Santa, songs and smiles:

Making Christmas memories at St Luke’s

16th December 2025

At the heart of hospice care this Christmas

St Luke’s was overflowing with Christmas spirit last Friday as staff went above and beyond to create a warm and joyful evening for current patients and their loved ones, as well as families who will be missing someone special for the first time this year.

Team members from across our organisation came together, giving up their own time to create a magical occasion featuring sparkling decorations, festive refreshments, Christmas music and live seasonal songs from the Burraton Boys and a raffle with super prizes.

Among our special guests were more than 50 children who had the chance to meet some of our nurses and discover that St Luke’s can be a place to make happy memories.

There was plenty of hands-on fun for all ages to enjoy, from trying their hand at crafts and games like painting festive pebbles, decorating delicious gingerbread men, making bracelets and guessing the name of the bear. The icing on the cake was the chance to visit Santa and his helpers in his grotto to receive a Christmas gift.

Organisers Nikki, Kim, Rachel, Michelle, Denise, Sue and Debbie, supported by a wonderful host of fellow staff members, are thrilled that the evening was such a success, not only spreading a little Christmas cheer, but also raising £700 to go towards patient and family care.

Huge thanks to the kind businesses and groups in the community who helped make the event possible: Endsleigh Garden Centre (Blue Diamond) for prizes and gifts, Dale and Ryan at TEC Construction, ArmadaCon, Burraton Boys and local branches of Tesco.

Kim and Nikki said: “We couldn’t have done it without their generosity, and the time given freely by everyone who turned out to help from across the organisation. It was wonderful to see the smiles on the children’s faces.”

Our care

Related articles

Meet the Guiding Lights artists
, ,

Meet the Guiding Lights Artists: Part 2

A host of talented artists are using their vision and skill to transform 2.4 metre tall blank white lighthouse sculptures into vibrant and imaginative beacons of hope. Their creations will brighten the streets of Plymouth this summer as part of St Luke’s Guiding Lights Sculpture Trail and Auction, raising vital funds for St Luke’s Hospice Plymouth and its work in the local community.
St Luke's Patient and Family Support Service
, ,

Skilled listeners who support end of life patients and loved ones beyond clinical care

With expertise, empathy and calm conversations, St Luke’s Patient and Family Support Service help hundreds of families each year – including children – to navigate terminal illness, dying and grieving. We explore the team’s unique role in our holistic end of life care.
, ,

Make a Will Fortnight 2026: help hospice care live on

Life changes. And often, our wills do not keep up. Marriage, separation, children, grandchildren, moving house, or caring for someone else can all affect what we want to happen in the future. Our Make a Will Fortnight is a chance to pause and put things in order.
St Luke's London Marathon runners
, ,

26.2 miles of courage, care and compassion: Our London Marathon runners raise over £30,000 for St Luke’s

As the sun shone down on our capital city yesterday, our St Luke’s runners took every step of the London Marathon with courage, care and compassion in mind. Behind every bib number was a story, a memory, or a reason that carried our 10 runners through all 26.2 miles and helped them to raise an incredible £30,000 for our patient care.
, ,

Meet the Guiding Lights Artists

A host of talented artists are using their vision and skill to transform 2.4 metre tall blank white lighthouse sculptures into vibrant and imaginative beacons of hope. Their creations will brighten the streets of Plymouth this summer as part of St Luke’s Guiding Lights Sculpture Trail and Auction, raising vital funds for St Luke’s Hospice Plymouth and its work in the local community.
Road to London_ Stu's story
, ,

BLOG: Road to London: Stu’s story

For Stu Collyer, running has never come naturally - certainly not the kind of miles that lead to the London Marathon, and definitely not the kind of training carried out on the cramped flight deck of a Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship.
St Luke's Drake City Centre Shop
, ,

BLOG: Landmark city centre store reopens after major refit

St Luke’s Hospice Plymouth’s landmark Drake store has reopened after a top-to-toe refit, and its transformation is stopping city centre shoppers in their tracks.
Vet Sinéad Short
, ,

BLOG: Putting down the stethoscope, lacing up the trainers in aid of St Luke’s

Local vet Sinéad Short will be swapping her stethoscope for her trainers next weekend, as she takes on the Dartmoor Marathon in memory of her father. Taking place on Sunday 12 April, the marathon will see Sinéad - originally from Yelverton - taking on the stunning, yet rugged landscapes of Dartmoor, all while raising money for St Luke’s.
, ,

BLOG: Need-a-Cab backs St Luke’s ‘Sponsor a Nurse’ with heartfelt support

Local taxi firm Need a Cab has stepped forward to sponsor St Luke’s Sponsor a Nurse campaign, helping to keep our nurses on the roads and on the wards so they can continue delivering expert hospice care across the community.
PreviousNext

Our Care

Support us

Courses

Information

BLOG: Ben and Sean’s two-wheeled adventure for hospice careBLOG: Why paramedic Jess swapped emergency sirens for hospice calm