character a relatable motive to children who might not yet understand what a memory really is, as well as the importance of making memories with their loved ones.”

“In the interactive storybook, Patches learns how the people he loves are always with him in his memories. That’s a powerful message that children can relate to, and I hope it helps them come to terms with what’s happening to their loved one. This project was a real privilege to work on.”

Lisa – who was a Healthcare Assistant at St Luke’s for nine years before moving into this role – is using Patches as part of her work. She has been busy supporting over 50 children following the launch of the pilot in November 2017, with referrals coming through the Social Care team at St Luke’s.

Describing her work, Lisa said: “Every family’s situation is different so it’s really important that I work with them in a way that’s tailored to their specific needs. Sometimes that involves just a phonecall, sometimes much more hands-on support. I can also refer them to other agencies that can help.”

“I arrange to meet the parents or grandparents to talk through what’s happening and find out how they want to be supported, what their children are aware of and what they want them to know, before going on to meet the children either at home or at our specialist unit.”

Lisa’s focus is on supporting children through the trauma and explaining what’s happening in a way that’s appropriate to their age. Her background in healthcare is proving invaluable to this. “My experience helps me to describe things such as catheters and weightloss sensitively, which helps prepare children for the changes they’ll see as the health of their loved one deteriorates,” she said.

As part of her work in building a rapport with the children, Lisa often uses arts and crafts activities, such as making sun-catchers or painting moneyboxes. “This is something the children enjoy,” said Lisa. “And the distraction of creating something is an effective way of opening up difficult conversations with them.”

“While it is very sad that these children are facing something so difficult, it’s really encouraging to see the difference this support makes to them, being appropriately sad and grieving in a healthy way.”

To read the online story book, or access the free downloadable resources for children, visit the Remember with Patches page of our site.

The Patches project was made possible with the generous support of The Morrisons Foundation.

10th April 2018
https://www.stlukes-hospice.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/PATCHES-BLOG-HEADER.png 773 1030 Jesse Cambridge https://www.stlukes-hospice.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/st-lukes-hospice-plymouth.svg Jesse Cambridge2018-04-10 10:52:282018-04-10 10:52:28BLOG: Remember with Patches

Recent Posts

  • BLOG: Bigger, better and brimming with bargains, St Luke’s opens new charity shop in Plymstock
  • BLOG: Volunteers’ Week 2025: Celebrating the volunteers that shape our services
  • BLOG: St Luke’s launches major city art trail and auction for 2026
  • Guiding Lights
  • BLOG: Celebrating our amazing nurses

Recent Comments

  • Rhianne Walkey on Transformation

Archives

  • June 2025
  • May 2025
  • April 2025
  • March 2025
  • February 2025
  • January 2025
  • December 2024
  • November 2024
  • October 2024
  • September 2024
  • August 2024
  • July 2024
  • June 2024
  • May 2024
  • April 2024
  • March 2024
  • February 2024
  • January 2024
  • December 2023
  • November 2023
  • October 2023
  • September 2023
  • August 2023
  • July 2023
  • June 2023
  • May 2023
  • April 2023
  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • October 2016
  • August 2016

Categories

  • blog
  • Clinical Newsletter
  • Community
  • Corporate
  • Do it for St Luke's!
  • events
  • Homepage Event Banner
  • latest news
  • News
  • PR
  • St Luke's
  • Uncategorised
  • Upcoming Events
  • z-exclude

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

Our Care

  • St Luke’s at home
  • St Luke’s urgent care service
  • St Luke’s at Turnchapel
  • Patient and Family Support Service
  • Therapy
  • Feedback and complaints

Support us

  • Donate
  • Fundraising
  • Volunteering
  • Lottery
  • Corporate fundraising
  • Sponsor a St Luke’s nurse
  • St Luke’s Memory Tree
  • Wills and legacies
  • Key Investor
  • Our shops
  • Tribute funds

Courses

  • University modules
  • Six Steps + programme
  • Projects and partnerships
  • Apprenticeships and placements

Information

  • About us
  • Contact us
  • How we use your personal information (GDPR)
  • Advance care planning
  • Patients and carers
  • Medical students
  • Healthcare professionals
  • End of life care champions
  • Compassionate communities
  • Job Vacancies
  • Our history
  • Our supporter promise
  • Press and media
  • SLH Ventures Gambling Commission Licence
  • Link to Facebook
  • Link to X
  • Link to LinkedIn
  • Link to Instagram
  • Link to Mail
  • Link to Youtube
© Copyright 2024 - St Luke's Hospice Plymouth is a registered charity number 280681, VAT registration number 108 2418 38 & a company limited by guarantee, number 1505753. - Web Design by The Ambitions Agency
  • Link to Facebook
  • Link to X
  • Link to LinkedIn
  • Link to Instagram
  • Link to Mail
  • Link to Youtube
Scroll to top

We use cookies to give you the best possible online experience. If you continue, we’ll assume you are happy for your web browser to receive all cookies from our website.

View how we use cookiesView how we protect your personal informationAccept cookiesProceed without cookies

Cookie and Privacy Settings



How we use cookies

We may request cookies to be set on your device. We use cookies to let us know when you visit our websites, how you interact with us, to enrich your user experience, and to customize your relationship with our website.

Click on the different category headings to find out more. You can also change some of your preferences. Note that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our websites and the services we are able to offer.

Essential Website Cookies

These cookies are strictly necessary to provide you with services available through our website and to use some of its features.

Because these cookies are strictly necessary to deliver the website, refusing them will have impact how our site functions. You always can block or delete cookies by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website. But this will always prompt you to accept/refuse cookies when revisiting our site.

We fully respect if you want to refuse cookies but to avoid asking you again and again kindly allow us to store a cookie for that. You are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience. If you refuse cookies we will remove all set cookies in our domain.

We provide you with a list of stored cookies on your computer in our domain so you can check what we stored. Due to security reasons we are not able to show or modify cookies from other domains. You can check these in your browser security settings.

Other external services

We also use different external services like Google Webfonts, Google Maps, and external Video providers. Since these providers may collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them here. Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. Changes will take effect once you reload the page.

Google Webfont Settings:

Google Map Settings:

Google reCaptcha Settings:

Vimeo and Youtube video embeds:

Accept settingsHide notification only