Tag Archive for: events

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BLOG: Men’s Day Out – Men on the move make a massive difference for hospice care

Walking, talking and paying tribute to lost loved ones, big-hearted blokes of all ages strode through the streets of Plymouth on Saturday 6 April, raising funds for the specialist end of life care needed by so many local families.

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BLOG: Make every step count for hospice care: St Luke’s Midnight Walk 2024

St Luke’s iconic Midnight Walk is back for 2024, shining a light on precious memories of lost loved ones while supporting our compassionate care.

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BLOG: Open Gardens 2024

A stunning selection of gardens in West Devon, the South Hams and East Cornwall will be opening their gates once again in aid of local hospice care.

St Luke’s annual Open Gardens scheme is launching in March, providing avid horticulture fans the opportunity to explore amazing private plots, large and small, many not usually open to the public, while supporting our end of life care in your local community. All proceeds from the ticket sales will be playing a vital role in helping us to meet the rising costs of our dedicated care teams offering free specialist hospice care, when and where it is needed.

This year’s programme, running through to September and kindly sponsored by NFU Mutual Plymouth, promises plenty of inspiration for keen gardeners, as well as a proper treat for anyone who enjoys a fresh air outing in a beautiful environment.

Wayne Marshall, St Luke’s Open Gardens Co-ordinator, said: “We are really excited to kickstart the 2024 Open Gardens season. We have chosen a diverse selection of beautiful gardens to inspire and delight, many of which are not normally open to the public, so offer a unique insight into garden design.

“This year we are honoured and delighted that the highly successful local artist and St Luke’s patron, Brian Pollard has kindly created such an enchanting image for the cover of our Open Gardens brochure.

“Excitingly, Brian has generously donated to St Luke’s the framed original acrylic painting and we are including it as an amazing prize in our Open Gardens raffle, so be sure to buy your tickets when you visit one of the gardens.”

The artwork is currently on display at Kaya Gallery, Plymouth where you can also buy raffle tickets for either £1 or £5 for a book.

Stretching from the outskirts of Plymouth right across our catchment area in the South Hams, Dartmoor, West Devon and just over the border into Cornwall – from Kingsbridge to Lewdown, there will be a varied selection of popular gardens opening during the season alongside some exciting new additions, including the beautifully unique The Garden House in Yelverton on Thursday 18 April and Wednesday 14 August and Highwell in Churchstow, offering five acres of wonderful garden spaces on Sunday 12 May.

Highlights of the season include a special Easter Sunday opening of Gnaton Hall, near Yealmpton and a familiar favourite of the landscaped grounds of the Grade One listed Flete House, near Ermington, which will be opening on Sunday 28 July between 12pm and 5pm.

There’s no need to book in advance for any of the gardens – just turn up on the allotted date and time and follow the orange St Luke’s signs to car parking and the gardens themselves and pay on the gate with cash or contactless card; tickets cost £6 and under-16s have free entry.

Once again we will be working in partnership with the team at Drake’s Island to provide guided tours. Set in the beautiful surroundings of Plymouth Sound, Drake’s Island boasts unique views across Cornwall, the city and beyond. Funds from the ticket sales will go to St Luke’s, apart from a small booking fee. Tickets will be available exclusively here.

Wayne added: “As a charity, we couldn’t survive without the kindness of all our supporters. This includes everyone who attends our Open Gardens, the big-hearted garden owners who welcome them, and not forgetting our proud sponsors NFU Mutual Plymouth. Together over the last 14 years that the scheme has been running, more than £540,000 has been raised for our patient care, which is incredible, thank you.”

You can pick up a copy of our Open Gardens 2024 brochure and view the full list of gardens on offer at any of our charity shops, at local garden centres and supporting businesses, or you can download it online here.

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BLOG: Lewis flies the flag for finance and St Luke’s apprenticeships

National Apprenticeship Week 2024

When accounts assistant Lewis Kendall posed for a photo in his gown and mortarboard outside Exeter Cathedral recently, it wasn’t only his long-awaited college graduation he was celebrating.  

The occasion also marked the official end of his time as a St Luke’s apprentice and acknowledged his role as a fully-fledged, permanent member of our Finance Team. 

This week is National Apprenticeships Week (5-11 February), a chance to shine a light on the positive impact that apprenticeships make to individuals, businesses and the wider economy.

Lewis, from Plympton, is now a proud ambassador for St Luke’s apprenticeships, speaking up about how they allow you to learn on the job as well as support you to study for relevant qualifications.  

It proved to be the perfect option for the 27-year-old who was thrilled to find an alternative route into his chosen field of finance and accountancy.  

He explained: “I didn’t really know what to do after A levels. I got three Bs in Maths, History and Business and went to university at Swansea for a while. I liked the course and the subject, but I didn’t get along with the university style of teaching, so I decided to come home and work for a bit.  

“If someone had told me at the time that there was a really good apprenticeship scheme, rather than going to university, then I would have jumped at that.” 

Lewis struck lucky when he spotted an advertisement in May 2019 for a finance apprentice at St Luke’s. 

“I had a really good interview and was taken on by St Luke’s as part of the finance team, with a day of study leave each week to work towards professional qualifications with the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) through Exeter College. 

“I would definitely recommend apprenticeships. I liked the way I could be taught on day release because you are not just studying, you have work responsibilities too. You pick up practical skills in the workplace – stuff that you would not learn in the classroom. I also felt really supported, not like Uni where you can feel like you are on your own. 

“And because St Luke’s were so generous in paying for my course, I felt a good pressure to do well.” 

Lewis did do really well in his Level 2 and 3 AAT studies, despite having to study mostly online because of Covid restrictions, so St Luke’s gave him the opportunity to carry on to Level 4 – the top AAT qualification. 

“This time I had to travel up to Exeter every Wednesday and St Luke’s were kind enough to cover the cost of my fuel, and in January this year I heard that I’d passed Level 4.” 

The icing on the cake was the chance to receive his certificates at a graduation ceremony at Exeter Cathedral last month, watched by his mum and dad and his girlfriend, Eloise. 

“It was a great day celebrating achieving my qualifications. My mum and dad were really proud, especially because I had previously withdrawn from university.” 

Numbers might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but Lewis loves them and he’s proud to be part of a background team that is absolutely essential to the smooth running of the organisation. 

“We are quite an unseen specialist team that makes sure the hospice is financially stable,” he explained. “I think the best thing is knowing that the hard work that we put in helps support the services that all the people at front of house provide – our care teams, our fundraising team, our shops.” 

Before qualifying Lewis’s role was mostly dealing with day to day income and financial queries around donations, working closely with fundraising and supporter care. 

“My team is great. St Luke’s recognised my qualification and experience and had a reshuffle so I could have a place in the finance management side of the organisation.” 

As a fully qualified Accounts Assistant he spends more time now working with Management Accountant Nicola Willcocks. 

“The work I do now is really satisfying in that we are dealing with lots of income and expenditure, putting together all the backroom financial information, helping the management accounts team make decisions about, and analyse, budgets. 

“But I don’t just sit at a desk and play with numbers. I like talking people through the numbers if they need any help with that. Giving them all the information they need enables them to make decisions. I gather the data that helps inform those decisions.” 

Underpinning everything Lewis does at St Luke’s is a sense of pride in the organisation. 

“St Luke’s provides such a unique and great service. I live in Plympton, and it feels good to see our cars going out to see patients, knowing that our team helps to make that happen. It’s wonderful that people in the community look so fondly on St Luke’s and get so excited about fundraising for us.”  

When he can, Lewis likes to help out at some of St Luke’s flagship fundraising events.  

“Volunteering at Midnight Walk is probably one of my favourite things to do. It’s great to see so many people who are working a full day and then are prepared to walk miles around Plymouth until two in the morning to raise money for St Luke’s. I do the donations side, making sure the money collected gets safely back to Turnchapel. And I am there afterwards giving out tea, coffee, prosecco and chocolates. 

“It’s great being sat at a computer with the numbers but actually seeing people out like that is wonderful. It fills you with pride.” 

Outside work, Lewis lives at Chaddlewood with Eloise, and in his spare time he’s a keen golfer and one of the current captains of Thurlestone Golf Club. 

“I absolutely love it. St Luke’s was the club’s charity of the year last year, which was wonderful – they raised a lot of money for the organisation.” 

As a hospice, St Luke’s can offer a number of different apprenticeships like Lewis’ to both internal and external candidates. Apprenticeships can range from administration to events management, retail logistics to health and social care, roles in finance to leadership and management. We pride ourselves on ensuring that all our apprentices are part of the St Luke’s family benefiting from our values and support.

If like Lewis, you would be interested in an apprenticeship at St Luke’s you can find out more here.

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PR: Men’s Day Out 2024: Big-hearted march backs care that goes the extra mile

 

Big-hearted march backs care that goes the extra mile

A mass of big-hearted men will be marching through Plymouth on Saturday 6 April next year to support the compassionate end of life care St Luke’s Hospice Plymouth provides for local families at the toughest times in their lives.

Registration opens on 1 December for the hugely popular Men’s Day Out, an unmissable mix of miles, mates, memories and merrymaking that not only raises funds and awareness, but also opens the door to conversations about grief and bereavement.

This flagship annual event is one of the most popular and memorable happenings on the city’s calendar, with around 2,000 entrants signing up each year to march a 12km circular route, finishing with a pasty, a beverage, and a seat at the rugby.

Walkers and their generous sponsors bring in thousands of pounds each year to help fund St Luke’s invaluable hospice services for patients at home, in hospital and at the charity’s specialist unit at Turnchapel, 365 days a year.

Striding the streets together offers a unique camaraderie for those who have lost loved ones or are facing up to a terminal diagnosis in the family, while doing something positive and uplifting to support people in the local community.

Many take part to remember a friend or family member who was cared for by St Luke’s, and writing their loved one’s name on their official Men’s Day Out T-shirts helps to spur them on as they join the huge throng of men on the move.

Starting and finishing at Plymouth Albion RFC at Devonport, the event will kick off at 10am and follow a marked route through the city centre and along the waterfront, taking in Plymouth Hoe and the Barbican. Back at the rugby ground, walkers can enjoy a well-earned pasty and a beverage before witnessing our local boys in a clash with the Rams from Reading.

St Luke’s Head of Fundraising Penny Hannah said: “We’re thrilled to announce that Men’s Day Out will be striding ahead again in 2024, and so grateful for the loyal support of our sponsors JEM Scaffolding, and to so many of you who come back year after year to join in the fun, open your hearts and raise funds for St Luke’s.”

Registration for Men’s Day Out costs just £35, but that only covers the official T-shirt, refreshments, rugby ticket and event costs. It’s individual sponsorships and donations that really make a difference, and many entrants set themselves a fundraising target to tot up their total as they mark the miles.

Places are limited so it’s advised to register early for this well-loved event to avoid disappointment and to start rallying sponsors. Click here to find out more. 

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BLOG: Make every day count as part of our hospice team

Most of us, when we look back on our career, want to feel we’ve made a difference – that the weeks, months and years have really counted and we’ve left the world better than we found it. This is a big part of what makes our lives meaningful, and it’s a great motivator to keep doing the work we do or, perhaps, change direction completely.

If you’ve never considered working as part of our hospice team – or thought about it but not yet gone ahead – it’s worth knowing our staff often tell us it’s been the most fulfilling part of their career – by far! And we’re not just talking about St Luke’s doctors and nurses here – it’s our equally dedicated people working more behind the scenes, too, from kitchen and maintenance staff to administrators, fundraisers, and finance, marketing and IT buffs. All play a vital role in the trusted service our charity provides – free of charge – so that no-one in our community needs to miss out on gold-standard care at the end of their life.

Hospice Care Week (9 – 15 October) is an opportunity for us to say an extra-big thank-you to each and every one our dedicated, hardworking crew. We see you, we value you, we celebrate you!

With demand on our services growing, it’s more important than ever that we continue to attract talent across our services, from hands-on care and bereavement support to our charity shops and fundraising events. As an employer of choice, we want our staff to enjoy coming to work. We offer a positive, supportive and inclusive environment that encourages them to thrive, and attractive benefits and rewards, including generous annual leave and a cash-back scheme to help with everyday health costs, such as dental and eye care.

So, if you’ve been on the fence about working for our hospice, the time to apply is now. It could just be the most life-enhancing move of your career.

We look forward to hearing from you! Visit our job vacancy page and set up a job alert.

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BLOG: Plymouth Argyle Finn makes patient Michael’s day


“It’s an amazing place, and you never know who you’re going to meet!”

St Luke’s patient Michael Scott thought his eyes were playing tricks on him when he spotted top Plymouth Argyle player Finn Azaz walking onto the ward in our specialist unit at Turnchapel.

“Never in a million years did I think that would happen. I recognised him straight away because he has come back to Argyle again this season and he’s scored some goals in recent games. Last year I saw him play a couple of times and, of course, I’ve seen him in the media,” said an astonished and delighted Michael, who has taken his son and daughter to matches at Home Park in the past. “It was a complete surprise!”

Modest midfielder Finn has recently started volunteering for St Luke’s in his spare time. The 23-year-old stopped to chat with Michael and another patient on the ward during his recent visit to our HQ to help the fundraising team.

“Finn came over to talk to me and I told him my life story,” added Michael, 61, who was thrilled that he was able to meet the rising football star before being discharged home a couple of days later. “He came across as a very genuine and nice bloke and he asked me some very good questions. I wish him well for the rest of the season and hope Argyle do as well as they did last year when they went into the Championship.”

Liverpool-born Michael, who lives at Keyham, was in the Royal Navy for 34 years, retiring in 2012. He was working as a safety officer for cruise ships before his diagnosis with Stage 4 bowel cancer. He was seen and supported by St Luke’s hospital team at Derriford before being transferred to our inpatient unit for specialist symptom management. He and his family – wife, Angela, daughter Bethany and son Matthew, who has followed his dad into the Navy – will now have the support of our at home team.

“I’m looking forward to going home but I have thoroughly enjoyed the two weeks I’ve spent in St Luke’s as an inpatient. The people are fantastic, and I feel honoured to have been asked to come here,” said Michael, who was also thrilled to be allowed a couple of hospice visits from his chocolate Labrador Milo. “It’s an amazing place, and you never know who you’re going to meet!”

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BLOG: Harry’s BIG cycling challenge

An 8-year-old with big fundraising goals will be taking on the moors on Sunday 8 October at our Tour de Moor.

Harry Totham and his dad Paul will be taking part in our Tour de Moor for the first time this year, with high hopes to raise ‘BIG’ money for our compassionate care.

The self-confessed bike fanatics, from Elburton will be taking on our 33km route, which is brand new for this year, giving riders a fresh challenge to embark on.

Paul said: “Harry and I love anything and everything bike related. We are entered into the 33km race as Harry said he wanted to challenge himself, as in his words ‘11km wouldn’t be a challenge for him and he wanted to raise BIG money!’ If he could he probably would have gone for the 52km but there is always next year! (And knowing Harry this will be his challenge next time!).”

The pair have been making sure to test their pedals before the big day, with Harry attending a weekly cycling club as well as training with his dad.

“Harry and I go out on Mondays for a long ride. He trains at his cycling club Dartmoor Velo (which I am a coach for) on a Wednesday and Saturday and often races on Sundays at Regional events. It’s such a great friendly sport where the support of the other club members gives it a real family feel.”

So far, Harry and his dad have raised £350 on their JustGiving page, completely smashing the £100 fundraising target! This means they have been entered into our draw to win an exciting prize!

To follow their fundraising journey click here.

Like many of our riders at our Tour de Moor, Paul and Harry may not have seen our care in action first hand, but they have seen the impact our care teams have in the local community.

“We have been fortunate enough not to be impacted by anyone in our family or friends needing the support of St Luke’s, but Harry wanted to raise money for a worthy charity. Since moving down here 6 years ago from London, we have heard and seen the great work St Luke’s provides for local people in their time of need. So many people raise money for charity after they have been affected by something which is amazing, but how amazing is it for an 8-year-old wanting to raise money for a charity that has not affected his life.”

Our Tour de Moor is sponsored by Print, Copy, Scan Ltd. Time is running out to sign up, with spaces limited, you only have until Wednesday 4 October to register, so sign up now and get ready to take on Dartmoor.

Don’t forget that your registration fee only covers the costs of us running the event – it’s the money you raise through donations and sponsorship that will help us continue providing compassionate end of life care, free of charge, for everyone in our community who needs it.

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BLOG: Born to ride – A New Year’s wish come true.

For many of our Tour de Moor riders, cycling is their passion and runs through their veins.

This is absolutely true for one of our younger riders, 8-year-old George Lake from Tavistock, who will be achieving his New Year’s wish on Sunday 8 October.

While many toddlers were learning to walk, George was learning to ride. George’s mum Anna Lake, recounts where his love of cycling first started. “He has been into cycling since he was old enough to toddle along on a balance bike – which was when he was about 18 months old! He now loves riding on the moors and going downhill riding at Gawton Gravity hub.”

No stranger to a challenge, George even recently competed in the South West XC series where he came third overall in the Under 8’s category.

Clearly no novice when it comes to cycling, George first heard about our Tour de Moor charity cycling event last year and knew straight away that he wanted to be part of the action this year. So much so, that when writing a list of things he wanted to achieve in 2023 at New Year, one of his wishes was to take part in Tour de Moor and raise money for St Luke’s while doing so.

George has already got his JustGiving page up and running, aiming to raise as much as possible so that we can continue to provide care and support to hundreds of people and their families who are going through the hardest of times.

While the family have not had to call upon our services previously, Anna has seen where St Luke’s sits within our local community and knows how important it is to support our services to prepare for whatever the future may hold.

“Although we don’t have an attachment to St Luke’s in a personal way, we recognise it’s a great local charity doing important work in our community and one day, we may need to call upon their support.”

George will be taking on the 33km route with his dad Matt, which this year has been revamped for an improved ride, featuring plenty of on and off road challenges to put his skills to the test.

During the summer holidays, George has been kickstarting his training in preparation for the event. Anna said: “George rides on the moors most weeks with his dad and over the coming weeks they’ll be doing some longer training rides in the run up to the big day!”

Like George, you don’t have to have witnessed our care first-hand to take part in our Tour de Moor. By taking part and fundraising for our care, you can ensure that yours and your loved ones’ futures are cared for, whatever they may hold.

The registration fee for our Tour de Moor, sponsored by Print, Copy, Scan Ltd, only covers the costs of running the event, which is why the money you raise in sponsorship means so much to us. If every Tour de Moor cyclist commits to raising at least £100, we’ll collectively have enough to care for 100 families at home at the most crucial of times.

What’s more if you raise over £100 in sponsorship and have paid it in by 26 November 2023 you will be entered into a draw to win an exciting prize! So don’t forget to set up your JustGiving page here and join the big-hearted bunch of cyclists taking on Dartmoor in October.

Register now and be part of something special.

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BLOG: Flete House – rare Open Garden event is rich in precious memories

Look behind the scenes at our Open Gardens fundraising events and you will often find individuals whose lives have been personally touched by St Luke’s.

When the magnificent Flete House, near Modbury, throws open its spectacular gardens and grounds exclusively to raise funds for us on Sunday 30 July, resident Adrian Wardle will be remembering the compassionate care his wife, Amanda Audley, received from our nursing team at home five years ago.

“Amanda was well looked after at Derriford Hospital, then she was able to have St Luke’s visit her at our home in South Brent. That was something you don’t forget,” said Adrian.

“It’s all very well having medical intervention but the personal help from St Luke’s carried a lot more weight and made her terminal illness more bearable. She had a very peaceful passing.”

A semi-retired publisher and expert on the history of the Grade I listed house and its equally impressive grounds, Adrian worked for more than two decades as deputy manager at Flete, where Amanda was the longstanding and much respected assistant housekeeper before she was diagnosed with breast cancer.

Adrian now lives in a flat on the ground floor at Flete with Pippin, the little tabby cat he and Amanda got a few months before her death. From there  he can enjoy every day the beautiful and eclectic vistas that are being shared, for one afternoon only, with St Luke’s supporters.

The 12 acres of Grade II listed and elegantly landscaped parkland grounds include the charming Italianate gardens, a well-stocked shrubbery, water gardens, and a host of impressive specimen trees that take pride of place on the garden map, not forgetting the panoramic views of the picturesque South Hams countryside beyond.

On the day itself, Adrian will be escorting a limited number of lucky visitors on a rare and fascinating guided tour of the grand reception rooms of the gothic styled house, home to the aristocratic Mildmay family from the late 1800s, which was designed to host distinguished guests, including royalty. The rest of the handsome building, parts of which date back to the 16th Century, is now divided into 29 private leasehold apartments.

The annual event, part of St Luke’s spring and summer Open Garden series sponsored by NFU Mutual Plymouth, is a golden opportunity for anyone who loves beautiful historic landscapes, but it has become something of a pilgrimage for people who took their first breaths at Flete House when it became Plymouth’s maternity hospital during the Second World War.

Adrian explained: “Lord Mildmay was only living in a corner of the house at the time. When Freedom Fields Hospital was bombed, he offered Flete House as a maternity hospital for the city. Around 11,000 babies were born there between 1941 and 1958 when the unit returned to a rebuilt Freedom Fields. People do love to come here to see where they were born.”

The gardens will be open from 12 noon to 5pm on Sunday 30 July, with plenty of parking available close by, toilets on site and guide dogs only allowed.Admission is £6 per person and under 16s go free. Teas, coffees and fresh homemade cakes will be served, and St Luke’s Compassionate Friends are bringing a pop-up stand where visitors can learn more about this initiative to support people who are bereaved. You’ll also find an exciting display of vintage cars on the driveway, courtesy of the MG Owners’ Club.

Wayne Marshall, St Luke’s Open Gardens Coordinator and New Partnerships Lead said: “We are so grateful to everyone at Flete House for giving us exclusive access to this stunning Devon estate, allowing visitors to experience the unique gardens and raise funds to support St Luke’s important work in the local community. We can’t wait to welcome everyone.”

Click here for more information on Open Gardens

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