30th October 2020

    Vicky’s creative art raises much needed cash for Pilgrims

    Vicky Thomas from Dover decided to turn her creative hands to help her local community and draw awareness to everyone in these difficult times we find ourselves in.  Her talent has raised a wonderful £350 for Pilgrims Hospices

    Vicky said: “This all started because people were putting rainbow drawings in their windows to support the NHS; my daughter wanted us to do it too, however our house is set back from the road so I decided to use a patio slab instead and put it out the front.

    “I had a few patio slabs left over from some building work, so decided to get creative and drew a  teddy bear with the slogan “apart but never alone” and put it at the end of our road which is a popular dog walking route, along with a Banksy style NHS nurse by the village pharmacy.

    “People seemed to really like them and things just took off!  I received a number of requests and suggestions from locals in the village and from people coming into the village to visit the slab trail. The village really got behind the whole idea and wanted to make sure that a good deal of the slabs remained in the village even after lock down.  The River Parish Council asked if they could keep some in exchange for a charitable donation which I thought was a great idea.

    35 handpicked slabs are now under lock and key waiting to be mounted in the recreation ground where they will hopefully remain.”

    Karen Kenward, Community Fundraising Manager said; “Vicky and the local community are providing ongoing donations which enable us to continue our important work.  We are still here and still caring for patients on our wards and in their homes, and will be there for the next person that needs us.

    “Their support is  so important during these challenging times. We cannot thank you all enough for every penny donated to support our care. Thank you Vicky for being so creative and thinking of us at such difficult times for all.”

    If you would like to take on a challenge in support of our charity, please contact: fundraising@pilgrimshospices.orgor call 01277 812609, we would love to hear from you.

    We need you more than ever, Thank you.


    Each year Pilgrims Hospices give care and comfort to over 2,500 people in east Kent coming to terms with an illness that sadly cannot be cured.  The charity supports patient’s to live life as well as possible until the very end, free from pain and distress.

    Care is provided from three hospice sites in Thanet, Canterbury and Ashford as well as in patients’ own homes.  To offer these services to patients and their families the charity must raise £11 million each year from the generous local community.

     

     

     

    19th October 2020

    Naomi’s long locks will raise vital funds for Pilgrims Hospices

    On 30th October Mayor of Hythe, Naomi Slade will be shaving her hair to raise money for Pilgrims Hospices in memory of her best friend Clare’s mum, Diane Bauckham.

    Diane was a volunteer at Pilgrims Hospice Ashford for nearly 10 years and was cared for by them at the end of her life. She had lived glamorously with breast cancer for 15 years.

    Naomi described Diane saying: “She always had such an air of grace about herself and was one of the most compassionate and caring people I’ve been lucky enough to know. She was never without her lipstick, wig (Dolly) and a flowing scarf to hide her spreading lumps. Through every stage of her illness, Diane always looked absolutely fabulous.

    Diane Bauckham

    “I don’t remember much of life without Diane’s daughter, Clare. We’ve grown up like sisters, with me having two unruly brothers and Clare as an only child, we’ve been there for each other through everything and I really don’t know where I would be without her. So I’ve never felt such heartache, as watching Clare losing her mum. There really are no words.

    “It made me realise just how important our hospices are and the need to fundraise, to help support the incredible work they do.”

     

    She always had such an air of grace about herself and was one of the most compassionate and caring people I’ve been lucky enough to know.

    Naomi

    Wendy Kelk, Pilgrims Hospices  Services Manager said: “Diane was a valued member of the reception team, we were lucky to have her volunteer for us and I was personally appreciative to her for her hard work and passion. Every week Diane would come along very neat with immaculate hair and fabulous clothes.  I would personally describe her as glamourous, her appearance meant a lot to her.  Diane was very dignified and a wonderful welcoming face to the visitors at the hospice.  When I heard about the head shave I thought it very fitting that someone was prepared to shave their head for Diane, when appearance meant so much to her.”

    Naomi will also be donating her hair to The Little Princess Trust, where along with other hair donations they are transformed into beautiful wigs. These are given for free to children and young people, who have lost their own hair through cancer treatment or other conditions.

    If you would like to donate to Naomi’s fundraiser you can do so  on her JustGiving page.


    Pilgrims Hospices cares for more than 2,500 local people each year, free of charge, during the most challenging time in their lives. They offer care and support in people’s own homes, in the community and in their inpatient units as well as running a 24-hour advice line.

     

     

     

    16th October 2020

    Pilgrims Hospices preview students artwork as part of HeArt of the City – Canterbury

    Canterbury Festival has joined forces with community groups, charities, schools, colleges, universities and artists to create a city-wide art exhibition during this year’s Festival. Taking place from 17 – 31 October, the HeArt of the City Arts Trail will celebrate creativity and highlight the important role it plays in health and wellbeing. Many of this year’s artworks were created as part of lockdown projects led by Kent organisations – connecting the community when it was at its most isolated.

    The Festival is thrilled to be working with so many local organisations and artists including Pilgrims Hospices, Catching Lives, L’Arche, Future Foundry, Canterbury College and many more.

    Over two weeks visit the King’s Mile Community Photo Exhibition and vote for your favourite image of Abstract Canterbury. Explore artworks created by Catching Lives including their lockdown Art & Wellbeing Box Project and Schools’ Competition.

    Pilgrims Hospices preview work created by local school children that will feature as part of What Makes You Unique? – a project that encourages young people to express their individuality. The digital screens at Whitefriars will display poems by the shortlisted poets of this year’s Canterbury Festival Under 18s Poetry Competition.

    L’Arche Kent will be exhibiting the work of clients celebrating the positive power of creativity. Bounce Vintage on St Peter’s Street celebrates Future Foundry’s waste-free fashion project Nothing to Waste (in a Pandemic) – innovative fashion concepts created by a plethora of artists from salvaged clothing.

    Canterbury School of Visual Arts at Canterbury College responds to the theme of Canterbury in an exhibition at 15-16 Guildhall Street, exploring the history and culture of the City. Animate Arts exhibit a floral piece made by children during lockdown as part of the Art Builder project and featured in a virtual reality film.

    HMV will be home to Filling the void, a collaboration between youth projects Neon After School Club, Motion Alpha Dance Company, Spires Academy and Kent based digital arts company Cybersaur Arts. Animate Arts will also exhibit a floral piece made by children during lockdown as part of the Art Builder project and featured in a virtual reality film.

    The programme widens with artists from across Kent exhibiting with Ceramic Art Dover, the Umbrella Centre, Espressions, Hersden Community Centre, Folkestone Museum, and the Dover SmArt Project participating with exhibitions in windows in Burgate, Longmarket and the High Street.

    Pick up a map outside of the Canterbury Festival office or download it from their website to start exploring the HeArt of the City Arts Trail. All artworks are exhibited in window spaces and will be available to view during daylight hours from 17 – 31 October. You can also share photos of your favourite artworks on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter by tagging #HeArtCanterbury

    Canterbury Festival would like to thank the generosity of participating artists, organisations, estate agents and landlords for making the HeArt of the City Arts Trail possible.

    For more information visit canterburyfestival.co.uk or call the Festival office on 01227 457568.

    www.canterburyfestival.co.uk 

     


    Pilgrims Hospices cares for more than 2,500 local people each year, free of charge, during the most challenging time in their lives. They offer care and support in people’s own homes, in the community and in their inpatient units as well as running a 24-hour advice line.

    13th October 2020

    Pilgrims Lottery pay tribute to collector David who passed away

    Shiralee Riddell, Pilgrims Lottery Manager said: “Unusual I know, as we are all about the win here at Pilgrims Hospices Lottery but today, I would like to pay tribute to someone we have lost, Mr David Gradus who sadly passed away last week at our hospice in Margate.

    “David was an integral part of our team here at Pilgrims Lottery and had supported Pilgrims Hospices for many years, meeting up with his Lottery members every month rain or shine for over 17 years.

    “He was an amazing chap and will be sadly missed by all who knew him. We are eternally grateful for all of his hard work, commitment and compassion across the years R.I.P Mr
    Gradus; a true gentleman.

    “Sincere, heartfelt condolences to Jackie and family.


    Care is provided from three hospice sites in Ashford, Canterbury and Thanet as well as in patients’ own homes.  To offer these services to patients and their families the charity must raise £11 million each year from the generous local community. 

    6th October 2020

    Facing Loss Support Group where all arrive as strangers but leave as friends

    Finding yourself bewildered and suffering waves of emotion and grief, after losing someone important in your life, is an enormous challenge for any one person.

    Pilgrims Hospices team of counsellors know only too well how overwhelming such dark times can be.   The team provide the opportunity for family and friends of hospice patients to share experiences with other people bereaved at a similar time; helping them to understand the impact of grief, and developing strategies to help cope in such difficult times.

    Earlier in the year, Pilgrims counsellors Louise Evans and Marion O’Donnell worked closely with members of their ‘Facing Loss’ support group, to provide a safe space to talk and share thoughts and experiences with others who are also coming to terms with loosing someone special.

    Although we are unable to meet as face to face groups at the moment, we are #Still Here Still Caring and providing the ‘Facing Loss’ bereavement support as a virtual group,  via Zoom calls, until it is safer for us to be with our group users again

    Marion – Counsellor

    The group has remained in touch by creating a What’s App group and recently met up for a teddy bear’s picnic in St. Augustine’s Priory, Bilsington where social distancing is carried out.  Sadly due to weather they had to go inside but it certainly never stopped them enjoying each other’s company.

    Marion told us: “It was clear to see the group truly made a wonderful connection and even after the sessions were finished, they continue to support each other with their What’s App group along with meeting up for picnics, lunches and more recently a Birthday celebration.  Hopefully when social distancing is a little more relaxed, their coffee stops in a garden centre will resume.”

    Sara Barton-Dodson, a support group user said: “My husband Steve passed away in August 2019 whilst in Pilgrims Hospices care at Ashford.  He had seen Marion in one to one therapy sessions, therefore I had already met her and knew how counselling had been of benefit to Steve during his treatment for terminal cancer.

    “Marion invited me to join the ‘Facing Loss’ group;  I knew it would be a good support network for me when coping with the loss of my husband.

    “Steve was just 59 years old when he passed away, he had been fighting his cancer for three years.  I made a promise to him that I would always stay safe and the ‘Facing Loss’ support group has helped me to do just that.

    The group really helped to make a positive difference for me, within our small group, we’ve made firm connections and friendships; I’ve most definitely found many benefits in sharing experiences

    Sara Barton-Dodson

    “The groups are held at the hospices in Canterbury, Ashford and Thanet.  I found them a welcome opportunity to share thoughts and conversations with people who had also lost loved ones.  The benefits of talking, sharing your feelings and experiences was like lifting a weight from my shoulders.

    “After Steve passed away, people would often say how well I looked; all I really wanted to do was dissolve in to tears, I felt dreadful, it was a completely devastating time.   Coming to the group sessions has helped me to become much stronger; cry when I need to and, laugh out loud too!

    “Marion and Louise were quite wonderful, with a wealth of knowledge and understanding, they helped all of us to develop coping techniques to guide us through difficult times.

    “As the friendships in the group developed we shared photographs of our loved ones, which allowed everyone to know a little more about those loved ones lost.

    “The group really helped to make a positive difference for me, within our small group, we’ve made firm connections and friendships; I’ve most definitely found many benefits in sharing experiences.”

    Marion added: “Although we are unable to meet as face to face groups at the moment, we are #Still Here Still Caring and providing the ‘Facing Loss’ bereavement support as a virtual group,  via Zoom calls, until it is safer for us to be with our group users again.”


    Care is provided from three hospice sites in Ashford, Canterbury and Thanet as well as in patients’ own homes. To offer these services to patients and their families the charity must raise £11 million each year from the generous local community.

    This is what it takes to provide hospice care for the people of east Kent

    Hospice Care Week 5 – 11 October 2020

    Hospice Care Week is an annual opportunity for the UK’s 200+ hospices to showcase the incredible work they do.  This year, with COVID-19 restrictions limiting our face-to-face events, Pilgrims decided to make a film to show just what it takes to provide hospice care for the people of east Kent.

    We hope this film shows the breadth of our services,  helps to overcome the taboo that still exists around discussing death and dying  and shows the dedication of our workforce and volunteers.

    If you ask people what they understand about hospice care, most will refer to our wards where we look after people at the very end of their lives.  This is certainly a key part of what we do, but we do so much more.

    Hospice Care Week might look a little different this year, but the 200+ hospices throughout the UK know that is all the more reason to recognise and celebrate the incredible work that they do.

    Pilgrims Hospices care is far more than just buildings where people go to die.  Much of the care happens in people’s homes and within the community.  When Pilgrims care for someone at the end of their life, they are helping them to make adjustments and changes, learn to live with their illness, manage symptoms and live well in every moment.

    The challenging times of COVID-19 have captured headline news for all organisations across the country and the world, it brings challenges to the charity’s care and resources too.  The nurses and staff on the wards continue to provide 24-hour nursing care for those who need a bed on one of the hospice wards.  While the community teams remain at the heart of the community, supporting patients and their families to be cared for at home if this is their wish.

    Underpinning Pilgrims care are a team of occupational therapists, counsellors, physiotherapists, and many more who support patients to understand their conditions and provide the necessary equipment and techniques to manage pain, breathlessness and anxiety to support their quality of life.

    We have 1,500 volunteers dedicating around 150,000 hours per year which makes a significant difference to our services.  They make a contribution in around 30 different roles across our services which include retail, administration and fundraising.  We celebrate their dedication and work to offer them the best volunteer experience with Pilgrims Hospices.

    Jeff Southon – Volunteer Services Manager

     

    Jeff Southon – Volunteer Services Manager

     

    Pilgrims Hospices community is wide and diverse; supporting the front line clinical team are researchers, catering, retail, domestic, education, fundraisers, administration teams and the most amazing support of 1,500 volunteers.  The charity supports over 2,500 patients each year coping with life-limiting illnesses.

    Recently Pilgrims Hospices have developed and adapted their services to provide continued support even when the pandemic has restricted face to face services.  They have overcome the challenges and offer a business as usual service via online technology, telephone and YouTube where there’s access to many support videos which include fitness, wellbeing and creativity.

    The range of care which included complementary therapy the nurses and occupational therapy allowed Ann to fulfil her wish to stay at home.

    Kate Love – Volunteer and service user

     

    Kate Love – Volunteer and service user

     

    As a celebration of all the work that goes on every day of the year; Pilgrims has compiled a video of just some of the incredible people that help the charity to be there for anyone who needs their specialist care in east Kent.  You can watch on Pilgrims Hospices website.

    Mandy Williams, Pilgrims Head of Education, who narrates the project said: “We felt it was important that people know we offer far more than just a hospice bed or a place to die.

    The video is a small insight into the work of so many compassionate

    people, whether as an employee of the charity or as a much valued volunteer.

    “We hope you will watch and enjoy our celebration of the work Pilgrims Hospices does in east Kent.

    “We are dedicated to providing quality comfort and care for our patients, and support for families and friends when a loved one has died.”


    Each year Pilgrims Hospices give care and comfort to over 2,500 people in east Kent who are coming to terms with an illness that sadly cannot be cured.  The charity support patients to live life as well as possible until the very end, free from pain and distress. 

     

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