Marie Curie People April 2014

People Marie Curie

EVERYTHING IN THE GARDEN’S ROSY New partnership encourages greenfingered supporters

FIND OUT WHERE WE’RE HOLDING WALK TEN Our summer programme of 10k walks has some fantastic new venues

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Marie Curie Cancer Care’s newspaper for staff and volunteers

APRIL 2014 REACHING OUT TO REMOTE PATIENTS

How Marie Curie is delivering care to people in remote parts of Scotland PAGE 12

Marie Curie’s most ambitious Strategic Plan ever has been approved – and everyone’s support is needed.

Marie Curie Cancer Care’s trustees have signed off the charity’s most ambitious strategic plan ever.

They approved all the main proposals for increasing the future care and support that the charity provides for people with all terminal illnesses.

They also approved in principle the £46 million investment required to deliver the plan over the next five years, from 2014 to 2019.

To support delivery of the new strategy, trustees recognised the need for changes to the Marie Curie brand. Detailed proposals are now being researched and will be presented to the trustees in May. The plan has been developed following extensive consultation with terminally ill people and their families, Marie Curie staff, volunteers and external stakeholders.

Chief Executive Dr Jane Collins said: “This is our most ambitious Strategic Plan ever, which is why we are aiming to implement it over five years, rather than the usual three.

“It’s a response to the huge need that’s out there: there are 400,000 people who need care

Roadshows: be there Members of Marie Curie’s Executive Board (the charity’s Chief Executive and directors) will be visiting 15 locations across the four nations to talk about the new Strategic Plan with staff and volunteers.

FOR MORE INFORMATION See page 4 for a full list of venues and a form for booking your place.

To attend a roadshow, visit mariecurie.org.uk/strategicplanroadshow or speak to your line manager. Please let your line manager know so that there is sufficient cover at your place of work.

or support every year, and we currently reach 39,000 of them. While we know that we can’t possibly give them all nursing and hospice care, we should be reaching them all.

“During our consultation people told us time and time again that they really wanted advice and information. We will be responding to this need.

“The plan is also realistic – it is based on what colleagues and trustees believe we can achieve, starting from where we are, with the resources that are likely to be available to us.

“I am very excited by it – and I’m delighted that work is already underway on Better Connected and several other key project streams.

“To make the plan a reality, we’re going to need all our staff and volunteers to get involved. We’re already a great organisation, but we could do so much more. We really can’t do it without you.”

The Strategic Plan document will be circulated to trustees at their May meeting, and will then go out to staff, volunteers and the outside world.

SUMMARY OF THE PLAN Marie Curie already provides care to 39,000 terminally ill people and their families each year, but around 400,000 people need the charity’s care and/or support.

The new Strategic Plan sets out how the charity intends to: • help more people • help people earlier in their illness • make clear the charity’s support for people with all terminal illnesses • help them in a variety of ways and for longer • continue putting the individual, their family and their carers at the centre of its work Elements of the strategy signed off by trustees include: • the expansion of care through existing

FORECAST FOR SPRING IS SUNNY WITH A CHANCE OF DAFFODILS Weatherman Michael Fish was just one of a host of celebrities who did their bit for the Great Daffodil Appeal. For the full story, see page 3. services, including home nursing and hospices (from around 39,000 patients every year to around 50,000) • growth in the Marie Curie Helper Service in which volunteers support people in their homes – from around 500 people supported to around 2,500 people • the launch of an information and advice service • changes to communications and IT through the Better Connected programme to transform how Marie Curie connects with everyone involved in the charity, from staff, volunteers and supporters to patients and families • a significant increase in the charity’s palliative care research programme • major growth in the charity’s fundraising

to support the expansion of services During the first year of the strategy, the charity plans to pilot a range of programmes including the following: • e xpansion of its bereavement service •d evelopment of a Marie Curie academy •d evelopment of the charity’s service design offer for the future As part of the Strategic Plan, the charity is set to introduce a new vision and mission for the organisation, alongside a set of values to guide colleagues in everything they do.

Marie Curie staff and volunteers have been involved in helping develop the charity’s values through a survey and a series of workshops. The final version will be published along with the Strategic Plan in May. For more on the Strategic Plan, see page 4.

Pete Jones Productions

WE REALLY CAN’T DO IT WITHOUT YOU

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People April 2014

News YOU CAN DO THIS MONTH 5 THINGS 1. ATTEND A STRATEGIC PLAN ROADSHOW Members of the Executive Board (Chief Executive Dr Jane Collins and Marie Curie’s directors) will be visiting 15 locations across the four nations.

So make the most of your opportunity to find out about our charity’s exciting ambitions and plans – and ask lots of questions. Register now online at mariecurie.org.uk/strategicplanroadshow or see page 4.

2. REGISTER YOUR TEA PARTY Enjoy baking? Love entertaining? The Blooming Great Tea Party is the event for you. It’s a very simple concept: we ask supporters across the UK to host a tea party, invite their friends and raise some money. This year’s event is set to take place from 20-29 June. And we're determined to make 2014’s party even bigger and better than last year’s hugely successful campaign. You can register online now – and catch up with some of the highlights from last year’s campaign – at mariecurie.org.uk/teaparty 3. PREPARE TO WALK TEN Walk Ten is one of the highlights of our fundraising calendar. It’s an opportunity to join an evening 10k twilight walk, with family, friends and hundreds of other Marie Curie supporters, at a beautiful location.

We’ve just announced this year’s venues, including some spectacular new locations, as well as a host of old favourites. See page 7 for full details.

4. INFLUENCE OUR RESEARCH Marie Curie is still asking everybody involved with palliative care – staff, volunteers, patients and families – to highlight areas that they’d like to see addressed by our future research. Our survey with the James Lind Alliance is running until 30 April – and we’ve had more than 1,000 responses to date.

So if there are questions that you have been unable to find the answer to, please do tell us. Visit www.palliativecarepsp.org.uk and fill in the answers. You can also request a hard copy of the survey by emailing peolcpcp@mariecurie.org.uk or calling 020 7091 4153.

5. SAVE PENNIES WHEN YOU PRINT In many of Marie Curie Cancer Care’s offices, we now have highly efficient multi-function devices that have replaced a large number of printers, scanners and faxes. They enable Marie Curie to offer improved print, scanner and fax functionality to support you with your work. But did you know that printing a sheet in colour costs roughly 10 times as much as printing it in black and white? Obviously, if you are circulating a pie-chart or working up a programme design, you’re going to need full-colour printing. But 95 per cent of the time, black and white is fine – and it saves us cash. So please think about whether your colour print out is really necessary; and if it isn’t, make sure your PC is set to print in black and white. All these little savings really add up.

People Marie Curie

Marie Curie People is the charity’s official newspaper for staff and volunteers. It is published monthly.

MARIE CURIE APPOINTS FIVE NEW TRUSTEES New trustees have been appointed to Marie Curie Cancer Care, joining the Council of Trustees led by Chairman John Varley.

The new trustees’ combined expertise includes communications, marketing, healthcare, finance, business, retail, services and law. Their experience covers both public and private sectors.

The appointments address council member succession, as well as the recruitment of additional trustees to enable greater representation across the devolved nations.

John Varley, Chair of the Trustee Council of Marie Curie, said: “We are delighted to welcome the new trustees to Council at a time when the charity is embarking on an ambitious new five year strategy to meet the growing need for our services across the UK.” ALAN SHANNON CB

TIM BREEDON CBE

LINDA URQUHART OBE

Alan was a member of the Northern Ireland Civil Service for 42 years. He served in the Department of Agriculture as attaché to the British member of the European Court of Auditors in Luxembourg, and in the Northern Ireland Office, where his roles included Chief Executive of the NI Prison Service. Alan is a former Permanent Secretary of the Department for Employment and Learning, and the Department of Social Development. He retired in 2013.

Tim joined Legal & General in 1987, holding a number of roles before joining the board as Group Director (Investments) in 2002 and becoming Group Chief Executive in 2006. He retired from L&G in 2012.

Linda has led one of Scotland’s largest law firms, Morton Fraser, for nearly 15 years, first as chief executive and now as chairman.

Trained as a commercial property lawyer, she has advised businesses of all sizes across a variety of sectors.

He is presently Chair of the Northern Ireland Federation of Housing Associations, Chair of Marie Curie’s NI Advisory Committee, and a member of the Senate of Queen’s University, Belfast, the board of Civil Service Healthcare and the deregulation advisory panel appointed by the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment.

Tim served as Chairman of the Association of British Insurers (ABI) between July 2010 and July 2012, having been a director since 2007. He also served as a director on the Board of the Investment Management Association between 2004 and 2005.

He was appointed as a non-executive director of Barclays plc and of the Ministry of Justice in 2012.

Linda is a member of the board of the CBI and Scottish Enterprise, Chairman of Investors in People Scotland and a non-executive director of Scottish private bank Adam & Co and Edinburgh Airport Limited.

ANDREW MARSDEN D.UNIV, FCIM, FIPM, FMS, FRSA After a 30-year career in fast-moving consumer goods businesses, Andrew is now an international brand consultant and nonexecutive director.

Andrew has served on the Governmental Advisory Committee on Advertising, is a past president of The Marketing Society and is a former chairman of both the Institute of Promotional Marketing and the Executive of the Incorporated Society of British Advertisers. He is also a trustee of drug and alcohol rehabilitation charity CRI.

GARETH WILLIAMS Gareth has a successful international track record in the commercial fields of retailing, service industries, IT and communications, and reviewing structures and governance in private and voluntary organisations.

Until recently, Gareth managed a portfolio of chair and trustee roles including chairing the Board of Trustees of Scouts Wales; Netalogue plc; and Institute of Directors in Wales. He also served as a non-executive director of the European Retailing Advisory Board at Oxford University. Gareth continues as a member of the Board of Trustees of National Museums of Wales and Chair of Marie Curie’s Advisory Board for Wales and of Marie Curie’s Retail Committee. He is also undertaking a major review on behalf of the Welsh Government to review farming regulations in Wales.

Refresh for What we say booklet A new edition of Marie Curie’s What we say booklet is available on the charity’s intranet, containing the key messages and advice on how to describe the charity's work.

There are some important changes from the last edition, especially to statistics, and the new edition also includes several key points of the charity’s house style, such as how to write dates and numbers.

Content Manager Charles Williams said: “What we say is an essential document

Editor: Nick Moulton Writers: Rebecca Evans, Ana Malinovic Designers: Artful Dog Publishing and Marie Curie Creative Services Repro by: Selsey Press

Printed by: Mortons Managed & distributed by: CDL Circulation: 6,500

for anyone who writes about the work of Marie Curie. It’s important that people make sure they are using the new version, because we have updated statistics where relevant.

“The new edition also includes a Q&A on how we are transforming our brand, and how we can all help prepare for the changes that will be taking place when the new brand is unveiled next year.”

• What we say is available on the Big Blue Button on the Marie Curie intranet.

MARIE CURIE PEOPLE NEEDS YOUR NEWS. Send stories to Editor Nick Moulton, Creative Services, Marie Curie Cancer Care, 89 Albert Embankment, London, SE1 7TP. Email nick.moulton@mariecurie.org.uk or phone me on 020 7599 7706 and I’ll draft a story from your call.

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Celebrities DEMONSTRATING HER SUPPORT The Rt Hon Ann Widdecombe MP called for people to back the appeal outside Parliament. She said: “I am supporting Marie Curie Cancer Care’s Great Daffodil Appeal. When my brother, Malcolm, passed away at home in 2010, surrounded by family, he was able to do so because of Marie Curie Nurses. They helped Malcolm be at home, where he wanted to be, in the last days of his life. Marie Curie’s Great Daffodil Appeal is vital in helping Marie Curie Nurses provide more free care to people with terminal illnesses.”

IMAGE: PETE JONES PRODUCTIONS

SOPHISTICATED SUPPORT Actor Stephen Mangan, in his current role in the Jeeves and Wooster play, got behind the appeal.

IMAGE: PETE JONES PRODUCTIONS

A host of famous figures from TV, fashion, acting and politics posed with daffodils, garnering lots of highprofile media coverage for the Great Daffodil Appeal.

Among the celebrities supporting the Appeal were Birds Of A Feather's Linda Robson, who appeared on The Lorraine Show and The Alan Titchmarsh Show to talk about the care her mother received at the Marie Curie

Hospice, Hampstead. “I can never thank them enough for what they did and how they helped all of us,” the actress told host Lorraine Kelly.

Photographs of celebrity supporters helped the appeal further, with former politician Ann Widdecombe, The Only Way Is Essex star Lydia Bright and actor Stephen Mangan all donning a daffodil for the charity.

THE ONLY WAY IS DAFFODILS Reality star Lydia Bright donned a daffodil pin to support Marie Curie. Lydia, formerly of TV show The Only Way Is Essex, said: “I’m thrilled to be supporting the Great Daffodil Appeal. Marie Curie Nurses do a brilliant job caring for people when they need it most. Yellow is also the perfect colour to incorporate into your spring wardrobe.”

YOU'RE HIRED – TO WEAR YELLOW Nick Hewer, TV presenter and Alan Sugar’s adviser on The Apprentice, helped the charity in the countdown to the appeal.

IMAGE: IAN STRATTON

IMAGE: LAYTON THOMPSON

IMAGE: PETE JONES PRODUCTIONS

Stars out in force for Great Daffodil Appeal

HAT’S ENTERTAINMENT Actor Warwick Davis did a daffodil-themed photoshoot to help launch the appeal.

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People April 2014

Strategy CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S VIEW

This bold plan is what we should be doing Our trustees have signed off Marie Curie’s new strategic plan for 2014-19. It commits the charity to reaching out to the tens of thousands of terminally ill people who die each year without having any contact or help from us.

It is a bold plan, but it is what we should be doing because the need for our services is increasing.

Hospice and nursing care are the bedrock of what we do and this won’t change. We aim to expand these services. We will also continue to build on the partnerships we have with other organisations, particularly the independent hospices. But we are not planning to provide direct hands-on care to all 400,000 people who need help every year.

Our ambition is to reach them through our new information and bereavement services as well as through the expansion of Marie Curie Helper, something we can do as a national charity. I hope you can see how vital the Better Connected programme is to the delivery of the Strategic Plan. If we are serious about communicating with more people, we must have the means to do this, which means developing our communications and information infrastructure.

TRANSFORMING THE BRAND This is also an opportunity to align the charity’s brand with what we do. At present, we care for people with any terminal illness – but the public, and many NHS referrers, still perceive us very much as a cancer charity. That must change, over time and at the right pace, to ensure that patients with other illnesses who need our help can find us; to make sure we achieve our potential in fundraising; and, of course, because we should be proud of our work and communicate it clearly.

It has taken a lot of work to get to this stage, and I am very grateful to everyone who has contributed to the development of the plan. We consulted widely with patients, families and bereaved people, as well as Marie Curie staff and volunteers. Every contribution has been carefully considered. This is a plan I hope everyone, be they staff or volunteers, can support.

Of course, drawing up the plan and getting it approved is just the first stage. Now we need to make it a reality – and that will require the involvement of us all at Marie Curie Cancer Care.

Over the next five years, we will work together to transform our charity, while always keeping patients and families at the centre of our work.

Without you we can’t do it.

Dr Jane Collins, Chief Executive FOR MORE INFORMATION Get in touch with Jane at jane.collins@mariecurie.org.uk

Every contribution has been carefully considered. This is a plan we can all be proud of.

The People Programme – the latest Director of Community Involvement Ruth Bravery explains the scheme that’s enabling staff and volunteers to have their say on the Strategic Plan.

You may have read or heard about the Marie Curie People Programme – part of the Strategic Plan 2014-19 that was set up in direct response to staff and volunteer feedback during the Strategic Plan workshops.

The People Programme is about making sure that staff and volunteers have a voice, and that everyone is involved in developing our charity’s Strategic Plan and working towards achieving it.

You may already have seen or been involved in some of the activities about developing the Strategic Plan. For example, workshops were held all over

the country to involve staff and volunteers in developing the charity’s values.

Many of our staff and volunteers work in the community and don’t have daily access to the charity’s email system and intranet. So that everyone has a better opportunity to find out for themselves what’s happening and how they can get involved, we have launched this site specifically for our staff and volunteers: mariecurie.org.uk/staffandvolunteers We will be running a staff and volunteer charity-wide survey later in the year so we can learn more about what matters to you. We’ll let you know how you can take part.

GIVING PEOPLE A VOICE: Ruth Bravery

Executive Board hits the road – book your place Marie Curie’s Executive Board is going on tour to take the charity’s new Strategic Plan to staff and volunteers nationwide.

They’ll be talking about the plan and taking questions at 16 venues throughout the four nations – from Tiverton (in Devon) to Inverness, Pontypool and Belfast.

Make sure you don’t miss out. There are still some places left, so register online now, or just fill out the form below and post it back to us.

All staff and volunteers should also have already received a personal invitation to a roadshow.

FOR MORE INFORMATION To attend a roadshow, please complete and return the form below, or use the online application form at mariecurie.org.uk/strategicplanroadshow

Please cut out and post your completed registration form to:

Melanie Bond, Internal Communications Manager, Marie Curie Cancer Care, 89 Albert Embankment, London, SE1 7TP We will confirm your joining details by email.

MARIE CURIE STRATEGIC PLAN ROADSHOWS 2014 Name:........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Email address (Marie Curie or your personal email address):...............................................................................................................................................................................

Please select (using a tick) which Strategic Plan Roadshow you would like to attend: Date

Venue

4 April

Mamhilad Park Estate, Pontypool

7 April

Marie Curie Hospice, Liverpool

9 April

Marie Curie Hospice, Cardiff and the Vale (Penarth)

10 April

Bristol Rovers Memorial Stadium, Bristol

11 April

Marie Curie Hospice, Bradford

11 April

89 Albert Embankment, London

14 April

Marie Curie Hospice, Belfast

16 April

Marie Curie Hospice, Edinburgh

17 April

Marie Curie Hospice, Glasgow

17 April

Marie Curie Hospice, West Midlands (Solihull)

23 April

Northampton Guildhall, Northampton

23 April

Marie Curie House, Tiverton

25 April

Marie Curie Hospice, Newcastle

28 April

Marie Curie Hospice, Hampstead (North London)

I’d like to attend this roadshow

I’d like to attend the morning/ afternoon session

We are running an online webinar session of the roadshows at the end of April for those who cannot make any of the above dates and locations. If you would like to join the webinar, please tick the box and leave your email address above. We will be in touch with further details

Are you a

staff member

volunteer

Do you have line manager responsibilities?

Yes No If you have line manager responsibilities, would you like to attend the short line manager session which follows the main roadshow session?

Yes No What is your main or only role?

Fundraising Hospice (nursing) Hospice (other) Marie Curie Nursing Service Shop work Office-based work Other supporting work not covered by the above (please tell us what that is below)

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News Marie Curie calls for 24/7 care and access to pain relief

GOOD WORK: Chris Dainty (left), Marie Curie Nurse Olive Hoare, and Stephen Murphy launch the Gardens for Good partnership at Syon Park Garden Centre

NEW PARTNERSHIP AIMS TO GROW INCOME BY £500,000 Marie Curie and The Garden Centre Group have launched a charity partnership, following a staff vote in which Marie Curie was chosen as the group’s first national charity partner.

The Gardens for Good partnership will run for two years, with the aim of raising more than £500,000 through gardeninginspired fundraising, volunteering initiatives and commercial activity.

Fundraising activities already underway include a donation on pots of daffodils, daffodil collection boxes at all 850 till points, staff fundraising and Marie Curie collectors in centres across England

and Wales. Chris Dainty, Director of Communications at Marie Curie, said: “Everyone at Marie Curie is excited about working with The Garden Centre Group. Being cared for at home means our patients can continue to enjoy their gardens, which often hold many happy memories. Our hospice gardens, like those our patients have tended over the years, provide a relaxing environment for families to spend time together.”

Stephen Murphy, Chairman of The Garden Centre Group, said: “We are delighted to have selected Marie Curie as our national charity partner for

Gardens for Good. The work Marie Curie does is invaluable and we know that many people being cared for by the charity have a huge affection for their gardens. This makes our Gardens for Good partnership truly relevant for our staff, our supplier partners and our customers. We hope to raise significant funds from a wide range of initiatives and provide many volunteering opportunities over the next two years to support the great work that Marie Curie does.”

FOR MORE INFORMATION Visit thegardencentregroup.co.uk

Marie Curie has called for clinical commissioning groups to do more to ensure that 24/7 care is universally accessible for all terminally ill people, no matter where they live.

The issue was highlighted in a new report published by Marie Curie, Difficult Conversations with Dying People and their Families. Families reported having to chase after prescriptions, nurses waiting hours for vital drugs to arrive, and locums unable to prescribe.

Imelda Redmond CBE (pictured), Director of Policy & Public Affairs at Marie Curie, said: “GPs, families and carers are telling us that more needs to be done to improve access to specialist palliative care and pain control at home.

“We know that effective pain management at home is an important factor that influences whether someone has a good death, and we only have one chance to get it right.

“Terminally ill people and their families need timely access to care and pain relief around the clock. At the moment, two-thirds of this time is considered to be ‘out of hours’ by the healthcare system. With only 17% of terminally ill people at home having their pain relieved completely, it is vital that healthcare professionals are available to terminally ill people around the clock and that they are equipped to provide pain relief.”

Doctors raise pain relief concerns in charity survey Marie Curie has commissioned a survey with doctors.net.uk, which reveals family doctors’ concerns about supporting patients being cared for at home.

The survey – which reflects the views of 1,000 GPs across the UK – found: • Only 39% of GPs believe their terminally ill patients get adequate access to care at night and at weekends • A third of GPs do not believe their terminally ill patients get adequate access to specialist palliative care nursing • Only four in 10 GPs believe the majority of their terminally ill patients’ pain is relieved completely.

PAIN CONTROL GPs were also asked to indicate factors that are likely to reduce quality of pain control:

Audit agency returns to review new governance measures Merseyside Internal Audit Agency (MIAA) is to return to Marie Curie to conduct a review of the charity’s governance and how it affects clinical work.

The agency previously visited Marie Curie two years ago, when it conducted a similar review and made recommendations to improve governance.

Since the review, Marie Curie has revised the terms of reference of its Clinical Governance Trustees Committee; established its Clinical Governance Board; set up its Clinical Reference Group; and established programmes for policy development and clinical audit.

Steve Connor, Deputy Director of MIAA, said: “The original work we carried

out was to look at the overall governance regime at Marie Curie. We were looking at benchmarking the charity’s work, and at the effectiveness of governance arrangements on clinical processes and

Our Marie Curie audit was one of the most enjoyable jobs we have ever done. It was inspiring to see the care that people take to do their jobs well.

STEVE CONNOR, MIAA

outcomes. Our review identified a lot of very good practice, but also some areas for enhancement.

“We are delighted to be coming back to look at the progress that’s been made since this work was undertaken.

“We spent a lot of time at Marie Curie with nursing and hospice staff, and it was one of the most enjoyable jobs we have ever done. It was inspiring to see the care that people take to do their jobs well. We are really looking forward to coming back.”

MIAA will be visiting sites and talking to Marie Curie colleagues over the next few months, and producing a report this summer.

59%

of doctors said lack of anticipatory (just in case) prescribing

39%

of doctors said poor availability of pain relief out of hours

53%

of doctors said concern about over-prescribing

The survey was commissioned by Marie Curie with doctors.net.uk (DNUK) and conducted by DNUK’s research division medeConnect Healthcare Insight.

Respondents were recruited from the doctors.net.uk membership. Responses were collected from 1,003 regionally representative GPs in the UK. The survey fieldwork was conducted over the period 22-28 January 2014.

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People April 2014

News

THOMPSONS PARTNERSHIP TO RUN FOR A THIRD YEAR

Marie Curie Cancer Care is celebrating the announcement of the third year of its fundraising partnership with John Thompson and Sons – Northern Ireland’s leading animal feed manufacturer.

Marie Curie Nurse Tracey Wylie and Thompsons Sales Director Gordon Donaldson marked the occasion at Greenmount Agricultural College, Funds raised by Antrim – with a herd of friesians.

Thompsons employees Thompsons Chief Executive and customers since the Declan Billington said: 2012 partnership “Thompsons prides itself on its launched partnerships, which are always based on a footing of likeminded aspirations and a focus on what is important both to us and to our employees and customers.

“Partnering with Marie Curie has not been a chance encounter, but a decision taken by our employees, and therefore it is something the company supports from

£20,000

HAY, BIG SPENDERS: Marie Curie Nurse Tracey Wylie and Thompsons’ Gordon Donaldson mark another year of fundraising

TV ad appeals for funds A new Marie Curie direct response ad appeared on commercial TV channels throughout March.

The one-minute ad, broadcast primarily during the daytime on channels including Eden, Gold, Good Food and ITV3, asks viewers to text to donate £3 to the charity.

It features supporter Diane Phillips telling how Marie Curie Nurse Irene Booker cared for her late husband, Byron.

Diane speaks at the beginning of the ad, while Downton Abbey actor Hugh Bonneville provides the final voiceover.

Viewers who respond with a donation will be called and offered the opportunity to make a direct debit to the charity.

IG Appeals Development Manager Katey van Duin said: “This is a fundraising ad, where the primary objective is to generate income for the charity. It’s about creating a case for support to get them to donate.

“We had 128 responses on the first day, and we know that pick-up for direct response ads increases as they go along. This is a test activity. We are looking at how it performs and aim to make tweaks to improve response so that it becomes a standard recruitment method throughout the year.”

To view the ad, visit the Marie Curie intranet at mariecurie.org.uk/drtv

Alex is new Head of Individual Giving Alex HydeSmith has been appointed Marie Curie’s new Head of Individual Giving.

Alex has been with the charity for three years as Individual Giving Manager for Direct Giving. He is now responsible for all four main areas of individual giving: direct giving, regular giving, legacies and mid-value giving. He moves from running a team that raises £17.5 million every year to being responsible for bringing in over £50 million.

“I can’t wait to start the new role,” he said. “We’ve got a great team of really passionate and successful fundraisers. I am looking forward to building on our past successes to continue the growth of individual giving.”

Alex takes over the Head of IG role from Richard Yorke, who has left the charity for a post at Mencap.

its core. We look forward to seeing what our fundraising in 2014 will bring to this extremely worthwhile cause.”

Anne Hannan, Marie Curie Partnerships Manager, said: “Marie Curie is proud to be partnered with Thompsons and delighted to have been chosen for a third year. We have built a great relationship with all at Thompsons and want to say thank you for the support and commitment so far. We look forward to 2014 – this partnership just continues to gain strength.”

In 2012, Thompsons employees and customers embarked on a partnership with Marie Curie Cancer Care that has so far raised £20,000 through numerous fundraising efforts by Thompsons’ 160 staff and its customers.

Thompsons’ first event in 2014 was a bacon buttie day to raise money for the Great Daffodil Appeal.

Helpers rate support highly In the first national survey of Marie Curie Helper volunteers, 94 per cent of respondents rated their volunteering experience as “very good” or “good”.

The survey was completed by more than 80 Marie Curie Helper volunteers.

Sinead O’Dwyer, Project Coordinator for the Marie Curie Helper Service, said: “We are pleased with the results – a high proportion of our volunteers described their role as being very rewarding and a satisfying experience for both them and the people using the service.

“We also asked more detailed questions, including whether volunteers felt adequately supported, how much contact they had with their service manager and whether they were involved in peer support, and for their suggestions on improvements to the service.

“Volunteers reported that they felt well supported, with 97% telling us their support needs are being met. There was significant interest in several suggestions for extending the service. For example, many volunteers were keen to provide support out of hours or more practical assistance such as helping with small tasks around the house.”

Marie Curie published an internal report based on the survey results. Its recommendations for future development included expanding the service hours to include evening and weekend support; offering further practical support; reviewing training and exploring the introduction of refresher training; and reintroducing the volunteer newsletter.

The charity plans to carry out a similar survey every two years.

POSITIVE RESPONSE: Almost all Marie Curie Helper volunteers said their support needs are being met

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News

Walk Ten returns – with new venues Hampton Court Palace, London, and the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk are two spectacular new additions to Marie Curie’s Walk Ten venues for 2014.

The charity has announced 19 venues for the 10K evening walks that enable supporters to enjoy beautiful historical settings at twilight, with entertainment.

Other new venues are Glamis Castle, Scotland; Speke Hall, Liverpool; and Killerton House, Devon, while popular returning venues include Chatsworth House, Derbyshire; Sissinghurst Castle, Kent; and the Stormont Estate, Belfast.

Fundraising Product Manager Sophie Major said: “We have a fantastic set of venues lined up. For the first time ever, we’ve got a Walk Ten in London.

Hampton Court’s a very special place, within easy reach of 8 million people. At Sandringham, we have exclusive access to an area of the grounds that is not

normally open to the public. We’re also delighted to be returning to many of our most popular venues.”

Volunteers are needed at all Walk Ten events – and Marie Curie People readers are invited to help out.

“There are three key volunteer roles,” Sophie said. “We need set-up crews, marshals to show people the route, and cheerers along the route. All are really good fun – especially if you volunteer with a friend – and you’ll be playing an essential part in making some of our biggest events possible.”

Last year, Walk Ten raised more than £850,000 – significantly above its target.

This year’s events have an ambitious £1 million target.

“Our aim is that at least 750 people will take part in every Walk Ten,” Sophie said.

“At the bigger venues, we’ll be expecting more than 1,000 people.”

IMAGE: ANTHONY SHAW PHOTOGRAPHY/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

NEW VENUE: Hampton Court Palace

Walk Ten: where and when Date Venue 5 July Chatsworth House

Location Derbyshire

19 July

Sissinghurst Castle

Kent

19 July

Shugborough Estate

Staffordshire

19 July

Gibside

Tyne and Wear

26 July

Badminton Estate

Gloucestershire

26 July

Dalkeith Country Estate Edinburgh

9 August

Beaulieu

Hampshire

9 August

Tatton Park

Cheshire

16 August

Pollok Country Park

Glasgow

16 August

Margam Park

Port Talbot Liverpool

16 August

Speke Hall

23 August

Killerton House

Devon

23 August

Harewood House

West Yorkshire

30 August

Sandringham Estate

Norfolk

30 August

Hampton Court Palace London

30 August

Stormont Estate

Belfast

6 September Ulster American

Folk Park

West Northern Ireland

6 September Glamis Castle

Angus

13 September Boughton House

Northamptonshire

FOR MORE INFORMATION To volunteer, email event.delivery@mariecurie.org.uk or call 01883 832 621. To register to take part in Walk Ten, visit mariecurie.org.uk/walkten or call 0845 052 4184.

£1 million funding to support broad range of research Marie Curie Cancer Care has awarded grants totalling nearly £1 million to five research projects investigating how care for terminally ill people and their families could be improved.

The grants were announced at the charity’s national palliative care conference, held in London in March in partnership with the Royal Society of Medicine.

The projects to be funded will: • study the cost and effect on quality of life of palliative daycare services at three centres that provide social and nursing care, as well as rehabilitation.

The researchers aim to find out whether they represent value for money. Project led by Professor George Kernohan • create a ‘tool’ (an aide-memoire or checklist) to help clinicians understand the needs of people with interstitial lung disease, which can cause severe breathlessness. Project led by Professor Miriam Johnson • run a randomised controlled trial of employing an ultrasound scan to check the success of a procedure to eliminate pleural effusion, a cancerous condition where fluid occupies the space between the lungs and the ribcage. The research

will enable doctors to find out whether the procedure has worked or other treatment is necessary. Project led by Dr Najib Rahman • study the experiences of carers and professionals to understand how more patients could be discharged from acute hospitals for palliative care at home. The researchers hope to use their findings to improve carer support, preparation and involvement in decision-making when patients go home. Project led by Dr Gunn Grande • provide evidence-based mass media resources to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans community to improve communications about end of life care for patients with advanced cancer.

Project led by Dr Richard Harding

About the Marie Curie Research Conference

The Marie Curie Research Conference took place on 28 March as Marie Curie People went to print. Delegates were set to hear from leading figures in the field of palliative care research. They included researchers funded by previous rounds of the Marie Curie Cancer Care Research Programme, including Professor Sheila Payne, who was set to speak about the Unpacking the Home research project. See the May issue for a full report.

The grants were awarded on a competitive basis, under the Marie Curie Cancer Care Research Programme.

Researchers submitted detailed proposals for their work, with the best being identified by a panel of independent experts. The selection process was administered by Cancer Research UK.

SCIENTIFIC ACTIVITY Medical Director Dr Bill Noble said: “We’re funding a diverse range of studies that reflect current scientific activity in palliative care research. These are all important topics.

“I was delighted that this year, for the first time, we received more high-quality grant applications than we could fund.

There were four other ambitious and interesting studies that were potentially fundable but beyond the capacity of this year’s funding call.

“Marie Curie continues to be the major funder of palliative care research in the UK. No other charity targets this kind of research. Our research strategy aims to double our activity in palliative care research over the coming three years, although this will depend on finding donors who understand the importance of funding this kind of work.”

NEWS IN BRIEF RAFFLE RESULT The raffle of an original oil painting in East Dorset has raised £750 for Marie Curie and a local charity. The painting of Wimborne Minster was specially provided by local artist Paul Dolman, while tickets were sold throughout East Dorset Council Chairman Malcolm Birr’s year-long term of office.

The raffle was drawn at Councillor Birr’s sponsored gala dinner, which raised £2,500 for the two charities.

ROCK ‘N’ ROLL Marie Curie and Alzheimer’s Society benefitted from the Rocking All Over the World dance event at the Lodge Hotel, Coleraine, County Londonderry.

Organised by Rio Salsa and friends, the event included displays of cancan, Bollywood, tango and many more dances from round the world.

BRA NECESSITIES An underwear shop offered free bra fittings in aid of Marie Curie. Bare Necessities, of Marple, Stockport, donated £1 from every item sold.

Canapes and cupcakes provided for donations at the event were donated

by Archers Bakery.

PHIL HONOURED More than 150 people gathered to honour the life of Phil Welsh, a founder member and former Chairman of West Whitlawburn Housing Co-operative, who died last year. The social occasion and celebration, which was organised by members of his family, raised over £2,000 for Marie Curie.

MORE COFFEE The 10th annual daffodil coffee morning took place at Otterham and St Juliot Hall, Marshgate, North Cornwall. The event, which was organised by June Smyth and friends, included a raffle and quiz and the sale of tea, coffee and home-made cakes.

PIZZA POUNDS The Pizza Oven, Garvagh, Northern Ireland held a fundraising event on Sunday 9 March. Every penny spent in the shop on that day was donated to Marie Curie Cancer Care. Fundraising Manager Anne McRoberts said: “We are delighted to have been chosen to benefit from this fundraising event. On behalf of Marie Curie Cancer Care, we would like to say a huge thank you to owner Michael O’Kane and all his staff for their generosity.”

MSPs’ TEA The offices of Gregg McClymont, MP for Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East, and Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland, organised a daffodil tea at Sacred Heart Chapel Hall, Cumbernauld. The event, which attracted around 100 local people, raised over £300 for Marie Curie.

8

People April 2014

Digital

WORK UNDERWAY ON NEW WEBSITE Marie Curie’s website is set to be overhauled – with new tools and features that allow the charity to better connect with patients, carers and supporters.

Work has already started on a major project to replace the Marie Curie website as part of the Better Connected strand of the charity’s Strategic Plan.

The core elements of a new content management system – the software that runs in the background and creates online forms and logic – have been installed, ready for the creation of the new site.

Alex Langley, who has joined the charity as Website Product Owner, is leading the development of the new website. “The new software gives us many

tools and features, and propels us forward.

It makes it easier to manage content and enables us to introduce features that people are so used to from browsing that they don’t even notice them,” he said.

UPDATE TO LOOK AND FEEL It is several years since the Marie Curie website was completely redesigned and upgraded. According to Alex, not only is it showing its age, but the whole concept of replacing a website only every few years is out of date.

“Every website needs to be updated and improved regularly, and it’s fair to say that ours has stood still for a while. The software platform that it operates from is difficult to update,” he said.

“This isn’t an uncommon problem – it’s happened everywhere I’ve worked.

It’s really only in the last five years that organisations realise that they need to keep spending money to keep their websites up to date. There’s now a recognition that there’s never going to

be a finished, final version – and accepting that is the most costeffective way of doing it, rather than having a series of massive projects every few years.

“Overall, the most important factor is the extent to which it will be centred on the needs of the end-user – the person who uses the site – not the needs of the organisation.”

USER TESTING Alex and his team are carrying out research with potential users – patients, carers, bereaved relatives and potential supporters.

They are working closely with an agency that specialises in user experience.

The team is using the Agile project methodology, which involves working in fortnightly bursts or ‘sprints’ to deliver parts of the website that are then tested and improved.

“Each fortnight, we test designs with real users. We can build material really quickly,

PERSONAL ELEMENTS

WEB OF CHANGE: Alex Langley says the new website must focus on the end-user

IMAGE: ALETIA/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Overall, the most important factor is the extent to which it will be centred on the needs of the end-user – the person who uses the site – not the business needs of the organisation.

ALEX LANGLEY

test it with real people, improve it and test it again,” he said.

The project will include the creation of new content to support the charity’s information and advice service. This will include an interactive space, where people with a terminal illness and their families can get advice and support.

Alex has been working in the digital industry since 1997. He was Head of Digital at the IP-TV (internet TV) company Homechoice until 2006, before going freelance to work for, among other clients, Shire Pharmaceuticals and International SOS. He describes creating the new website as a big project, but fairly straightforward in most aspects. However, there is one aspect of the project that he has not encountered in the commercial sector.

“Supporting the advice and information service makes it an extra challenge,” Alex said. “The emotional side is hard.

I spent some time listening to carers telling their stories, and I found it harrowing. Aside from the professional element, there’s a personal element to the need to do a good job.”

While the website will look, and respond, very differently from the current site, a significant amount of text and content will be transferred over, especially from areas that are less heavily used. This will gradually be updated over time.

Replacing the charity’s website is one of the three Better Connected projects that will be carried out in the first year of the new Strategic Plan.

IMAGE: MICHAEL COOPER

Claire is new Head of Digital Marie Curie’s new Head of Digital joins the charity after managing the company websites and digital activities for P&O Cruises and Cunard.

Claire Hazle said she’s looking forward to joining Marie Curie. “There’s great enthusiasm and huge potential, with digital buy-in driven by the Chief Executive. The Better Connected programme is very exciting, and I’m looking forward to driving forward the digital part of it.

“One of my first priorities will be overseeing the new website. I’m also looking at how we work at Marie Curie, and immersing myself in the charity’s culture.

“Everyone is so friendly and welcoming. I can’t wait to get my sleeves rolled up and get cracking.”

CV: Claire Hazle • Currently Head of Digital at cruise operator Carnival UK • Previous roles include managing the digital activity for Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life series of runs • Current role includes managing websites, online booking, social media, online advertising, email marketing, search optimisation and online partnerships

An ice way to raise money Marie Curie Nurse Tracey Wylie threw the puck to start the recent Stena Line Belfast Giants match at Odyssey Arena Belfast. Marie Curie raffled 20 special bespoke shirts created by Kukri at the game – giving ice hockey fans the chance to win the shirts off the backs of the players.

April 2014 People

9

Finance Carefully planned expenditure will benefit Marie Curie over the medium to long term...

Service improvements are all about ensuring patients and families get the highquality care they need, consistently.

FUNDRAISING BOOST: Marie Curie had a very successful Swimathon in April 2013

ANDREW WHITEHEAD

money is a means to an end – helping people with a terminal illness. The growth in patient numbers this year represents a significant increase in our patient care,” Andrew said.

EXTRA SPENDING

FINANCE DIRECTOR TAKES A LOOK AT THE NUMBERS Marie Curie’s financial year ends on 31 March, but it will take some time to finalise figures – especially as the charity will be adding up millions of pounds in small change collected throughout March. Marie Curie People asked Finance Director Andrew Whitehead how the year has progressed, based on the latest management accounts (to the end of January), and what his forecast is for the future.

Marie Curie’s fundraising has performed significantly better than forecast throughout the year – so does the charity end the year with balanced books and money in the bank? It’s not that simple – although it does mean that the charity is in a better position in other ways.

“We’re actually aiming to end the year with a slightly bigger deficit than we originally planned,” Andrew said. “The reason for this is that the charity’s trustees have authorised additional spending (see box below left) as the charity’s fundraising has continued to improve.

“This is all carefully planned expenditure that will benefit Marie Curie over the medium to long term. Donor recruitment will increase our income, and our capacity to raise income in the future.

Improving our infrastructure makes us more efficient and more reliable. Service improvements are all about ensuring patients and families get the high-quality care they need, consistently and reliably.”

BUDGET FOR 2014/15 With fundraising income up £2.7 million and positive performances in other areas of the charity, Marie Curie is doing better than expected in its budget.

Of the £2.7 million rise in fundraising, about £1.9 million is higher legacy income, and around £600,000 is community fundraising income – the result of a very successful Swimathon in April 2013, and from higher income from ‘in aid of’ events.

Major gifts fundraising has also done very well, says Finance Director Andrew Whitehead. “Our special events team has successfully delivered a series of highvalue fundraising events, especially the Masterpiece Midsummer Party, which took us significantly ahead of budget.

“I’m very pleased that we will be benefitting from Masterpiece 2014 this summer.”

SHOPS AHEAD OF LAST YEAR Marie Curie Shops have enjoyed a good year’s trading, despite a tough environment on the high street.

“Shops are slight below budget – largely because our store-opening programme is a little behind schedule,” Andrew said. “But they’re still ahead of last year – and they

have the potential to set a new record for their highest-ever profit. Trading in the final weeks of the year will decide whether they manage that.”

The one big uncertainty in fundraising is the performance of the Great Daffodil Appeal, which falls right at the end of the financial year. “It’s critical for achieving a good result at the end of the financial year,” Andrew said.

Marie Curie Cancer Care’s income and expenditure on care and research

Additional spending

Money is being invested in the following areas: • Service improvements, including the introduction of real-time patient feedback.

• Donor recruitment to produce long-term fundraising growth, including the Direct Response TV ads reported on page 6.

• Strengthening the charity’s infrastructure, including increasing staff at the volunteering centre in Pontypool, and several key IT projects.

throughout the year remain close to budget, and show welcome growth in services. Income from the NHS to pay for Marie Curie nursing is up 7% on last year, against a target of 8.1%. Patient numbers have also grown.“ Of course, for Marie Curie Cancer Care,

TOP EVENT: Hugh Grant and Heather Kerzner at the 2013 Masterpiece Midsummer Party

In March, Marie Curie trustees approved the charity’s budget for 2014/15 – anticipating income of £160 million, and a deficit of £5.5 million.

“We have budgeted for additional costs from increasing the nursing workforce at our hospices; continued growth in the Marie Curie Nursing Service; our increasing research commitments and major infrastructure projects,” Andrew said. “However, we can realistically expect our income from fundraising and shops to continue to improve.”

FUNDING THE NEW STRATEGIC PLAN Trustees also approved the use of £8 million from the charity’s reserves to fund key projects that are part of the charity’s strategic plan for 2014/19.

“Our reserves are in strong shape at present, which enables the charity to make this investment,” Andrew said. “Obviously, we will continue close monitoring of income generation and costs throughout the year.

“It’s also important that we continue to keep costs down – and we continue to welcome money-saving tips from colleagues.”

10 People April 2014

Feature

TERMINAL ILLNESS IN PRIME TIME The BBC tackles end of life care in award-winning drama Call The Midwife, as Nurse Jenny Lee leaves convent Nonnatus House to become a Marie Curie Nurse The lead character in the BBC’s Call The Midwife has left the midwifery team to become a Marie Curie Nurse.

In the TV show, nurse Jenny Lee, played by Jessica Raine, inspired by caring for her colleague Chummy’s mother, left Nonnatus House to become a Marie Curie Nurse. The storyline explored issues around the importance of closure and the healing of damaged relationships when someone is dying.

Writer and Executive Producer of the TV series Heidi Thomas wrote the episode for reasons close to her heart.

Heidi said: “I first witnessed the miraculous power of a good death when someone very close to me passed away in a Marie Curie Hospice. Bereavement will always hurt, but letting a loved one go with tenderness and care can be immensely healing for all involved. The end of life is as important as its beginning, which is why we decided to tackle this supremely emotional topic in Call The Midwife.

“Lady Browne is a fictional character, but we wept on set during filming. I think there was a sense that we were, each of us, quietly grieving for someone we had known and lost. Death touches us all, just as birth does. I am so glad we went on this journey with Chummy (played by Miranda Hart, pictured right) and her family, and deeply grateful to organisations such as Marie Curie, who do so much to support and guide people through this defining chapter of their lives.”

Marie Curie praised the makers of Call The Midwife for sensitively tackling the subject of end of life care in the episode.

As a direct result of work by the charity’s PR team relating to the episode, a number of Marie Curie Nurses who had also worked as midwives spoke to the media about their roles, and the charity also gained coverage for its report on Difficult conversations with dying people and their families (see page 5).

Letting a loved one go with tenderness and care can be immensely healing for all involved. The end of life is as important as its beginning.

HEIDI THOMAS, CALL THE MIDWIFE EXECUTIVE PRODUCER

POSITIVE COVERAGE: End of life care is tackled sensitively in Call The Midwife as the mother of Miranda Hart’s character passes away

April 2014 People 11

Feature

The facts behind the story • After practising as a midwife in the East End of London, author Jennifer Worth cared for cancer patients at the Marie Curie Hospital in Hampstead in the 1960s. She left nursing to pursue a career in music in 1973. After she retired, she was inspired to write her first autobiographical book in response to an article in the Royal College of Midwives Journal, which argued that midwives had been underrepresented in literature.

• Both the book and subsequent BBC TV series have been extremely successful. Jennifer Worth’s final book, In The Midst Of Life, documents her experiences as a nurse and ward sister treating patients who were nearing the end of their lives.

• Jennifer Worth died in 2011, months before the first episode of the TV adaptation of Call The Midwife was broadcast.

Life’s beginning and end Marie Curie Nurse and former midwife Ann Brady reflects on her career.

Like Nurse Jenny Lee, my career has moved right from the start to the finish of life’s journey.

“Life and death happen to us all. On the one hand, there is the excitement of preparing for a baby being born and joining a family, and on the other, preparing for the time when someone is going to leave a family.

“A good death is only possible if patients and families have access to specialist palliative care and good pain control at home around the clock.

12 People April 2014

Scotland

GOING THE EXTRA MILE IMAGE: MATTHEW DIXON/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Delivering consistent high-quality care in rural locations presents many challenges. Marie Curie People took a look at how the charity is ensuring its care reaches patients in some of the most remote parts of the UK. training and travel, it’s important that It’s late at night, and a man is dying. we meet National Institute for Health His wife is caring for him, but she’s and Care Excellence quality standards exhausted. The nearest Marie Curie Nurse for end of life around diversity, including lives 50 miles and a ferry crossing away. rurality. Being able to deliver nursing in That’s a common situation for the Marie these areas demonstrates the charity’s Curie Nursing Service in the Scottish commitment to the quality standard.”

Highlands and Islands.

The region has a population of 448,000 – similar to Brighton or Cardiff – but GOING THE DISTANCE spread out across an area of 15,000 In practice, all this means that nurses in square miles. rural Scotland can find themselves “Our main issue is about going the extra mile – or a lot the spread of population further. over a big geographical Val Maxwell, Regional Area of the Scottish area, with difficult terrain Manager, said: “Our and transport networks,” nurses will travel.

Highlands and Islands said Diana Hekerem, On occasion, we in square miles, Divisional Business and provide nurses with with only 30 people Service Development accommodation during per square mile Manager (Scotland). the day between overnight “In Scotland, the divisional visits because the distances caring services team recognises are so far. The winter can cause that rurality is one of the aspects of us real difficulties, particularly lost time diversity – that where someone lives trying to get nurses from mainland areas should not mean that they cannot have when ferries are cancelled. high-quality care at the end of their “The charity’s robust business lives. Families and carers in rural areas continuity planning means that even need the same support and can often feel in difficult conditions, we can maintain incredibly isolated at one of the most the care. We are able to prioritise care difficult times in their lives. and work with the local NHS and other “While it can be more difficult to set up organisations to access 4-wheel drive and run services, and there are additional vehicles.” set-up costs in terms of recruitment, Close community networks bring other benefits, added Diana. “Our fundraising groups in these areas are really strong.

They understand the value of what we do. And rural MSPs have made it very clear to the Scottish Government that we are making that commitment to delivering care in Scotland.”

15,000

Where someone lives should not mean that they cannot have high-quality care at the end of their lives.

DIANA HEKEREM

DIFFERENT APPROACH The challenges of providing care in remote regions have led to Marie Curie devising a different approach to

delivering nursing. Even very remote areas have GP and district nurse services.

And rural doctors and nurses are used to offering care that might – in a town or city – be provided by a specialised service or local hospital.

Marie Curie’s solution is to make use of their skills and expertise by providing additional training to nurses who work primarily in other roles. This enables them to provide the high-quality overnight nursing care that Marie Curie delivers, as and when it is needed.

Val said: “The skills and knowledge that community nursing teams have in delivering palliative care are combined with the additional training provided in their Marie Curie roles.

“Changing the way we’re working has had a demonstrable impact on our being able to meet the needs of patients in those areas.”

OPEN ROAD: Reaching patients living in the Scottish Highlands can be a long journey

‘It can be a 60-mile drive’ Healthcare Assistant Phyllis McKirdy provides Marie Curie nursing in Cowal and Bute in Argyllshire.

She lives on the Isle of Bute.

If I’m caring for someone on the island, I’m normally half an hour away from my patient – it’s often walking distance. But if I need to go to the mainland, I have to catch a ferry.

In bad weather, I need to get out early, because the ferries can go off. On the other side, it can be a 45- to 60-mile drive.

“I love the work, and being one-to-one with patients in their homes. I have always lived on the Isle of Bute – it’s very safe, and I love the scenery, the walking and the golfing.

WORKING WITH GPS In some areas, such as Mainland, the largest Orkney island, Marie Curie services of this kind have been commissioned through local GPs, rather than through health boards.

“A lot of families in Orkney were struggling,” said Diana, “and the GP was aware that their families were stretched to the detriment of their health and wellbeing. Admission to hospital would mean a flight to Aberdeen, so the community tended not to let that happen, but the impact on carers was long-lasting after the patient’s death.

“Our services were commissioned through primary care – through the GP service – with people who work in other nursing roles being trained as Marie Curie Nurses. The primary care team recognises that Marie Curie care is part of keeping families at home and plays a critical part in the community resilience of these areas.”

Another version of the service – in Aberdeenshire CHP, another area of Scotland with very remote and rural populations – involves nurses who work full-time, but in roles that formally combine community nursing and Marie Curie work. They are sometimes asked to provide both types of care to different patients in the same shift – which avoids two nurses being sent many miles to patients who live near one another.

The successful introduction of nursing to Orkney has led to new Marie Curie services being planned for other remote islands, including the Western Isles.

“It takes very close working with commissioners to understand where we can recruit nurses and where we need to base nurses,” said Val, “bearing in mind that for some places you can only access the population by a causeway or by taking a flight.”

April 2014 People 13

Art

Artist’s childhood painting sold in aid of Marie Curie This astonishing image of a crucified Christ suspended over the world was the first oil painting by Scottish artist Peter Howson OBE – and was completed when he was just six.

It has just been sold at auction for £2,400 – with half the proceeds going to Marie Curie Cancer Care.

Painted in 1964, Christ on the Cross went under the hammer at McTear’s Scottish Contemporary Art Auction in Glasgow.

“I dabbled for a while, but the image of Christ on the cross with the world in the background was the first painting that I completed,” he said.

“I do have an emotional connection to the picture, but I wanted to do something for the Marie Curie charity. Marie Curie was one of the first people I studied when I was younger, and I have great respect for the work the charity does.”

Murray Easton, Fundraising Manager, said: “We are thrilled to be associated with such an incredible artist and a work of art that will hold exceptional personal value to Peter.

“Every £20 that is raised will fund at least one hour of Marie Curie Nursing care. We are making a real difference but we can’t do that without such incredible support. We would like to thank McTear’s for their tremendous support and for making this happen and to Peter for his fantastic generosity.”

About Peter Howson Peter Howson has established a formidable reputation as a leading figurative painter. Many of his paintings derive inspiration from the streets of Glasgow, where he was brought up. He is renowned for his insight into the human condition, and his heroic portrayals of the mighty and meek. He was official British war artist for Bosnia in 1993.

Howson recently completed a dramatic rendering of the martyrdom of St John Ogilvie for the renovated St Andrew’s Cathedral in Glasgow.

Life-sized unicorn to be sold by auction A full-sized sculpture of the Unicorn of Scotland has been donated to Marie Curie for auction at the charity’s Private View of the Royal Academy’s Summer Exhibition.

The unicorn is the work of artist Tom Hiscocks, who created it using recycled materials. It is one of a series of works based on the Queen’s Beasts, and inspired by an encounter with the original sculptures in Kew Gardens.

Tom said: “The Queen’s Beasts were characterised for the Coronation, and Portland stone replicas now stand in Kew Gardens. I was inspired to create a different representation of them, so I set about giving them new life, using contemporary materials and different expressions. The Unicorn of Scotland is made from steel

ARTISTIC DONATION: Peter Howson with the painting he created at the age of six

QUEEN’S NEW BEAST: Tom Hiscocks’ interpretation of the Unicorn of Scotland

rods, drinks cans, wire mesh and an old copper water boiler. I am interested in the layers of life and experience that make us who we are, and I have tried to allude to the same idea in making the new Queens Beasts.’’

The idea of the layers of life is continued, in the case of the unicorn, by its references to George Stubbs’ 1762 painting Whistlejacket, and to Mark Wallinger’s 2001 lightbox image, Ghost.

“I donated the unicorn for auction at the Royal Academy because my father has inoperable cancer, and the work that Marie Curie does provides great comfort and support,” Tom said.

His interpretation of the Queen’s Beasts will be on show and open to the public in the pleasure gardens at Blenheim Palace throughout May and June.

Tom has also donated a second piece of art to be raffled for the charity. May’s Marie Curie People will be carrying full details of how you can be in with a chance to win a unique sculpture.

FOR MORE INFORMATION Marie Curie’s Private View of the Summer Exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts takes place on 14 July. For more details see mariecurie.org.uk/RA or email Chandni.Mistry@mariecurie.org.uk.

Art for Care event supports us Marie Curie is set to receive 50% of the sale of works by leading artists at a new event in Glasgow.

The Art for Care event takes place at the Lighthouse Gallery for a week from 12 May. Artists providing works include Gerard Burns, Glen Scouller, Muriel Barclay, Alice Boyle and James Watt.

The event is being organised by May Storrie, who is Patron of the Marie Curie Hospice, Glasgow.

She said: “We are delighted that a lot of artists who have a connection with Marie Curie have donated works.

We have paintings by big names, as well as a whole host of very good amateur artists. We will also be selling sculpture, jewellery, glassware and other pieces of art.

“Some artists who have connections with Marie Curie have donated the whole selling price of their work.

“I’ve had terrific support from the other Marie Curie Patrons – they have been out spreading the word, putting up posters and encouraging artists to take part.

“Our aim is that this will be an event that will have longevity – we have set up the template, and it’s repeatable and transferable to other places.”

The exhibition will be staffed by

ART FOR CARE: Alice Boyle’s Farm Life

Marie Curie volunteers.

May became Patron of the Marie Curie Hospice, Glasgow after her husband, Donald, died at the hospice in 2012. Donald was Patron of the hospice after chairing the Big Build appeal to rebuild it.

“When Donald passed away, I wanted to carry on the work where he had left off,” said May. “Organising this event is a very positive thing to do.”

FOR MORE INFORMATION Art for Care takes place at the Lighthouse Gallery, 11 Mitchell Lane, Glasgow, Scotland G1 3NU between 12-16 May. The gallery’s website is thelighthouse.co.uk

14 People April 2014

My story ETERNALLY GRATEFUL: Robena Shiekh with her children, Usnan and Zaynah

hospice helped us manage this – it’s not something we could have done in a hospital.

REASSURING STAFF

MY STORY

“I didn’t expect to experience such a loving environment” Robena Shiekh’s husband Zahir Shiekh was cared for at the Marie Curie Hospice, Bradford in the last three weeks of his life. She tells their story.

I never expected death to knock on my door at my age. I had two small children – a four-year-old son, and a 10-year-old daughter – when my husband, Zahir, was diagnosed with lung cancer in December 2009. He was 42.

It was terminal and the cancer was in both lungs. There was little they could do, and he commenced chemotherapy within weeks. We had planned to go to Pakistan to visit the family in July.

He really wanted to see them, and to sort out finances and logistics, so we went. It meant he missed his second chemotherapy treatment, but it was what he wanted.

Before we left, the palliative care team visited, and I was very cold towards them. I didn’t want interference in my family. Some Muslim families can feel isolated and distrusting, and may not want to let others in, and I understand their difficulties. It was only over time that I learned I could trust the palliative care team and the hospice.

When we returned to the UK in August, the cancer had spread to Zahir’s brain. He had a DIY store and had been working long hours, but he had to stop.

I was working as an administrator for a magistrates’ court and looking after my children. I had to take time off work to care for him.

CONSTANT CARE Looking after Zahir and two small children was difficult. Zahir needed constant care because he was losing his balance and had trouble walking.

I couldn’t leave him on his own.

In August, the palliative care team suggested we go to the Marie Curie Hospice, Bradford for an assessment. The consultant said Zahir had only weeks or months to live so it made sense to move him into the hospice. That was a big shock. Zahir still seemed very strong, determined and positive – we thought we had much more time. I had hoped he might at least make it to our little boy’s birthday in October. Sadly, he didn’t.

When he moved into the hospice it was so much better than I expected. Zahir had his own room where visitors could stay overnight. There was a prayer room, conservatory, a multi-faith chapel and eating areas.

At the hospice, I really saw the warmth of humanity...

It felt like there was a ring of people holding hands around me and my children. I’ve never experienced this before or since.

The staff listened to me and talked to me about how I was coping. I didn’t expect to make so many new friends and to experience such a loving environment.

WARMTH AND REASSURANCE At the hospice, I really saw the warmth of humanity – no matter what your colour or creed, we were there for each other and I will always carry this feeling with me.

There were always plenty of hugs and reassuring words: it was such an enriching and trusting experience. It felt like there was a ring of people holding hands around me and my children. I’ve never experienced this before or since.

In the last few weeks of Zahir’s life, I thought I wanted to move him so he could die at home, but I changed my mind because at the hospice he could get quick access to pain relief and other medical help. And perhaps even more importantly, at the hospice I knew I would get more quality time with him.

I told family and friends how ill he was and, as is the case with many Asian families, people came from far and wide to visit him at the hospice. It is etiquette to feed visitors so my relatives brought food and we often ate together in the eating area at the hospice. As he became very ill, we had to restrict visitors. The

The hospice staff were so supportive and reassuring, telling me what symptoms to expect. I was worried that I might not be there with Zahir when he died – I might be checking on the children or have popped out.

But one nurse said that if I was meant to be there when he died then I would be. That felt like just the right thing to say.

I was with him at the end on 19 September 2010 – I will never forget it. He had stopped eating three days earlier, he hadn’t woken up for two days and I was pacing all day when they told me it was only a matter of time. I was in the room when he took his last breath. He suddenly opened his eyes and lifted his head. I knew he saw me – it was like he was going to say something to me and couldn’t. He passed away peacefully.

He died late on Sunday night. The following morning, his body was taken to the funeral parlour and then the mosque and buried at lunchtime on Monday. It is very important in my religion to be buried quickly otherwise it would have been very distressing and stressful for me. The community would have passed judgement on us.

Zahir’s death was very hard for me to come to terms with. We had been married 18 years. He was the organiser in our family and I felt lost without him. I had counselling at the hospice for around a year afterwards – it really helped me. But, after Zahir died, I would have liked more contact with those who helped when he was ill.

My daughter, Zaynah, published a poem about her dad’s death and she raised money for Marie Curie at school. I regularly donate in the name of my husband. In giving to charity, I believe – and it’s linked to my culture – that it will help ease his burden and pain. I teach my children this.

I would very much recommend the hospice to friends and family.

Often in the Asian community, people believe the family should look after the relative at home. But I know that this hospice felt like home for me and I couldn’t have looked after my kids and my husband. I will always be grateful for those last days with him.

Sometimes I go to visit the hospice garden or chapel to remember my husband.

Robena has dedicated this feature to the memory of her husband Zahir, and also to her two children Zaynah and Usnan

April 2014 People 15

News

WE’RE RECRUITING FOR THE ULTIMATE CYCLING CHALLENGE An exclusive group of just 25 Marie Curie supporters will get the unprecedented opportunity of cycling on stage one of the Tour de France in Yorkshire – just hours ahead of the publicity caravan and professional cycle teams.

The 25 cyclists taking part in Marie Curie’s Power Peloton event will attend a training weekend in April with performance and nutritional guidance from top coaches. They meet again in July and attend the spectacular presentation of Tour de France teams.

On 5 July, their day will commence with an early morning start, after which the Power Peloton will ride at approximately 18mph for up to seven or eight hours.

Their final sprint into Harrogate will be on closed roads, and they will be cheered on by crowds as they cross the official finish line and pose for photographs on the Tour de France podium.

After a quick change, the cyclists will return to the VIP grandstand to watch the professional peloton arrive before they and a guest celebrate in style at the official dinner.

The following day, they will take part in an easy cycle to a vantage point to catch part of day two of the Grand Départ, and later in the month as the tour draws to a close, the team will enjoy a reunion in Paris with VIP hospitality

These devices are designed to save lives. They are very safe and straightforward to use.

CAROLINE HAMBLETT

Why carers need more support Project Manager Susan Court explains the importance of supporting carers who are looking after someone with a terminal illness.

25

Cyclists

£19,000

Fundraising target in grandstand seats as they witness the yellow jersey claimed for 2014.

Cheryl Barrett is Marie Curie Project Manager of the Tour de France Grand Départ, for which Marie Curie is the official charity partner. She said: “It’s a unique money-can’t-buy opportunity, and is limited to just 25 people. We are asking them each to raise £19,000, which will fund a Marie Curie Nurse for a year.

“The challenge is incredible – both from a fundraising perspective and physically. It’s a tough route, and participants will need to maintain 18mph

on a bike for around eight hours. But they’ll be finishing to huge applause from the crowd – Harrogate is Mark Cavendish’s home town and it’s widely acknowledged that he aims to win in front of his home crowd.”

FOR MORE INFORMATION If you’re a keen cyclist who’s looking for the ultimate fundraising challenge, or you know of someone – perhaps a successful business person – who might be interested, please do get in touch with Cheryl Barrett on 07984 022 066 or email cheryl.barrett@mariecurie.org.uk

New AED devices provided to save lives Marie Curie Cancer Care is installing automated external defibrillators in public areas at its hospices and major offices.

The defibrillators are for use in an emergency if a member of staff, volunteer or visitor collapses and has no pulse.

They can be used by anybody – with or without training – although use of a defibrillator should be followed by CPR. Automated external defibrillators are designed to stimulate a heart that is not beating in the proper rhythm. The device automatically detects whether or not it needs to give that shock to the person it is being applied to – so there is no risk of shocking someone who does not need it.

Director of Services Caroline Hamblett said: “If someone has collapsed and has no pulse, they are certain to die in minutes unless the people immediately to hand take action.

POINT OF VIEW

“These devices are designed to save lives.

They are very safe and straightforward to use. They actually talk you through what you should do. Crucially, they detect when they should and should not shock someone – so if the person who has collapsed has a pulse, they simply will not operate.

“They should be accessible in public places and available for people to use on the same basis as fire extinguishers – and I’m delighted that we now have them at our hospices and other key sites.”

Effective cardiac arrest therapy • In the UK, around 30,000 people sustain cardiac arrest outside hospital. Electrical defibrillation is the only effective therapy for cardiac arrest caused by ventricular fibrillation (VF) or pulseless ventricular tachycardia (VT).

• The delay from collapse to delivery of the first shock is the single most important determinant of survival.

The chances of successful defibrillation decline at a rate of about 10% with each minute of delay.

ESSENTIAL EQUIPMENT: Caroline Hamblett demonstrates an automated external defibrillator with the help of Senior PR and Media Officer Ben Wicks

Without carers, the NHS would collapse and Wales would face a £7.7 billion care bill it can ill afford. Carers provide 96 per cent of all community care in Wales, with 90,000 providing over 50 hours of care per week. The main carers’ benefit is worth just £55.55 for a minimum of 35 hours – equating to just £1.58 per hour. Caring is part and parcel of life, but without the right support, the personal costs of caring can be high.

Caring can take its toll on finances, health, career and family life. Carers may have to give up work to care and rely on low-level benefits, forcing them into poverty. Carers contribute so much to family and community by looking after the person they love, yet in return may face isolation and worry, and get little or no recognition or support for what they do. People providing high levels of care are twice as likely to be permanently sick or disabled.

Caring for someone who is terminally ill at home places a huge amount of stress on carers. If they are unsupported, that stress can frequently become too much, leading to a breakdown in carer health.

Marie Curie recognises the importance of supporting carers. With appropriate support, caring can be life-affirming, deeply satisfying and can provide a real opportunity for both carer and loved one to say goodbye. When carers are enabled in this way, it would be more likely that the people they are caring for will be able to remain in their preferred place of care.

Carers need clear, easily accessible information about the support and benefits available to them. The Marie Curie Caring for Carers Wales Project has developed a series of end of life care awareness sessions around the practical information and support carers need, building skills and confidence in their caring role.

Every day in Wales, over 345 people take on a new caring role which adds to the estimated 370,000 carers already identified within the principality. By working in partnership with Local Health Boards, local authorities, voluntary organisations and other carer support services, we can expand the reach of the project to meet the needs of more Carers across Wales.

FOR MORE INFORMATION Contact Susan Court by email at susan.court@mariecurie.org.uk or call 029 2042 6000.

16 People February 2014

Fundraising

SUN SHINES ON OUR GREAT DAFFODIL APPEAL COLLECTORS

SCOTTISH SUPPORT: Members of East Kilbride Fundraising Group with (second from left) Scottish Parliamentary event host Linda Fabiani MSP

DOGGED DETERMINATION: Furry fundraising

Volunteers were out in their thousands in March to collect for this year’s Great Daffodil Appeal.

Collectors took to the streets and shopping centres across the UK to encourage people to donate and wear a daffodil. The weather was kinder this year, with the warm, sunny days a welcome contrast to the freezing conditions of 2013.

Celebrity support and a TV and radio campaign boosted public awareness and kept donations rolling in.

Liz Thornton, Senior Fundraising Product Manager for the Great Daffodil Appeal, said: “It was fantastic to see so many people collect again for Marie Curie, including lots of staff and volunteers who already help the charity in other ways.

We’re truly grateful to all of our collectors, and to our brilliant fundraising groups for organising and hosting so many collections. I’d also like to say a big thank-you to everyone who donated to the appeal.

“This year we used a variety of media channels, from TV to social, to spread our ‘donate for a daffodil’ message and make the Great Daffodil

Appeal unavoidable. Support from highprofile celebrities really helped the appeal.”

She added: “It’s been great to hear from enthusiastic supporters on social media, and find out about their stories and fundraising activities.”

Great Daffodil Appeal collectors included members of Lions Clubs across the UK. And corporate supporter Northern Rail provided over £100,000 in free marketing space and held collections.

Marie Curie also held Great Daffodil Appeal events at the Palace of Westminster, the Scottish Parliament, the National Assembly for Wales and the Northern Ireland Assembly.

STARS RAISE AWARENESS: Linda Robson chats to Lorraine Kelly

SOCIAL MEDIA Thousands of Marie Curie supporters took to social media to pledge their support, tell the charity about their fundraising and share their stories.

One of those was Victoria Beckham, who tweeted a daffodil picture and asked her 7.4 million Twitter followers to support the appeal.

PLANS FOR GROWTH: Head of Fundraising Campaigns Tracey Murray

FAMILY AFFAIR: Young and old supported the appeal

Appeal growth plans revealed Marie Curie will transform the Great Daffodil Appeal for 2015 and beyond with plans to significantly increase net income.

Head of Fundraising Campaigns Tracey Murray said: “The charity’s Strategic Plan for 2014–19 outlines its ambitious aim to reach 400,000 people. We need more money to deliver those services and the Great Daffodil Appeal is one of the ways we will achieve that growth. We want to make the appeal part of the fabric of the nation.

“We’re looking for the campaign to make £20 million gross income by 2020 and are seeking to deliver an improved return on investment from appeal activity.”

Feedback from staff and volunteers has helped to shape plans for the appeal.

More will be revealed at the charity’s roadshows (see page 4) and in future issues of Marie Curie People.

GETTING A-HEAD? The striking Great Daffodil Appeal outfit certainly helped some fundraisers get noticed

April 2014 People 17

Food for thought Desert island essentials

Do you have an idea for the Food for thought page – a recipe or advice column? Perhaps you would like to feature in our Desert island essentials section? Write to us at mariecuriepeople@mariecurie.org.uk

ANN’S INSIGHT

Collectors’ feedback is positive

Senior Insight Manager Ann Davison applauds our collectors

Baking blogger Suzy Pelta shares her recipe for fantastically fragrant biscuits. Suzy will be an official blogger for the Blooming Great Tea Party from 20–29 June.

INGREDIENTS:

METHOD:

250g unsalted butter 40g strong loose-leaf English Breakfast Tea 250g plain flour 100g icing sugar Pinch of salt

1 Melt the butter in a medium saucepan on the hob. Once melted, take the pan off the heat, add in the tea and leave for five minutes.

2 Mix together the flour, icing sugar and salt in a large bowl.

3 Pour the tea butter through a sieve into the flour, icing sugar and salt. Press down on the tea to release as much butter as possible. Discard the tea leaves.

4 Using your hands, mix together the ingredients. Add in the milk and work together until you have dough.

5 Roll dough into a log shape, cover in cling film and chill in the fridge for 30 minutes.

6 10 minutes before the end of chilling time, preheat the oven to 180 degrees.

7 Remove dough from the fridge.

Slice into biscuits and place on a baking tray lined with baking parchment.

8 Bake on the middle shelf for 12-15 minutes, until the biscuits are light golden brown.

9 Cool on a wire rack, and serve with a good strong cup of tea.

PS Why not experiment with different teas?

IT COULD BE YOU Would you like to be our chef of the month? Email your favourite recipe, a photo of yourself TAKING and a picture of the THE finished dish to BISCUIT: Niall Durdin ana.malinovic@mariecurie.org.uk

Three cheers for our Great Daffodil Appeal collectors!

They are so full of commitment to helping people. We asked them last year why they support Marie Curie and nearly three-quarters said they liked making a difference. ‘Lots of people gave,’ said one. ‘I got to see the ‘nice side’ of Britain.’

With the help of agency Incite, we found out that over half of collectors had a personal connection with Marie Curie or our cause. Around 40% were collecting in memory of someone.

Most collectors were over 45, with one-third over 65 – and mostly women. About 40% of over-65s said they help Marie Curie whenever they can.

It’s a very inclusive appeal. ‘I’m community-minded,’ said one lady, ‘but because I can’t do much physically, I needed something that I could realistically do. The Great Daffodil

Appeal allowed me to do that.’

New collectors were younger and a bit less committed to the charity. The hope is that they will want to get more involved now – especially as nearly a third of 18- to 44-year-olds were collecting in memory of a loved one, so understand the cause.

Three quarters of collectors would consider helping Marie Curie in other ways. The younger age groups, and men, were especially interested in sponsored events. A quarter of 55- to 64-year-olds said they’d consider volunteering at a Marie Curie Shop.

Collecting was easier than expected.

The vast majority of collectors said they were likely or very likely to collect again. They like the fact that it only takes an hour or two to do their bit and they can choose when and where to help. They suggested making the sign-up process easier – something Marie Curie streamlined this year.”

If possible, can I take an app? If I could, I would like WhatsApp. I message my mum in New Zealand on this constantly.

A LUXURY ITEM

Leviathan by Paul Auster. As the story is told through the eyes of the main lead’s best friend, it has this really interesting reflective quality to it.

A hammer. Having just moved house, I can attest to the importance of a good hammer.

A USEFUL ITEM

A BOOK

Recipe of the month...

English breakfast tea biscuits

MORE RECIPES See more of Suzy’s recipes at suzypeltabakes.com

Bright Star, a movie about the poet John Keats, with lots of beautiful clothing in it.

Below are the answers to the Sudoku puzzles on page 19.

WRITE TO US

A FILM

ON THE RUN: Camila Fernandez is running the London Marathon in aid of Marie Curie

FOR MORE INFORMATION You can get more training tips from Hal Higdon’s website at halhigdon.com.

Search under the Marathon drop-down menu for information on the Novice 2 programme.

I’d take three songs: Firstly, Bonnie Tyler’s Total Eclipse Of The Heart. I read this song out as a speech at my best friend’s 21st birthday party. Secondly, Bon Iver’s Skinny Love. I saw his band play live last year – and it was pretty amazing.

Finally, I’d take Lorde’s Team. It would be pretty remiss of me if I didn’t mention my home country’s (New Zealand) current favourite export.

Sudoku solutions

Training for a marathon can take over your life and it’s not always easy to fit it around your schedule. It’s easy to beat yourself up when things don’t go as planned, but I think it’s important to just try your best, do what you can and, when you can, take a friend along with you.

A SONG OR ALBUM

HAMMER TIME: Kirsten Hearn, Policies and Publications Lead for Caring Services, would bring essential tools to her desert island

TIP THREE – Keep motivated, even when things go wrong

My friend recommended running guru Hal Higdon’s training regimes. He has plans for every ability, but I chose the Novice 2 programme.

TIP TWO – Get on a regular training scheme

the miles and keeps you from focusing too much on numbers.

Long runs are one of the most important parts of training and something I never do alone. Chatting while running is a much-needed distraction when you’re clocking up

TIP ONE – Two’s company

Imagine you’re marooned on a desert island – just like on the radio show, except you have a copy of Marie Curie People to read. What items would you want with you? Is there a book or a film you can’t live without?

This month, Kirsten Hearn, Caring Services’ Policies and Publications Lead, takes a seat under the Marie Curie People palm tree. Kirsten’s main role is looking after Caring Services’ publications and non-clinical policies. She is currently developing an internal policy network that meets once every two months to talk about internal or operational policies in development across the charity.

The London Marathon is fast approaching. Supporter Camila Fernandez, who will be running on behalf of Marie Curie, offers her top training tips to all you runners out there.

How do I… train for a marathon?

18 People April 2014

Inbox TOP TWEETS

Here is a selection of the top tweets from the past few weeks.

Follow us on @mariecurieuk or tweet using #mariecurieuk AltrinchamAirCadets @AltyAirCadets

Thank you to everyone that has supported us today collecting for @mariecurieuk #daffodilappeal #Hale #whatwedo

Linda Robson @LindaRobson58

Now bedtime for me just thought I’d share these pics of my mum reet and Larz @mariecurieuk heartfelt Thanks xxxx

Gill Denty @Bluenosegill

Inbox

Inbox is Marie Curie People’s forum for your letters and emails. If you’ve a brilliant idea or a question about our work – or if something is bugging you – email mariecuriepeople@mariecurie.org.uk

THANK YOU FOR MAKING A GREAT DIFFERENCE FOR US I would like to thank all Marie Curie People readers who volunteered to make the Great Daffodil Appeal 2014 truly special.

Once again, we appealed to you all to give up a couple of hours to support our services. As ever, the response was truly magnificent.

Marie Curie staff and volunteers – including so many people from roles outside fundraising – really went the extra mile for us, supporting every aspect of the appeal.

We haven’t got the results in yet, but the weather’s been really good, and we had a formidable presence on the street and in shopping centres, right across the UK. So we’re expecting a good final figure.

So, whether you were out collecting or working behind the scenes, thank you so much.

You really did make a difference.

Tracey Murray Head of Fundraising Campaigns PS We’d love to see you all back next year.

BIRTHDAY GIFT: Chairman Ted Mutimer and the Pennines Fundraising Group present Janine Larkin with a certificate of thanks.

Janine recently turned 30 and asked her party guests to donate to Marie Curie instead of giving her presents, raising £510 during the night. Janine is a Fundraising Group member and a Marie Curie Nurse

THREE MILLION THANK-YOUS

Thanks are also due to our fantastic fundraising teams, who work hard to recruit and support our groups.

March is always an extremely busy time for our groups and, having already beaten last year’s total of £3,043,670, I’m really looking forward to seeing the final total for 2013/14.

If you have any questions about the Fundraising Groups programme, please do contact me.

Kerry Marland Fundraising Volunteer Programme Manager kerry.marland@mariecurie.org.uk

I’d like to say a huge congratulations and thank you to all of our Marie Curie Fundraising Groups, who have raised an incredible £3,154,118 with, at the time of writing, several weeks to go before the year-end.

From our newest groups who joined us this year to our longest-serving groups, they have all done a fantastic job. It’s thanks to them that Marie Curie has such a strong presence – and so many excellent fundraising events – in communities right across the UK.

@mariecurieuk £20 = 1hr care! You gave my dad dignity and respect. There is no price you can put on that.

Bolton Lions Charity @BoltonLions

We’re also considering getting distinctive headgear to match that of @mariecurieuk daffodil hats.

FACEBOOK FRIENDS

Followers on Facebook are speaking out about the valuable support from Marie Curie. Follow us at facebook.com/MarieCurieUK Sandra Watson Only lost my dad last week, but had already signed up to be a collector tomorrow. I’m still doing it. In fact I’m gonna do more hours than I intended to. x Alison Jewitt My husband died nearly 27 years ago and because of Marie Curie he was able to get his wish of dying at home. I am still in contact with our then nurse... I believe it is the right of anyone who is terminally ill to be able to die where they want.

Zamiera Karwar Marie Curie nurses are angels. My family and I will never forget the nurses who cared for my aunt (Nov 2011).

They provided amazing care and support for my lovely aunt in the last few days of her short life.

Sandra Watson lost my dear husband a few days ago and had several MC Nurses. They were all fantastic, but the one I had when my husband passed went that extra mile and I will never forget her.

CARING SERVICES

The refurbishment of hospices to create brighter, open spaces is an exciting element of the charity’s continuing development Dawn Tame-Battell, Assistant Director of Patient Services, outlines the significant building work underway at several Marie Curie Hospices, and why this work is critical to providing specialist care Every year during the Great Daffodil Appeal, I hear wonderful and moving feedback about the excellence of our care, with members of the public taking the time to speak with collectors about their experiences. How frequently do we hear about the buildings in which some of our care takes place?

Not often, I would guess. Yet our hospices are a vital part of the way we are able to provide invaluable specialist care to over 8,000 people and their loved ones each year.

I’m very pleased to say that we now work only in purpose-built hospice buildings. Last year, we opened our brand new West Midlands Hospice, but I really want to share with you some of the other exciting things we are doing.

A few of our hospices are now starting to show their age, so we are working through our estate, using a combination of Department of Health grants and Marie Curie funding, to deliver improvements.

In Hampstead, one of Marie Curie’s first purpose-built hospices – opened by the Queen Mother in 1978 – some of the outpatient areas are being totally overhauled, including the lounge, activity

WRITE TO US

rooms, gym and clinic. This refurbished area will provide a brighter and more spacious day therapies unit.

In Newcastle, a beautiful new patient, visitor and staff cafe facility has just been opened. This is a big improvement on the previous facilities which were no longer meeting the needs of this busy hospice.

And I’m very excited about the array

TEA TIME: Building work on the new cafe facility at Newcastle has just completed

of improvements currently underway at Bradford, which include redecoration, improved ventilation, replacing flooring in certain areas, and improvements to how we use space, such as making the family room open plan.

To make sure we are able to deliver these developments, we have taken the difficult decision to close eight beds for up to six weeks. This is more than first planned, but we felt that the discomfort the works will cause would compromise care for patients in some rooms. The teams at Bradford are going above and beyond to ensure high standards of care and a comfortable and calm environment, not just for patients but their visitors too.

Refurbishments can be disruptive.

Sometimes they can even mean completely moving a hospice facility to a temporary site, as we had to do when the Edinburgh team worked from the Western General Hospital. But when we get through these challenges, we can provide a very special – and specialist – environment where people can receive care, with their loved ones around them.

We’ll keep you updated on progress through Marie Curie People and Pssst!”

Do you have a comment about the charity or one of our articles, or a suggestion for a story?

Write to us at mariecuriepeople@mariecurie.org.uk. Comments and letters may be edited.

April 2014 People 19

Noticeboard 60 SECONDS WITH...

Events support duo earn quarterly award A long-term volunteer at the Marie Curie Hospice, Cardiff and the Vale has received a special royal thank you for his contribution to the hospice.

Basil Priest (pictured with Gloria Hunniford) attended the Royal Voluntary Service Diamond Awards ceremony at Lancaster House, London. He was one of the 60 champions chosen from over 2,000 nominees to receive the Diamond Champion award from HRH The Duchess of Cornwall.

The awards were made to celebrate the fantastic contribution older people make to the community and the difference they make to the lives of others.

Basil joined the charity as a volunteer 26 years ago following the death of his wife at the hospice.

He has given his time ever since, and spends four days a week helping all departments at the hospice. His duties are varied and include helping with driving, gardening, and supporting maintenance, housekeeping and kitchen staff.

Diana Hekerem

Baby Elizabeth Henderson, weighed in at 9lbs 4oz on 5 March. Marie Curie Senior Project Manager Andrew Henderson is her proud dad.

WRITE TO US

Do you have a birth, wedding, civil partnership, retirement or long service award to celebrate? Send details and a photo to mariecuriepeople@mariecurie.org.uk

SUDOKU

Marie Curie People sudoku sponsored by: Create and solve your Sudoku puzzles for FREE.

To play: Complete the grid so that every row, column and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 to 9. There is no guessing or maths involved, just use logic to solve.

Find the solutions on page 17.

Play Sudoku and win prizes at:

prizesudoku.com

1

9 5 7 8 6 1 8 5

9 3 6 8 7 4 5 8 9 9 2 6 5 4 5 8 6 2 7 1

8

6

1 6 8 9 5 3 4 2

1 2 7

3 4

© Puzzles provided by sudokusolver.com

7

6

1 4

1 7 9 3 4

2 8

6 1 8 5

3

© Puzzles provided by sudokusolver.com

Diana Hekerem – fan of sports, cheese and the countryside – is Divisional Business and Service Development Manager (Scotland).

Q: What did you do before you joined Marie Curie? I worked in development in Ukraine and Nigeria. I also had brief periods as a dental clinical audit assistant and quality control in a paint factory – literally watching paint dry.

Q: What are the three most important aspects of your job? Working with experts in and outside Marie Curie trying to innovate new ways to support people at the end of life; working with commissioners of services to maintain or develop the contracts we have with the NHS; and working with operational colleagues to support implementation and design and review of our services.

Q. Describe your typical day. Analysing and mapping services, drafting a business case, reviewing current service design project status, reviewing a policy consultation with the policy team, providing info to major gifts, and reading the latest research to inform a meeting.

Q. What do you do when you’re not at work? I set up the Chukwu Trust for micro credit and education in Africa, and lead the 200 junior section of Falkirk Rugby club. I also run, swim, ice skate and shout at the side of rugby pitches, thanks to my kids.

Q. When was the last time you laughed?

This morning, playing my daughter’s dressing game.

Q. If you were an animal, what would you be? A platypus.

Q. What makes you happy? Being in the Scottish countryside or sitting under mango trees with a cold Star in an African village.

Q. What makes you sad? How much ignorance can ruin people’s lives.

Q. What did you want to be when you grew up? A financial consultant and hippy.

Q. What’s your favourite pudding? Cheese.

Q. Which five people, alive or dead, would you like to invite to dinner? Mohammed Yunus (founder of microcredit); my gran (she was a scientist 80 years ago and died before I could ask her interesting questions); Dr Ben Goldacre, author of Bad Science; Sandi Toksvig (The News Quiz); and Emily Pankhurst (suffragette).

’S E I R U RIE C

MA

Y T R A P É D D N A

GR

HELP MARIE CURIE PUT ON THE BIGGEST GRAND DÉPARTY yorkshire • Cambridge • London

Charity reg no. 207994 (England & Wales), SC038731 (Scotland) S690

Get your friends, family and community together and celebrate the Tour de France Visit mariecurie.org.uk/granddeparty to get started

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