Spring 2023 Newsletter

St Luke’s News

Welcome to our Spring edition of St Luke’s News in which we celebrate the Hospice’s 35th year of caring in the heart of the community.

A lot has changed since the Hospice first opened its doors to patients back in 1988, but our aims and values remain the same. We want all local people with a life limiting illness, and those close to them, to have access to the care and support they need, when and wherever they need it.

We are now extending our support to patients in their homes, as well as in the Hospice buildings, and you can read more about our new weekend palliative care service on the next page. You may

also be aware of our Night Care Service which we launched last year with the aim of supporting patients and their carers overnight in their own home. Meanwhile our new Dementia Carers’ Workshops run through Day Hospice have proved a vital support for those caring for a loved one with dementia and we have been overwhelmed by the response.

One thing that hasn’t changed over the past 35 years is the heart warming support and kindness we receive from you. Without you St Luke’s simply wouldn’t be here. Your generosity enables us to continue supporting those who need us and allows us to look to the future to extend those services to reach even more local people.

This Newsletter includes lots of ways you can support St Luke’s in the future, from our ‘Hearts of Gold’ Spring Appeal on page 6 to volunteering in our shops (see page 10). Plus you could enter our Summer Superdraw for just £1 a ticket!

I hope you enjoy reading it and - however you choose to support St Luke’s - I thank you on behalf of everyone at the Hospice and the patients and families we will care for in the future.

Neil Wright CEO

How to contact us

St Luke’s Hospice, Grosvenor House, Queensway, Winsford, Cheshire CW7 1BH

T 01606 551246 E enquiries@slhospice.co.uk www.slhospice.co.uk

Neil Wright, St Luke’s CEO

Weekend support for patients at home Support

at weekends is just a phone call away for palliative patients and their carers thanks to our new weekend service.

We know how worrying and isolating it can feel to care for a loved one at home, especially when services typically only run Monday to Friday. To bridge this gap, we have introduced a new weekend palliative care service as part of our overall ‘St Luke’s at Home’ initiative.

Senior Nurse Debbie Collins, who has been running the service since its launch last year, said: “We’ve had some lovely feedback, it really has been a lifeline for patients and their families in the community who can feel very alone at weekends and unsure of where they can access help and support.

“Often they want to discuss symptoms or certain aspects of care that they are struggling with. Their loved one might be in more pain and they need advice and simply can’t wait until Monday. I can’t prescribe medication but I can seek guidance from the Hospice’s on-call medical team, if required, or speak with the GP out-of-hours service on the patient’s behalf.

“I can also go out and see the patient at home to provide extra support to both them and their family, or provide hands on care if that’s needed.

“We’ve also had good feedback from District Nurses who are able to liaise with us and get palliative care advice when they need it.”

The Weekend

Palliative Care Service is available every Saturday and Sunday from 9am to 5pm.

If you would like to make a donation or raise money to support the care we provide, please call 01606 551246 or visit www.slhospice.co.uk/donate

Nurse Debbie Collins provides the new weekend service

“The perfect place for Mum to finish her race”

TheGarratt family say they will never forget the “incredible compassion and love” shown to their mum in her final days on our Inpatient Unit.

Grandma-of-12 Susan Garratt died at the Hospice in August last year, just six weeks after she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

Susan’s son Neil Garratt said: “We had lost my dad in June and leading up to his

funeral Mum complained of pains. The day after the funeral we had to take her to A&E and we were given the news that she had pancreatic cancer and was in the final stages of life.

“It was devastating. We were planning for her life without Dad and believed we would still have years to enjoy with her. She was a very hands on grandma who loved and lived for her grandchildren.”

To find out more about our Inpatient Unit and the services we provide at the Hospice please visit www.slhospice.co.uk/ourservices

Susan Garratt pictured with her four sons and grandsons on their last holiday together as a family

Susan from Winsford enjoyed one last holiday with her four sons Neil, Mark, Paul and Jamie, and their families, before coming to St Luke’s for the final days of her life.

Neil said: “We knew we were facing our final moments with her and we spent every day with her, sleeping in her room next to her bed. For my brothers and I it was hugely helpful emotionally for us all to be together.

“Nobody will ever be able to take those precious days away. There was a feeling at the end that we had all been in the right place at the right time, and to have been able to do that in such comfort and in such a beautiful way was really special. It didn’t change the sadness, or the pain or the heartache but it was right to be there.

“There was a lovely relationship between Mum and the nurses which was just wonderful to see and there was never a lack of time or people, there was always somebody there for us. The last thing you think about is eating but I remember the nurses giving us bacon butties and providing us with sheets at night so that we could stay by her bed.

“We had lots of meetings with the doctors and they were extremely helpful and informative and just guided us and held our hands through a situation that you can never be prepared for. It was incredibly compassionate and we felt very well informed all the way through.

“We were the voices Mum heard at the end and she knew we were there and that really is special. It was the perfect place for Mum to finish her race.”

“The staff were amazing, so compassionate and loving and very people centred. The care was tailored perfectly to our needs.”

There was a feeling at the end that we had all been in the right place at the right time.

“ Neil Garratt

Hearts of Gold

ThisSpring we are delighted to share our ‘Hearts of Gold’ Appeal with you - a beautiful way to celebrate everlasting love and those who hold a special place in your heart.

A stunning addition to your garden or home, your ‘Heart of Gold’ could be an everlasting tribute in memory of a loved one – someone you carry with you forever in your heart - or simply a beautiful gift to someone special.

By giving a suggested donation of £31.04 for your ‘Heart of Gold’, you will be kindly funding one hour of vital nursing care at the Hospice.

As we celebrate St Luke’s 35th year in the heart of the community, we hope donations to our Hearts of Gold Appeal will help us continue to be here for years to come, providing our special care and support to thousands of local patients and their families.

To make a donation to our Hearts of Gold Appeal please visit www.slhospice.co.uk/heartsofgold

“ If there ever comes a day when we can’t be together, keep me in your heart. I’ll stay there forever.

“

A. A. Milne

You don’t need to have a connection with St Luke’s to dedicate a ‘Heart of Gold’. You may wish to order one for your own garden in memory, or they are a beautiful gift for a special occasion such as a wedding or wedding anniversary, a thoughtful gift for a friend or even a way to say thank you to someone who has a heart of gold themselves.

Our ‘Heart of Gold’ has been crafted in a family-run forge in the UK. It is made from powder coated steel and will last for many years, either indoors or outdoors. It stands 54cm tall and 18cm wide.

St Luke’s long term supporter and volunteer Val Wright has spoken about the amazing care her sister received at the Hospice and why she is dedicating a heart of gold in her memory.

She said: “St Luke’s is a pillar of strength to everyone who walks in through the door. I will be forever grateful for the care they gave my sister Doreen who passed away in 2000.

“Every single member of staff is amazing, and the nurses are considerate and caring to all patients and their families. They all do a wonderful job.

“It’s so sad that so much has to be raised by fundraising events for them to provide the wonderful care they give to local people, it’s out of this world and they go above and beyond every single day.

“Please support this Spring Appeal if you are able to help them care now and in the future.”

To order your Heart of Gold please visit: www.slhospice.co.uk/heartsofgold or complete the order form overleaf and return to us with your kind donation.

www.slhospice.co.uk/heartsofgold

“I carry your heart, I carry it in my heart”

Hearts of Gold Order Form

Your Gift, our Future

Do you know that as a small local charity, more than 85% of our funds come from people like you either giving donations, taking part in fundraising events, supporting our shops and leaving gifts in Wills.

In fact the kindness of supporters leaving a gift to the Hospice in their Will has helped to fund many of our services over the years and has been particularly vital during the pandemic and in the current financial climate.

Claire Langston, Head of Fundraising at St Luke’s, explains: “We are always overwhelmed and so incredibly grateful when a supporter remembers the Hospice in their Will. It is amazing to think that a decision someone made, perhaps years previously, when writing their Will could have such a positive impact on St Luke’s future. They really are leaving a lasting legacy which will benefit so many local people and their families.

“This was keenly felt during the pandemic when some generous gifts in Wills made a huge difference to St Luke’s and really did see the Hospice through some of the toughest times. If only we could tell those supporters what their kindness has meant.”

We understand that leaving a gift in a Will is a significant decision. We appreciate every single donation we receive – big or small. A gift of just 1%, for example, in your Will to St Luke’s Cheshire Hospice will make a difference to future patient care and ensures those closest to you receive the remaining 99%.

FREE Online Will Service

St Luke’s has teamed up with bereavement support specialists Guardian Angel to give our supporters the opportunity to make a Will online for FREE.

To find out more visit www.slhospice.co.uk/will

To find out more about leaving a gift in your Will please visit www.slhospice.co.uk/will

The Heart of Hartford

EveryWednesday, a group of lovely volunteers descend on our Hartford shop. Their loyalty to St Luke’s is inspiring with the longest reigning volunteer clocking up almost 17 years working at the shop. They all started at different times but have formed a special friendship group.

The ‘Wednesday Rebels’, as they call themselves, now meet for regular lunches – the camaraderie and energy that fills the room when they get together really rubs off on those around them. Their love for St Luke’s shines through their work; every book is carefully selected, windows are beautifully dressed and clothes are delicately steamed.

Dorothy, who has volunteered for 13 years, says: “We were just put together randomly on the same shift and we are now a great group of friends!”

Christine, the newest volunteer adds: “I joined because of my love for the Hospice and I wanted to give something back. Family members and myself have been cared for by St Luke’s.”

Elaine who is the Shop Manager at Hartford says: “We are so lucky to have so many fantastic volunteers who care for the shop and the community. It’s so great that they have made life-long friendships from it! A beautiful bunch.”

All our volunteers work so hard and allow us to continue the work we do in the heart of your community.

To find out more about how to become a volunteer please visit www.slhospice.co.uk/volunteer

(From left to right) Beryl, Catherine, Pauline, Dot, Jean, Jennifer, Christine & Mike

Serving our Community

As well as the ‘Wednesday Rebels’, all our volunteers allow us to keep our shops open six days a week, helping the Hospice to continue the vital work it does. Volunteering also allows you to be a part of your community, meet new people and have fun! We caught up with a few of our shop volunteers about why they decided to volunteer for us.

Louise has volunteered in our Alsager Shop for the past 15 years, after a career in accounting. She says: “I love working with the team and to work with children’s clothes and toys is lovely.”

Erin has volunteered in our Nantwich Shop for a year, she explains: “After suffering from post-natal depression, getting back to work wasn’t a priority, but I wanted to do something positive with my time. It has helped build my confidence, build friendships and feel myself again. My daughter is two now and I’ve come a long way in my recovery, which is partly thanks to the St Luke’s team.”

Mike volunteers three mornings a week at our Hartford Shop. He says: “I retired about three years ago from my retail career, and I volunteer here to stay busy. It’s great fun.”

If our volunteers have inspired you, why not try volunteering yourself? You are guaranteed a warm welcome.

To chat more about the different volunteering roles available you can pop into your local shop or email volunteer@slhospice.co.uk

Mike works on the till at our Hartford Shop

Erin helps sort stock in our Nantwich Shop

Louise helps at our Alsager Shop

Ready, steady, shop...

Did you know?

326volunteers currently work in our shops, providing over

3000 hours of their time each month.

Our Middlewich Shop is currently being refurbished and we are looking forward to reopening later in the spring.

Our shops...

St Luke’s at Crewe

64A Market Street, Crewe, CW1 2HD

St Luke’s Furniture Warehouse

Unit 8, Pineapple Park, Road One, Winsford Industrial Estate, Winsford, CW7 3PR

St Luke’s at Alsager

3 Crewe Road, Alsager, ST7 2EW

St Luke’s at Hartford

285 Chester Road, Hartford, CW8 1QL

St Luke’s at Nantwich

19 Pepper Street, Nantwich, CW5 5AB

R&B by St Luke’s Hospice

99 Witton Street, Northwich, CW9 5DR

St Luke’s at Sandbach

1500 bags of donations are kindly donated each week to our shops.

We offer FREE furniture collection.

You can arrange your collection online at www.slhospice.co.uk/ free-furniture-collection

24 Congleton Road, Sandbach, CW11 1HJ

St Luke’s Furniture and Fashion

72 Delamere Street, Winsford, CW7 2LU

St Luke’s at Winsford

38a Dingle Walk, Winsford, CW7 1BA

St Luke’s at Middlewich

76 Wheelock Street, Middlewich, CW10 9AB

St Luke’s Ebay

www.ebay.co.uk/str/stlukescheshirehospice

To find out more about our shops visit www.slhospice.co.uk/shops

Breaking down barriers to hospice care...

We want St Luke’s to be a safe, comfortable and inclusive space for all members of our community.

We are therefore delighted that the Hospice has been awarded the Navajo Merseyside and Cheshire LGBT Charter Mark.

staff at the Hospice by increasing their knowledge and confidence in discussing sexual orientation and gender identity.

The training introduces teams to key terms and definitions, and helps staff to understand best practice, reflect and explore situations in which these terms may be used.

It’s hoped the training will be a positive first step in building a culture of inclusivity and openness across teams and with LGBTQ+ patients and visitors.

In September Ellen was invited to speak at the Hospice UK National Conference in Glasgow to share her work with other hospices across the UK.

This equality mark signifies good practice, commitment and knowledge of the specific needs, issues and barriers facing LGBTQ+ people when accessing care.

LGBTQ+ Facilitator Ellen Coleman has been supporting St Luke’s and two other Cheshire hospices over the past 18 months. Working with the local LGBTQ+ community, Ellen has developed resources and training to support

Ellen Coleman

CEO Neil Wright, Matron Kate Estcourt and Ellen Coleman receive the charter mark

Our long term goals are to make sure that people don’t perceive hospices to be something they can’t access. We want to remove any barriers for anybody accessing end of life care.

Play today and you could WIN cash for the summer!

To celebrate 35 years of care in your community you could be in with the chance of winning a huge £3,500 with our new Summer Superdraw Raffle. A fun and simple way to raise vital funds for our Hospice, for just £1 a ticket you could win some BIG cash prizes.

If you would like to be in with the chance of winning this summer, please return your raffle tickets in the envelope provided or send to:

St Luke’s Summer Superdraw

St Luke’s Hospice Promotions Ltd.

Grosvenor House

Queensway, Winsford

CW7 1BH

£3,500 GRAND PRIZE

£1,000 SECOND PRIZE

£350 THIRD PRIZE

AND 10 RUNNERS UP PRIZES OF £35

Alternatively, you can enter online now at: 68p from the sale of each ticket goes directly to patient care, 20p is used for prizes and 12p is used for administration costs.

www.slhospice.co.uk/summersuperdraw

Terms and conditions:

The raffle will take place on Thursday 20th July 2023. The likelihood of winning a prize is a 1 in 3981 chance, however the patients and families we care for win with every £1 ticket bought. (Average figure based on our Summer Raffle 2022)

How your support makes a difference

Amum from Crewe says she “can’t praise or thank St Luke’s enough” for the care and support she has received from our Day Hospice during her recovery from breast cancer.

43-year-old Helen Longworth was diagnosed with breast cancer in September 2021 on the day her youngest son started school. Helen said: “Nobody asks to be diagnosed with cancer, it’s a club that you never want to be a member of and it turns your whole life upside down. I always assumed St Luke’s was a hospice, I didn’t realise all of the other services they offer.

“I am really lucky that I have amazing family and friends who have supported me through my treatment, but St Luke’s gave me space away from home, a safe place, where there was somebody else I could talk to about everything.”

Helen accessed reflexology and hypnotherapy sessions through Day Hospice. She said: “It became something to look forward to each week. You don’t want to burden your family and friends all the time so to be able to chat with a nurse made such a difference, I could unload without fear of causing upset.”

Last summer Helen developed swelling

in her hand and was referred to our Lymphoedema Team for support. She also attends the Christie Clinic based at the Hospice for blood tests every two weeks and says having these services available close to home is such a benefit.

“It just makes life so much easier, especially when I’m working and juggling picking the children up from school. Treatment is just the start of the journey, and that’s where St Luke’s has come in, helping me to move forward with my life.

“I know that times are hard for everyone but if you can spare just a few pounds to support St Luke’s it will really make a difference and help other people like me.”

You can help support more patients like Helen by entering our Summer Superdraw – and you might even win £3,500 in time for the summer!

Helen supporting St Luke’s with her husband Chris and sons James & Sam

Business Buddies

Aswe receive just 15% of our funding from the Government, we rely heavily on the kindness of the local community and businesses to help us raise the rest - businesses just like Tata Chemicals.

Tata has kindly supported St Luke’s for more than ten years, not just as a company but through their staff whose dedication to the work of the Hospice is nothing short of amazing.

Their workplace fundraising includes everything from running daily tuck shops to making and selling chilli jam. Staff regularly volunteer at the Hospice charity shops and at our events, but it’s their annual self-styled summer challenges that are the highlight of the year. In the past, Tata staff have walked the Cheshire Canal Ring, rode across the country on motorbikes and taken on a multitude of walks and treks - in fact during the pandemic they ‘virtually’ walked to their global Headquarters in India!

And the great news is that their support is as strong as ever! This year, Tata Chemicals kindly agreed to sponsor our Twilight Walk at Delamere Forest. By covering our costs, it means that every pound raised by participants has gone to support more patients and their families, which is just fantastic! www.slhospice.co.uk/twilightwalk

For information about how your workplace can support St Luke’s visit www.slhospice.co.uk/corporate-fundraising

Tata Chemicals is sponsoring our new ‘Twilight Walk’ at Delamere Forest

A summer of gardens

Norley Court, Marsh Lane, Norley, Nr Frodsham WA6 8NY

Sunday 30th April | 2pm - 5pm

Open for the NGS with teas for St Luke’s Hospice.

Mayfield House, Moss Lane, Bunbury Heath, CW6 9SY

Sunday 14th May | 12.30pm - 4.30pm

Garden opening and teas supporting St Luke’s Hospice.

Tirley Garth, Willington CW6 ORQ

Sunday 21st May | 1pm - 5pm

Open garden for the NGS with teas supporting St Luke’s Hospice and local charities.

Tirley Garth, Willington

CW6 ORQ | Thursday 25th May

A ticket only tour with the Tirley Garth gardening team. To include cream tea and fizz. Limited numbers - purchase tickets at www.slhospice.co.uk/takepart

Millford House Farm, Wettenhall | Sunday 8th July

A ticket only open gardens with cream teas. Limited numbers - purchase tickets at www.slhospice.co.uk/takepart

The Firs, Old Chester Road Barbridge CW5 6AY | Sunday 30th July and Sunday 6th August | 11am - 4pm

Open for the NGS with teas for St Luke’s Hospice.

Would you consider opening your garden in support of St Luke’s and being part of our Hospice

Open Garden Events in 2023?

Please email: jane.thompson@slhospice.co.uk

For information about our events please visit www.slhospice.co.uk/takepart

5 minutes with...

Inpatient Unit Nurse Rachel LawledgeEvans joined the St Luke’s family six months ago.

Q. What made you want to be a nurse?

A. I’ve wanted to be a nurse since I was a little girl. I grew up knowing about the great work of St Luke’s as my Nana worked as a nurse at the Hospice during the 90s. She was really proud when I told her I got the job! I’ve previously worked at Leighton Hospital on the surgery and cancer ward and in community care, so St Luke’s is the perfect fit for the knowledge and care that I can give.

Q. What do you love about working at St Luke’s?

A. I love the support that we offer families as well as the patient - helping them deal with a life-changing diagnosis and offering places for family members to sleep so they can be with loved ones 24/7. The role is rewarding but can be very tough and sad at times. However St Luke’s is great with the support offered to nurses. Every Thursday we have discussions with the team about teachings and reflections we can learn to help us process hard situations.

Q. What is the most rewarding part of your role?

A. I love working here, it’s wonderful to be able to spend time with patients, getting

“It’s a really rewarding job. It’s so nice just to be able to spend time with patients and families. You feel like you’ve made a difference.

to know them, washing, dressing and caring for them. Just to make a cup of tea and have a chat with patients is very important.

Recently I was able to discharge a patient, after helping him with symptom management, and he said to me ‘I just wanted to give up and had such low mood but I came here and you’ve all lifted me up, I’m going to miss you all so much. I’m feeling loads better now and looking forward to going to the pub with friends again.’ It is incredible to see the difference we can make to someone’s life, which is why I do this job.”

Rachel Lawledge-Evans Inpatient Unit Nurse

For more information about the range of services offered at St Luke’s please visit www.slhospice.co.uk/ourservices

Care to play?

Can you help patient care at St Luke’s by supporting Rachel and our other nurses to continue their work?

For the last 29 years the St Luke’s Hospice Lottery has been our biggest single source of funding, and from the first draw in 1994 until the present day it is still only £1 a week to play!

By joining you will be supporting us to continue to offer all our services for local families completely free of charge.

The money raised by the Lottery goes direct to patient care, funding 1 in every 5 patients who are cared for on our Inpatient Unit.

So not only could you be in with the chance to win up to £1,000 each week but you will be supporting patient care, it’s win-win!

Give a little, care a lot

To find out more about our Lottery and to sign up please visit www.slhospice.co.uk/lottery

(left to right) Sister Liz Freeman, Healthcare Assistant Emma Jones & Sister Leah McAteer