A big Pilgrims Hospices thank you to the The Hospital Saturday Fund
At its heart, Pilgrims Hospices is dedicated to ensuring people living with a terminal illness can access the quality care and comfort they deserve, so it is with deep gratitude that we have been awarded another amazing grant from The Hospital Saturday Fund, which has been used to purchase an Ocean VIP Shower Chair for use on the inpatient unit at Pilgrims Hospice Thanet.
To manage many of the symptoms of an incurable disease, Pilgrims aims to be able to provide the best equipment to its patients. We need to guarantee that our patients’ care and comfort is uppermost. This is one of the main costs associated with our work; as specialist equipment is expensive to purchase and is well-used.
This vital piece of equipment is already being used on a regular basis to move our patients safely from their beds to the toilet/shower with extra gentle care and dignity. The shower chair is also helping to reduce physical strain on the clinical teams’ necks and backs when moving patients.
We’re so grateful to The Hospital Saturday Fund for choosing to support Pilgrims Hospices once again, and helping to ensure we remain here for our patients and their families, now and in the future. Together, we make a difference.
Thank you!
Pictured below: Occupational therapists from Pilgrims Hospice Thanet with the new shower chair
Each year, Pilgrims Hospices give care and comfort to thousands of 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.
27th April 2022
Barry’s super beard shave for Pilgrims Hospices
Barry Ash from Hawkinge, near Folkestone, set out to raise £5,000 for Pilgrims Hospices by completing a superhero-themed beard shave on Saturday 23 April 2022.
Barry with his mum, Carole
Barry is fundraising in memory of his mum, Carole, who was cared for at the Canterbury hospice in January 2022. Carole was from West Hougham, near Dover, where she lived with Barry’s dad, John.
Inspired by the support his family received, Barry wants to give back to the local charity so that others can benefit from its vital, compassionate care.
Barry said: “From the moment Mum was referred to Pilgrims, the care was outstanding – from pain management, to her personal care, including brushing her hair and teeth, to our care as a family. They spoke to us about what Mum was going through, and reassured us so we weren’t scared of what was going to happen. Staff were always on hand to answer any questions we had.
“I used to think that Pilgrims was just a place to die, but now I see a much bigger picture; they care for everyone, both patients and families, and so much more.”
Laura and Barry as Wonder Woman and Superman
Barry and his wife, Laura, love all things superheroes. To say thank you for the care Carole received, they organised a themed fundraiser – on Saturday 23 April 2022, Barry dressed as Superman and had his beard shaved off outside Get Ready Comics in Rochester. Paul Blakeborough, who owns the shop, and his team, helped to organise the day. Barry’s wife, Laura, joined him as Wonder Woman.
Barry continued: “This was a chance to raise money for Pilgrims, have some fun and bring smiles to people’s faces at the same time. Mum knew what we were planning; she loved the idea and we know she was smiling down on us on the day.
“We started off walking up and down the high street and the reactions were just awesome; not just from kids, but from their parents as well. Everyone wanted a picture with us! They asked what we were doing, and as soon as I said that we were raising money and awareness for Pilgrims everyone put their hands into their pockets and gave what they could. It was so nice.
“The beard shave started at 12:30; Shayne Kingham was the kind man who gave up his time to do the deed.”
Barry and Laura have raised £4,175 of his target thanks to the generosity of work clients, friends, family and members of the public, and his JustGiving page will remain open for further donations now that he has completed his challenge.
He hopes that alongside raising money, he has also increased awareness of Pilgrims’ services within the community.
Barry and Laura with Carole
He added: “They say that you remember people by how they made you feel. The staff and nurses at the Canterbury hospice left a long-lasting impression; we are full of gratitude and thankfulness for everything they did for us in the final stages of Mum’s illness.
“The kindness we were all shown in Mum’s last few days was phenomenal; it is something we will never forget.”
Each year, Pilgrims Hospices give care and comfort to thousands of 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.
25th April 2022
Pilgrims Hospices launches new supporter club after success of emergency COVID-19 appeal
It has been an unexpectedly difficult time for Pilgrims Hospices, as it has for many. When the pandemic began, the local hospice charity had to ask most of its volunteers to stay at home, close its shops, cancel or postpone many fundraising activities, and stop its Lottery door collections.
Ellie Cane, Individual Giving Officer, said: “Our vital work did not stop, and it has only been with our community’s help that we have continued providing compassionate care and support at our three hospices and in the community.”
In May 2020, Pilgrims launched an emergency appeal, Still Here, Still Caring, to help bring in funds to ensure it could continue providing care and support to the people of east Kent throughout the pandemic.
Ellie added: “I’d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who supported the Still Here, Still Caring appeal. Our local community demonstrated what an incredible force they are; since the start of the pandemic, they helped us raise over £324,000! This amazing amount is enough to fully fund our community teams for over two and a half months.”
Being able to predict and have assurance in our income is the only way that we can continue to deliver the best possible care. This is why I’m delighted to share that we are launching Pilgrims Hospices Always Caring, a committed supporter club that, through regular direct debit donations, makes an impact every day
Ellie Cane, Individual Giving Officer
Now, almost two years on from when the pandemic began, Pilgrims further recognises the importance of monthly, regular support.
Ellie continued: “Being able to predict and have assurance in our income is the only way that we can continue to deliver the best possible care. This is why I’m delighted to share that we are launching Pilgrims Hospices Always Caring, a committed supporter club that, through regular direct debit donations, makes an impact every day, securing Pilgrims care for future generations.
“By joining this exclusive club, those who are able to support Pilgrims in this way will be helping us continue to provide our expert care and support to families across east Kent, now and in the future. We will know that no matter what we face, we can get through it, together.”
Each year, Pilgrims Hospices give care and comfort to thousands of 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.
14th April 2022
Sponsor a Nurse appeal
None of us know when we might need hospice care, but your support has helped ensure we can continue to be here at the most difficult time in people’s lives.
Being faced with an illness that cannot be cured is something none of us want to think about, but we do all want to know that there will be someone to help us should we need them.
Since 2013, the Sponsor a Nurse appeal has raised an incredible £248,000 to support the care that Pilgrims Hospices offers.
Working within the hospice environment and meeting patients opens your eyes to what passion, empathy, dignity and respect truly mean. Working at Pilgrims gives us all time to appreciate what we have in our own lives, and puts the preciousness of life into perspective.
Beverley Allen, Community Registered General Nurse, Pilgrims Hospice Ashford
We take the time to listen
Sarah Martins
When a patient is referred to Pilgrims, we take the time to listen to and talk with them to find out what worries them most. We know that every patient is unique and we tailor all our care to what works best for them.
“I consider myself very privileged to support patients and their families at end of life; it underpins all that nursing is for me. We know that we can’t change the destination but we can change the journey.
Time, patience, specialist knowledge and humour keep us connected to our patients. We respect them as individuals and are able to connect on a human level, we give the care we would want and expect our loved ones to receive if they needed it and that is nearly all funded by the amazing general public.”
Sarah Martins, Senior Ward Sister, Pilgrims Hospice Canterbury
Bringing nurses to the bedside
Mandy Timms
Because we believe that everyone has the right to care, comfort, compassion and dignity in their final days, weeks, months or years, we provide all of our care free of charge.
“Pilgrims is a wonderful organisation to work for and I feel very privileged to come to work here every day. My role is so varied, involving community, clinic and home visits, and I never know what each day will bring. It is humbling spending time with patients who open their hearts and allow us to accompany them on their journeys.”
Mandy Timms, Advanced Nurse Practitioner
Giving the gift of care
Pilgrims is here so that patients do not come to their end-of-life journeys in pain or distress.
By sponsoring a nurse, our supporters have helped to ease pain, offer comfort, provide reassurance and help someone live their life to the full in the time that they have.
We support the whole person’s wellbeing to help them really live their last days. We treat people as individuals by offering them choices.
If you would like to continue supporting Pilgrims nurses, you can do so by joining Always Caring, a club of committed supporters who choose to make regular, monthly donations to Pilgrims Hospices.
Each year, Pilgrims Hospices give care and comfort to thousands of 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.
13th April 2022
Karen says a fond farewell to Pilgrims after 21-year hospice nursing career
Karen Mowat from Ashford has enjoyed a 21-year nursing career at Pilgrims Hospices.
She will leave her role as Senior Ward Sister at the Ashford hospice in April 2022.
Upon joining the charity in 2001, Karen worked as a palliative specialist nurse on the ward and also did some night shifts, supporting patients directly and answering the phones, before progressing to a leadership role.
She reflects fondly on her time at Pilgrims and shares what she has loved most about working for the local hospice charity.
Karen said: “I originally wanted to be a secondary school teacher, but when I was 17, my nan (who I was living with at the time) developed Motor Neurone Disease, so I unexpectedly became her carer whilst I was still at college.
“When she died, I had a rethink about what I wanted to do; I got a job in a nursing home and found that I really enjoyed caring for vulnerable people and feeling like I could make a difference to help improve their quality of life, so I applied to do my nurse training.”
For me, nursing has always been about showing compassion and empathy, and treating patients and families how I would want to be treated.
Karen
Karen qualified as a nurse in 1995; she worked in trauma and orthopaedics at Guy’s Hospital, London for several years, and then as a community nurse in Battersea where she developed an interest in palliative care.
She continued: “For me, nursing has always been about showing compassion and empathy, and treating patients and families how I would want to be treated. In the community, I looked after people with terminal illnesses in their own homes. We worked in collaboration with the local hospice, and I started to think that hospice nursing was what I wanted to do.”
When Karen and her husband, Ryan, moved to Ashford in February 2001, she heard that the Ashford hospice had recently opened and enquired about nursing vacancies. Shortly after, she was offered a post.
Karen said: “I am very privileged to be part of an amazing team of nurses on the in-patient unit, each of whom is committed to providing the best care possible for our patients. The team work really well together and are all so supportive of each other.
“We’re able to spend time with patients and their families to understand what is important to them, and we can then individualise the care we give, which makes our jobs so varied. I love the fact that each day is different – I never know what’s going to happen on a shift. Although obviously some days are very sad, there are also many days that are full of laughter – in fact, that’s one of things a lot of patients first notice when they arrive on the ward.”
Karen and her colleagues have faced challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, but some positives have come out of it, too.
She continued: “The worst thing, by far, was having to restrict visitors; to not be able to allow patients and families to be together at such an important time has been heartbreaking, and goes against everything we believe in as a hospice team.
“However, we’ve become closer and gained a deeper respect for each other because of the challenges we’ve faced. I know I speak for the whole nursing team at Ashford when I say we’re looking forward to opening up even more; being able to provide patients and families with that ‘something extra’ is what makes Pilgrims so special and different from other places.”
Although obviously some days are very sad, there are also many days that are full of laughter – in fact, that’s one of things a lot of patients first notice when they arrive
Karen
Karen is leaving Pilgrims to take on an office-based role working from home, which she hopes will help her achieve a better work-life balance. After having a stroke in 2019, she is keen to focus on maintaining good health. She hopes to return to Pilgrims in the future in an educational capacity or possibly doing occasional nursing shifts on the ward.
Kate White, Head of Nursing at Pilgrims Hospices, said: “I’ve had the pleasure of working with Karen for the last four and a half years. She is the pinnacle of professionalism, compassion and patient-centred care. Nothing is too much trouble for her; she always goes above and beyond for her staff, patients and their families. She approaches everything with a can-do attitude and this has certainly rubbed off on her team.
“I know she will be greatly missed at Ashford, but she has come to this difficult decision for the right reasons. I will miss her attention to detail and her sense of humour, and would like to wish her all the very best in her new venture.”
Karen added: “I have truly loved my time at Pilgrims; we empower patients to be involved in decisions about their care to enable them to have the best quality of life they can.
“There are so many different teams within Pilgrims, but everyone ultimately works together to the same end – to ensure the people of east Kent benefit from vital services that are accessible, equitable and of the highest standard.”
We’re looking for people to join us in providing outstanding quality care and support to those who need it most.
If you’re interested in a nursing or care career at Pilgrims, we’d love to hear from you.
Check out our current vacancies for more information and apply today:
Each year, Pilgrims Hospices give care and comfort to thousands of people in east Kent coming to terms with an illness that sadly cannot be cured. The charity supports patients to live life as well as possible until the very end, free from pain and distress. 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.
11th April 2022
Pilgrims Garden Festival: A summer date for your diaries!
The Pilgrims Garden Festival is back for a second year and Pilgrims Hospices can’t wait to welcome visitors back for a fun family day out.
Set to be hosted at Mount Ephraim Gardens on Sunday 24 July, 11:00 am – 4:00 pm, visitors will enjoy a vibrant market area filled with local food and drink producers, plant sellers and makers all from around Kent.
Once the shopping has been done, you will be able to head over for some lunch at the traditional tea party or BBQ before pitching up a blanket in the family-friendly picnic area.
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And new for 2022 is the bar area, which will be stocked by local drink producers which you will be able to discover and enjoy with a bit of live music.
