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.
Care 2 Sm
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 Hospicescare 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.
29th May 2020
Pilgrims marks Volunteers’ Week with “WE MISS YOU!” message
Staff and trustees at Pilgrims Hospices are counting down the days to Volunteers’ Week 2020. Now in its 36th year, Volunteers’ Week is held annually to celebrate the incredible contributions of millions of volunteers across the UK.
In east Kent, more than 1600 people volunteer for Pilgrims’ and all work varying hours in a wide range of roles. From receptionist to retailer, fundraiser to therapist, gardener to caterer, the skills and experiences volunteers bring to the charity are vast.
The COVID-19 pandemic has put on pause many voluntary activities, but Pilgrims’ is determined to celebrate and recognise the enormous difference volunteers make.
Jeff Southon, Pilgrims’ Volunteer Services & HR Manager, comments: “Since late March this year, almost all of our volunteers have only been able to support us from home but they have been doing it in a variety of new ways. Our message to them is – we miss you!
“We are very much looking forward to the day we can welcome back our volunteers. This week is all about saying thank you all for your unstinting support.”
Volunteers are the backbone of our organisation
Helen Bennett – Pilgrims Hospices Acting CEO
During lockdown, volunteers have donated to Pilgrims’ Still here, Still Caring fundraising appeal, and supported the charity’s new care initiatives Matching Hearts and #stayathomehospicehero. They have also been volunteering in other roles to help others during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pilgrims’ Acting CEO, Helen Bennett, says: “It has been said many times, but it remains the case, that volunteers are the backbone of our organisation, and now more than ever they are the backbone of our communities.
“We are currently working on how we can safely restore some of our voluntary activities and will keep our volunteers up-to-date on developments. We want to send a heartfelt ‘thank you’ to all our volunteers during Volunteers’ Week 2020.”
20 18826 Volunteers Week 1 7 June 2048x1149 8
Volunteers’ Week takes place 1-7 June every year. It’s a chance to celebrate and say thank you for the contribution millions of volunteers make across the UK. As well as helping others, volunteering has been shown to improve volunteers’ wellbeing. The estimated value of volunteers helping charities in the UK is £22.6 billion.
Please note that many of our volunteer roles are currently paused to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
We look forward to welcoming our volunteers back on board once the current situation improves.
For current information about all Pilgrims Hospices services, including for volunteers, during the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic, please visit pilgrimshospices.org/covid-19.
Pilgrims Hospices has been caring for the people of east Kent for more than 37 years, having opened its first hospice in Canterbury in 1982. Its two other locations were opened at Thanet in 1992 and at Ashford in 2001. The charity provides palliative care for adults with a range of incurable illnesses including cancer, heart failure, respiratory conditions and neurological diseases. Care is provided from the three sites, in patients’ homes and via community programmes.
26th May 2017
Laid-back dog Rodney makes friends at the hospice
Retired pharmaceutical industry worker and Pilgrims Hospices volunteer Martyn Ponting has owned dogs for years.
Then, when he was looking for a new way to give his time and energy to the hospice in Ashford, his canine friend Rodney gave him the perfect opportunity.
Rodney, a two-year-old black labrador, is now a regular visitor to Pilgrims Hospice Ashford. As a Pets As Therapy (PAT) dog, he enjoys his regular Wednesday social morning in Pilgrims Therapy Centre and also visits patients on the ward.
Martyn from Sellindge said: “My career in the pharmaceutical industry often took me to environments where PAT dogs attended. Knowing how special the service is and how uplifting seeing a friendly furry face can be for patients, I thought I’d enlist Rodney’s gentle skills.”
Rodney’s owner Martyn can often be found at Pilgrims Hospice Ashford, whether it’s as part of the volunteer gardening force that keeps the Ashford grounds in such beautiful condition or to bring along Rodney, the very much loved PAT dog for patients, families and of course Pilgrims staff to enjoy.
“Rodney is very well behaved and absolutely loves his time with everyone at the hospice. He was such a laid-back puppy, I thought he would be a perfect candidate to become a Pets As Therapy dog. His huge calm eyes and affectionate nature, I knew he had to come home with me.
Rodney’s a very gentle soul and thoroughly enjoys his visits to Pilgrims.
Martyn
Rodney often receives compliments from the care team; Pilgrims doctors say animals are often a great icebreaker and help with patient communication. Everyone seems to relax with Rodney in the room.
Martyn added: “Rodney’s a very gentle soul and thoroughly enjoys his visit to Pilgrims. There’s always time for a cuddle. His favourite treat is a smelly stinky old tennis ball; it’s definitely his favourite thing in life, along with a good swim. I really enjoy my visits to Pilgrims too. I meet such interesting people and enjoy their company. I bring Rodney along and he just works his way around the room to enjoy as many tummy rubs and ear tickles as he can.
I’m very proud of Rodney.
Martyn
Every hour and every minute of volunteering for Pilgrims Hospices is hugely valued and goes a long way for the people needing our care.
Our volunteers play a part in every aspect of life in our hospices: they offer support, skills, kindness, care and they raise money; they can be a friendly face helping in our shops and working on our receptions. By generously giving their time, volunteers support our staff as they work to provide the outstanding levels of care for which we are well known.
Volunteers’ Week is a chance to say thank you for the fantastic contribution millions of volunteers make across the UK. It takes place 1-7 June every year and is an opportunity to celebrate volunteering in all its diversity.
We’re accredited by REVAMP, a quality mark for Volunteer Involving Organisations developed by Stronger Kent Communities, a leading provider of support for the voluntary sector in Kent.
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.
