Big-hearted Citybus Plymouth backs local hospice care
Community-spirited Citybus Plymouth is helping St Luke’s Hospice Plymouth keep the wheels of our vital service turning by showing support in our 40th anniversary year.
With yesterday, 25 January, marking the day that 40 years ago we welcomed our first patients, Plymouth Citybus unveiled the bus it has decked out in St Luke’s branding to highlight our charity reaching such a special milestone.
Featuring some of the friendly faces of St Luke’s team, and the message of the hospice providing compassionate care for the community for 40 years, the bus will cover routes across the city throughout the year.
From humble beginnings at Syrena House in Plymstock to the multidisciplinary service we provide today, looking after terminally ill people at home, in hospital and at Turnchapel, St Luke’s cares for up to 300 patients at any given time and supports their families, too. We can do this at no cost to those we help, thanks to local individuals and organisations who fundraise, donate and volunteer to help keep our service going.
Support from local businesses is critical to ensuring St Luke’s resilience so we can reach more people who desperately need specialist care at the end of their lives.
Richard Stevens, Managing Director of Plymouth Citybus said: “Many of our team members and customers have been touched by St Luke’s in one way or another. Branding the bus for the charity is our way of saying thank you for superb care given and helping to make sure the whole city is aware of the brilliant work St Luke’s has done over the past 40 years.”
Steve Statham, Chief Executive of St Luke’s, said: “A big thank-you to Plymouth Citybus. Our eye-catching branded bus will raise more awareness of St Luke’s specialist service and the support from our community that makes it possible. The more local businesses who get behind our charity, the more families we can help over the next 40 years and beyond.”
https://www.stlukes-hospice.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/BUS-BLOG.jpg7731030Gabby Notthttps://www.stlukes-hospice.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/st-lukes-hospice-plymouth.svgGabby Nott2022-01-26 16:37:502022-01-27 09:14:33BLOG: Big-hearted Citybus Plymouth backs local hospice care
Proud to reach our 40th anniversary today, we couldn’t let such a special milestone pass by without saying a HUGE thank-you to all our supporters, as loyal now as you have always been.
From welcoming our first patients to Syrena House in Plymstock on this day in 1982 to our service of today, looking after people at home, in hospital and at Turnchapel, we simply couldn’t do as much as we do, as well as we do it, without the unwavering kindness of our community.
Your hearts full of compassion got St Luke’s started and they still keep us going.
We’ve launched Men’s Day Out, one of our flagship fundraising events, inviting men to gather together outdoors and go the extra mile to do good for local families going through the toughest of times.
Men’s Day Out is one of the city’s most iconic annual charity events. It raises vital funds to support the compassionate care our hospice provides for terminally ill people 365 days a year at home, in hospital and at our specialist unit at Turnchapel.
Walking in memory of loved ones no longer with them, who will never be forgotten
Places for Men’s Day Out on Saturday 23 April are expected to sell out quickly. This is due to the popularity of the event, which sees hundreds of men walking a 12km route that starts and finishes at Plymouth Albion RFC. The sponsored walk through the city’s streets and along the waterfront takes in sights such as Plymouth Hoe and the Barbican. Many of the men walk in memory of loved ones no longer with them, who will never be forgotten.
Sponsored by local company Jem Scaffolding Limited, Men’s Day Out is renowned for being a day of fun and banter. Those taking part will enjoy a pasty and a beer as well as a not-to-be-missed clash between the home team and Taunton Titans.
Registration for the event is £35. This covers logistical costs including a t-shirt, pasty, beer and entry to the rugby match.
“We could not do what we do as well as we do it without the support of the big-hearted community around us”
Nina Wearne, Partnerships Manager at St Luke’s, said: “Whether you take part in Men’s Day Out as a personal challenge or to celebrate the life of someone special, and whether you do it for the first time or as an event you enjoy every year, what matters is just that you walk.
“While St Luke’s gives specialist end of life care, free of charge to patients, this does not come cheap to our charity. We could not do what we do as well as we do it without the support of the big-hearted community around us. Being part of Men’s Day Out is a fantastic way to have loads of fun while making an important difference to local families who would otherwise miss out on the specialist care and support they need.”
https://www.stlukes-hospice.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/MDO-22-BLOG.jpg7731030Gabby Notthttps://www.stlukes-hospice.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/st-lukes-hospice-plymouth.svgGabby Nott2022-01-21 09:00:272022-01-21 10:22:08Men’s Day Out: The power of hundreds of men on the move
On 25 January 2022, it will be the St Luke’s 40th anniversary. A whole 40 years since we welcomed our first patients. Our charity heralded the arrival of a completely new concept for the city – specialist care for terminally ill people as in-patients in a home-from-home environment, rather than in hospital, to ensure their comfort and dignity at the end of their lives. From this, grew the St Luke’s of today, looking after the majority of patients at home and at University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust, with only those with the most complex symptoms needing admission to Turnchapel.
What has not changed since its beginnings though, is our need to rely on the community to keep providing our specialist services at no cost. That’s why, as well as reflecting on four decades of compassionate care, we are using our 40th anniversary to express heartfelt thanks to all our supporters for their support.
“Quite simply though, we would never have come into existence – let alone still be helping local families four decades on – without the unstinting support we receive from the community around us.” – Current CEO, Steve Statham
Cancellation of St Luke’s Light Up a Life services, 14 December 2021
A message from St Luke’s Head of Fundraising, Penny Hannah
With confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Plymouth rising above the UK average, plus current uncertainty around the likely impact of the new variant Omicron, we have taken the decision to cancel our three Light up a Life remembrance services scheduled for 14 December at the Minster Church of St Andrew, Plymouth.
We are making this announcement now as we feel it is more respectful to our supporters than calling off these popular events more last minute.
While we understand how disappointing this news will be for everyone who was looking forward to joining us at the services, and we are sad not to be alongside them in person, we feel it is the right thing to do in order to protect them and their families as well as our nurses, other staff and volunteers who take part in Light up a Life. As a healthcare organisation looking after the most vulnerable people, it would be highly irresponsible for us to run the risk of these members of our team becoming infected at the event, which could then mean patients contracting COVID-19, too.
For everyone who would like to celebrate the life of a lost loved at this special time of year, there is still the opportunity to pay tribute to their friend or relative online here as part of our Light up a Life appeal. In dedicating a virtual bauble as a symbol of their love, they will be supporting local families who desperately need our compassionate care and support this Christmas.
Thank you for your understanding and your continued support for St Luke’s, which is so appreciated.
https://www.stlukes-hospice.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/LUAL-SERVICE-UPDATE-BLOG.jpg7731030Gabby Notthttps://www.stlukes-hospice.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/st-lukes-hospice-plymouth.svgGabby Nott2021-12-02 10:30:152021-12-02 10:30:15BLOG: Cancellation of St Luke’s Light Up a Life services, 14 December 2021
For people finding the run-up to Christmas anything but festive because they’re missing someone special who has died, the Light up a Life remembrance services organised by a much-loved local charity could help bring comfort and light.
The annual Light up a Life services run by St Luke’s Hospice Plymouth are for anyone who has been bereaved, whether recently or years ago, and regardless of whether the hospice was involved in the care of the person who passed away. They are an opportunity for bereaved people to come together with others in similar circumstances to celebrate the life of their lost loved ones and reflect on memories they treasure.
Sponsored by Western Power Distribution, this year’s services are taking place at the Minster of St Andrew’s, Plymouth, on Tuesday 14 December, at 2pm, 5.30pm and 7.30pm. These non-religious events are free of charge to attend and there is no need to book.
Jutta Widlake, Head of Social Care at St Luke’s, said: “While Christmas is a special time, we know it can often be tinged with sadness when you’ve lost someone close. If this sounds like you, please remember you are not alone. We warmly invite everyone who wants to join us to our Light up a Life services – not only families of people who received our care before they died but anyone who has been bereaved. We find that many people choose to attend every year because the services are so joyous and uplifting.”
“Even if you cannot attend in person, you don’t need to miss out. From the comfort of your own home, you can watch the recording on our website a few days after the event.”
As is annual tradition, hospice volunteers and keen runners will carry a lit torch all the way from St Luke’s specialist unit at Turnchapel to St Andrew’s to light the large candles inside. Due to safety measures St Luke’s is putting in place to help protect service attendees from COVID-19, members of the congregation will not be given candles to hold this year, nor will teas and coffees be provided after the services.
To help the charity continue its vital service looking after terminally ill people across the community and supporting the families around them, there will be an opportunity to give voluntary donations on the day, or online on St Luke’s website.
It is estimated that over the Christmas week, around 300 patients will be receiving specialist end of life care from St Luke’s. Donations from the community raised by these events support terminally ill people wherever they wish to be cared for – in their homes, at Derriford Hospital or at Turnchapel.
https://www.stlukes-hospice.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/LUAL-BLOG-21.jpg7731030Gabby Notthttps://www.stlukes-hospice.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/st-lukes-hospice-plymouth.svgGabby Nott2021-11-26 10:45:272021-11-26 10:45:27PR: Bringing light to bereaved people during the festive season
St Luke’s supporter Angie shares her story about her Dad, Clive, and how important St Luke’s was to her family…
“St Luke’s looked after my Dad, Clive, wonderfully at the end of his life 30 years ago, and I don’t know how our family would have coped without them.
“Dad was such a lovely man, very easy-going and jolly. He was an electrician and when he went self-employed, I did his typing for him, which meant we were together more and grew even closer. I have fond memories of the caravanning holidays we used to have, too – Mum, Dad and me and my siblings, Julie, Paul and Carol, all together.
“When Dad became short of breath doing simple things, we insisted he went for tests. When they revealed he had asbestosis it was devastating because it’s so serious and there’s no known cure.
“Seeing his condition deteriorate was really tough, and it was harder still when he became so poorly that he needed end of life care. There were such mixed emotions for our family because this was all happening while I was pregnant and me and my husband Colin were excited to be having our first child.
“Everyone was so friendly, his room had beautiful views”
“Hearing the word ‘hospice’ felt frightening. You can’t help imagining a depressing place, but to our relief St Luke’s specialist unit wasn’t like that at all. It was shortly before Christmas when Dad went in, and straight away, we knew he was in safe hands. Everyone was so friendly, his room had beautiful views and mum could stay by his side.
“St Luke’s were so kind and when Christmas Day came, they arranged for Dad to be at home with us for a couple of hours. He was very weak by then and stayed on the sofa, but it meant the world to him – and the whole family – that we could have that last Christmas together. It was the best gift we could have received.
“Just a week later, I went into labour and Mum accompanied me to the hospital – and, after I’d given birth, she raced back to Dad to tell him the happy news.
“Sadly, it was just a few hours later that Dad died and though it was heart-breaking that he never got to meet our new arrival, it has always comforted me that he lived long enough to hear the wonderful news of his birth.
“I’ll never forget the special man my Dad was, and the way St Luke’s helped us all at such a difficult time.”
“I’ll never forget the special man my Dad was, and the way St Luke’s helped us all at such a difficult time. Colin and I decided to call our son Luke, partly because the name couldn’t be shortened but also because I think, subliminally, I associated the name with the great kindness our family received from the hospice team.
“Luke is 30 now, doing well in his career and about to get married. I know Dad and Mum, who died just 18 months after him, would be so proud of Luke and our other children Jake and Tillie. We keep their grandparents’ memory alive, and we do whatever we can to support St Luke’s to say thank-you for making such an important difference.”
Were you touched by Angie’s story? During the festive season, we reach out to the families of our patients, allowing them to tell their stories of care at St Luke’s to people like you. If you’d like to help us continue to deliver our compassionate care, please consider donating to our Light up a Life campaign.
https://www.stlukes-hospice.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/LUAL21-BLOG-HEADER.jpg7731030Gabby Notthttps://www.stlukes-hospice.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/st-lukes-hospice-plymouth.svgGabby Nott2021-10-21 15:18:212021-10-21 15:18:21BLOG: Light up a Life – Angie’s story
Recognising three decades of volunteering dedication
“It doesn’t seem that long – I can’t quite believe it!”
They say time flies when you’re enjoying yourself and that is just how Saltash charity shop volunteer Jackie Taylor feels about clocking up an incredible 30 years as part of the store’s hardworking team.
Jackie, who is 80, lives in the town with her husband and has four children and nine grandchildren. Explaining what drew her to volunteer with our charity after moving to Saltash from London, she said: “I had a breast cancer scare and although I turned out to be okay, it got me thinking that one day I might be one of the ones who needs St Luke’s. Also, I’d worked as a nurse in London so there was an affinity there as well.
“I always look forward to my two mornings a week at the shop. I’m happy doing whatever is needed, whether it’s being on the till, steaming clothes and tagging them, or doing the dusting.
“It’s great being part of such a super team.”
“Hayley is a lovely manager, and it’s great being part of such a super team with people who are all so dedicated. I love meeting the customers, too. It’s never about hard selling – they’re there because they want to be, and I enjoy chatting with them as they browse around.
“Of course, being a volunteer all this time I’ve seen lots of changes, including the shop moving from the bottom of the town to the top and back again. What has stayed the same though, is the compassion St Luke’s has for everyone who needs them. It feels good to contribute to a charity that makes such an important difference in the community.”
As part of recognising Jackie’s special milestone, Saltash Shop Manager Hayley Pollard put on a celebratory tea, with Head of Retail Mike Picken and Retail Area Manager John Saunders calling in to say a special thank-you, too.
Hayley said: “Making sure the shop runs smoothly is a real team effort and we couldn’t do it without our volunteers who so kindly give their time and skills. I started as a volunteer myself – on the same day as Jackie in fact, so we’ve known each other a very long time. She’s committed and focussed, and nothing is too much trouble. I can only describe her as a complete superstar!”
Thank you, Jackie, for everything you do for our charity – it is so appreciated.
https://www.stlukes-hospice.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/JACKIE-BLOG.jpg7731030Gabby Notthttps://www.stlukes-hospice.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/st-lukes-hospice-plymouth.svgGabby Nott2021-10-21 11:57:572021-10-21 11:57:57BLOG: Recognising three decades of volunteering dedication
For our friendly team of drivers who carry out furniture collection from people’s homes so it can be sold in our charity shops, it’s a job that involves more than the muscle they use to do the heavy lifting.
With six years’ service, Mark Stansbury is the longest-serving van driver in the collection team covering Plymouth, South West Devon and East Cornwall. During that time he has visited hundreds of homes across these areas, picking up furniture from people not only keen to clear space in their houses but to support local hospice care, too.
“I often hear anecdotes that highlight the great compassion and respect St Luke’s has for everyone in their care.”
One of seven drivers in the team, he said: “Not everyone we collect from has had personal experience of St Luke’s, but many have. It is always heart-warming when they share their memories of a family member or friend looked after by the hospice team, and I often hear anecdotes that highlight the great compassion and respect St Luke’s has for everyone in their care.
“Sometimes – particularly if the person has recently been bereaved – you can see them struggling emotionally. I’m prepared for that and mindful that the items they’re donating might have belonged to the person who has died.
“Recently, my colleague Bob and I made a call to a man in Ivybridge. Straight away, I could see he was upset, and when he explained that his mother had died just a few days before and that he had the difficult job of clearing out her house before the owner wanted it back, my heart went out to him.
“I listened as he spoke very movingly about his mum and how well she had been looked after by St Luke’s, first at University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust and then at home, where she passed away. We had a bit of general chat, too, and by the time we left him, I could see his spirits lifting.
“The aftercare our charity provides is there to make sure people who are grieving have the listening ear and emotional support they need.”
“I didn’t want to leave it there, though, because it was obvious he was going through a very difficult time. The aftercare our charity provides is there to make sure people who are grieving have the listening ear and emotional support they need. So, I spoke about it with my manager Becky Lugg and with Retail Area Manager John Saunders and we were able to arrange for a colleague from St Luke’s Social Care team to get in touch with him.
“It felt good knowing I’d helped, not only in a practical way by collecting the furniture but by showing him some kindness and reminding him that he wasn’t alone.”
St Luke’s furniture collection service is available between 9am and 4pm, Tuesday to Saturday. Click here for booking details.
https://www.stlukes-hospice.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Furniture-Collection-INTRANET.jpg467800Gabby Notthttps://www.stlukes-hospice.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/st-lukes-hospice-plymouth.svgGabby Nott2021-10-19 11:45:282021-10-19 13:20:30BLOG: Furniture Collection with compassion
Acceptance and understanding bring light to couple in their darkest time
“It was a safe place during a dark time. Somewhere we could be ourselves and spend precious time together.”
When someone is nearing the end of their life, it matters more than ever that they should be with those dearest to them, but – as revealed by research carried out by the Care Quality Commission* – for some LGBTQ+ people with terminal illness the reality is that they encounter discrimination and lack of understanding at a time when they most need acceptance and support. This Hospice Care Week (4 – 8 October), a Plymouth man is sharing his story to demonstrate what high-calibre hospice care looks like when you are part of a gay couple, and the important difference it makes.
When retail manager Pete Richards met accountant Richard Shaw in 2012, their instant connection saw the two quickly become inseparable, moving in together, enjoying holidays in far-flung destinations and relishing time spent with friends and family, including their two young nephews, aged 6 and 4.
The couple’s active lifestyle included regular walks along the coast and in the countryside, plus daily visits to the gym for health-conscious Richard, who Pete describes as ‘the perfect gentleman – always impeccably turned out’.
Then, at Easter 2019, came devastating news that changed everything, when tests revealed that Richard aged 36 had a brain tumour. A gruelling regime of medical treatment followed, including chemotherapy, but could not halt the growth of the tumour and eventually, Richard made the difficult decision not to undergo further treatment.
Pete said: “Our focus was on making things easier, ensuring he was comfortable and being able to enjoy the time we had left together – that’s why getting him into St Luke’s specialist unit at Turnchapel made sense. Not only are the doctors and nurses experts in end of life care, it’s local so it was really easy for me and our family and friends to visit. Rich was such a sociable person and he loved having us all around him.
“It was such a relief to find that the hospice was not at all like the dark place I’d been expecting. There was a feeling of great warmth, and Rich had a lovely big room with spectacular views of the Hoe.
“What really meant so much to us both was that we didn’t have to hide our sexuality. Even though this is the 21st century, I was anxious I might have to pretend to be Richard’s friend instead of his partner, but we were immediately accepted as a couple and received nothing but kindness and support from everyone at St Luke’s. I could lie next to Richard and cuddle him without worrying what anyone was thinking.”
Importantly, too, Turnchapel was a place Richard and Pete felt comfortable for their nephews Charlie and Matthew to visit – not only because of the playroom full of toys and the space for them to run around but because through our Patches scheme, providing bespoke, age-appropriate support for young children facing the loss of someone close. Our Family and Children’s Support Worker Lisa was there to involve the boys in fun activities as well as gently preparing them for the changes they would see in their uncle.
Pete said: “Rich adored watching the boys play and just seeing them be happy, and Lisa was amazing all the way through. She helped Charlie and Matthew process what was happening, and even after Rich died she visited them at home.
“The other staff were really kind, too, wheeling Rich’s bed into the garden on sunny days and making us cups of tea. One nurse in particular, Anca, stood out to me. She would give Rich these hand massages that would put him to sleep. Little touches like that made such a difference.
“Rich was at St Luke’s about four weeks and I’m forever grateful that when he died it was with the people he loved most in the world around him. We were all there, holding his hands.
“Losing my partner, who was such a lovely, lovely guy, has been heart-breaking, but everything St Luke’s did for us made that final chapter a little bit easier. From day one, Rich and I were welcomed, loved and respected by the team just as much as anyone else and that compassion never wavered. They were even there in the church for Rich’s funeral, supporting us.
“Everybody, regardless of background or circumstances, deserves to die with dignity surrounded by those they love and that’s why I feel I owe St Luke’s a debt for helping Rich, me and our family, bringing light to us in our darkest time.”
https://www.stlukes-hospice.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Pete-Richards-Blog-Header.jpg7731030Gabby Notthttps://www.stlukes-hospice.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/st-lukes-hospice-plymouth.svgGabby Nott2021-10-03 09:00:272021-10-04 10:54:59BLOG: Acceptance and understanding bring light to couple in their darkest time
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