Hello, and a very warm welcome to our Autumn edition of Impact.
This is a very special edition of our newsletter as we introduce the remarkable milestone of reaching nearly 40 years of dedicated hospice care for the Fylde coast. And we want to share this important occasion with you because without you, Trinity Hospice simply wouldn’t be here.
Hospice supporters like you are absolutely vital to our charity, providing more than two thirds of the overall income we need to keep our services running and free of charge at the point of need. Put simply, it is only because of you that we are able to provide consistently good care to everyone in our community who need it.
Thanks to you, we can be there for local families at difficult times when they need us most.
In fact, in the run up to our celebration year, we’ve never needed our supporters more, and we’ve joined a national call on the new government to commit to reviewing the financial support it provides to hospices across the UK; charities like ours which play an essential role in the wider health care system.
And in the meantime, we’re doing all we can to ensure that everyone who needs our expert care is able to receive it, from premature babies to the frail elderly thanks to your fundraising efforts and donations. However you support us, we are here because of you.
Thank you for all you do to support local hospice care. I hope you enjoy this newsletter, celebrating you and all you do for the people who have needed hospice care over the last 40 years.
David Houston Chief Executive
Spotlight on Hospice Funding
We have joined a national call led by Hospice UK – the umbrella charity for hospices across the United Kingdom – for the new government to commit to a review of the funding it gives to hospice charities.
The government provides an annual grant to hospices, supporting the care it provides to local people as they approach the end of life, and recognising the significant impact hospices have on the wider health care system.
Over 10 years ago, our government funding covered 35% of our overall annual costs. But because of inflation and a lack of sustainable increases to this grant, it now covers less than 27% of our annual budgeted costs. The difference, therefore, must be met by our community, which goes above and beyond in its dedication to supporting our charity.
At the same time, demands for our care continue to increase, saving a huge amount in NHS in resources.
Last year alone, we supported 70% of all local people who died at home. And of all people dying on the Fylde coast, wherever they are, we supported 41%.
CEO David Houston says: “We are not an insignificant part of the wider health and social care system. We have a large hospital team working in partnership with the Vic, supporting 31% of people who died in hospital. Our In-patient Unit which cares for people with the most complex and challenging health care needs at the end of life cared for 455 patients last year, and supported 310 deaths.
“For each of those individuals, their families and people close to them, that journey was transformational. We only have once chance to get it right.
“Nationally, we are at a tipping point with regard to palliative and end-of-life care and the whole health and social care system is on the edge. Yet we were given 0.6% increase in funding this year, and a 0% increase in our funding the previous year. And we are all worse off by 15% through inflation.
“People will continue to die, and effective holistic care requires investment. If that’s not there, people’s chances of a good death become far more variable.
“In the next 20 years there will be a 20% increase in the number of people dying in UK – we’re all living longer with complex conditions.
“Now is the time for the government to fundamentally tackle this funding crisis so that all those who need access to consistently good palliative and end-oflife care, which is free at the point of need are able to do so.”
Setting our priorities for local specialist care
We are working with our health care partners across the Fylde coast to develop and deliver a new Integrated Fylde Coast Palliative and End-of-Life Care Strategy, setting out how care of all people in Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre at end of life should be provided, regardless of where they are and who’s looking after them.
The strategy is based on six ambitions identified by key partners, based on feedback from local people and health care workers who have experienced palliative and end-of-life care.
The six ambitions:
Across the Fylde coast, all health care providers are committed to providing palliative and end-oflife care that is consistently good to all local people, wherever they are and whenever they need it. We are passionate about making sure all patients have the most positive experience possible as they reach the end of their lives.
It is our vision to achieve consistently good and timely access to palliative and end of life care for the communities of Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre.
• Each person is seen as an individual
• Each person gets fair access to care
• Maximised comfort and wellbeing
• Coordinated care
• All staff are prepared to care
• Each community is prepared to help
A trip down memory lane
Our popular Dementia Lounge continues to go from strength to strength as people living with dementia and their carers join us at the hospice each month for activities, advice and the chance to meet new people in similar circumstances.
And each year, during Dementia Action Week, it’s our pleasure to work with our friends at Blackpool Transport to organise our Heritage Tram event, offering local people living with dementia an opportunity to enjoy a trip down memory lane.
We take our guests on a tram ride from Pleasure Beach to Little Bispham and back, stopping off for fish and chips with thanks to Papas and enjoying entertainment from Thornton Cleveleys Brass Band. We all had a wonderful time.
This year, we also used Dementia Action Week to launch the Butterfly Scheme at Trinity.
The scheme is a commitment to a specific way of working with a patient who has memory impairment.
A milestone birthday for Trinity
On 3rd June 1985, after years of planning, fundraising and a large build project, Trinity – the Hospice in the Fylde accepted its first patient to what was then the Brian Wyres Wing.
The moment brought to reality a vision led by Blackpool GP Dr David Cooper; to have a facility in the resort that prioritised dignity and comfort for people who were dying.
Over four decades, our mission hasn’t changed – to provide consistently good palliative and end-of-life care to all who need it across the Fylde coast; wherever they are, whatever the hour.
Next year will be one of celebration for Trinity with the thousands of people whose support we couldn’t do without.
We’ll be reflecting on our achievements over the last 40 years both inside and outside of the hospice, and setting ambitious plans to ensure we can confidently meet the needs of all those across Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre who need our outstanding hospice care.
If you have memories to share about our care over the last 40 years, email them to trinity.enquiries@trinityhospice.co.uk
Celebrating memories of loved ones
Here at Trinity, we are privileged to get to know a patient’s family while we are providing our specialist care, and our events held in memory of our patients give us the chance to see their loved ones again and celebrate the lasting memories we have of them.
Our nurses spent time caring for Linda in her home before she was admitted to Trinity Hospice, where she spent her final days.
As well as providing our outstanding care to her, we were able to support her husband, Dave, and daughter, Sophie.
“I’m indebted to the hospice,” Dave said.
Dave & Linda
“The help that we got from the nurses while we were caring for Linda at home was just brilliant; we wouldn’t have been able to do it without them.”
Dave says he does what he can to support our charity in thanks for the care his family received, and in particular has a leaf on our Memory Tree honouring Linda and attends some of our inmemory events at the hospice.
He said:
“Attending Memory Meadow and having a leaf on the Memory Tree is about more than just remembering Linda. Of course, I’ll never forget her. But this is my way of supporting the hospice after everything they did for us.”
Craig’s extra mile(s) for the hospice
We’re always in awe of the extremes some of our supporters go to.
And one in particular has turned his hand to any challenge presented to him.
Through his pub, The County in Lytham, Craig Daniels and his customers are regular supporters of our charity. But Craig himself is used to putting himself through the paces to raise money in memory of his dad, Reg, who we cared for back in 2008.
Not only did he complete one mile of running and three miles of cycling every single day for 12 months to mark Reg’s 10-year anniversary, but he’s a regular participant the Beaverbrooks Blackpool 10k Fun Run. In fact, last year, as we celebrated 40 years of this incredible event, Craig made headlines as he took part dressed as the Blackpool Tower.
Add to that, he ran this year’s London Marathon.
In total, Craig has raised an absolutely astonishing sum of money for us over the years that totals tens of thousands of pounds! And now he’s become one of our latest Event Marshalls, helping us to keep our events safe and enjoyable for the thousands of people who take part in them.
He recently joined us at Starr Gate Beach to help us set up our most colour event, Blackpool Colour Run. Craig said: “Dad had a short illness and wasn’t in the hospice long, but we still got to know that Trinity truly is a magical place. The whole team does so much to look after their patients and do so much for the families and people in there as well.
“It’s just unbelievable what they do there, and that’s why I’ll always do everything I can to support it.”
Sean’s reaching new heights in fundraising
For the last five years, Sean Lynden has dedicated any spare time he has to raising money for Trinity Hospice and Brian House Children’s Hospice.
Through his company, Blackpool Industrial Roofing, Sean and his daughters Megan and Jordan have hosted a charity golf day at Poulton Golf Club which last year alone raised more than £50,000 thanks to support from other local businesses.
This year, Sean knew he needed to do something bold to take his fundraising to new heights, and embarked on an endurance challenge to climb Mount Kilimanjaro!
With friends and local business owners Andy Nuttall and Kevin Clough by his side, the trio set off on 14th July and reached the summit at 5,895m eight days later. Fresh from their return, the group was ready for the annual golf day event.
A huge thank you to them for raising an astonishing £90,000 this year!
Our Corporate Partnerships Manager, Janet Atkins, says: “Sean has been an absolutely incredible supporter of our charity for a number of years, always pushing to raise more and make a bigger difference to the local people who need hospice care.
“But with Sean it’s not just about the money he has raised; he is such a passionate and dedicated supporter, always striving to come up with bigger and better plans and getting more and more of his own network of friends, family, colleagues and local businesses involved. To have reached the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro is a fantastic achievement after all his hard work to train for this latest adventure.
“We are so thankful to him and everyone involved in this charity challenge and all those who support his golf day each year.”
If you want to use your company and business connections to support local hospice care, call Janet on 01253 952559.
Marathon effort from one of our own
As well as helping to provide exceptional care at Blackpool Victoria Hospital, our hospitalbased Palliative Care Team holds fundraising activities throughout the year so that we can continue to be there for all who need us.
Just this year, some of the team scaled Snowdon and conquered the world’s fastest zip line raising an incredible £1,309.
Now, Advanced Clinician Nurse Practitioner, Cara Cooper, is taking her fundraising further and is currently training for next year’s London Marathon!
Cara said: “I think the London Marathon is something most people who like to run want to do.
“I’ve applied for the last 10 years but have never got a place, so it was such a surprise when the phone rang and I was told I’d been successful for next year’s event!!” Cara has got a place through Hospice UK – the umbrella charity for adult hospices in the United Kingdom.
She added: “Now I’ve got a place, I’m nervous about it but I’m still excited to do it. It’s a once in a lifetime experience.
“I started training with long walks and leg stretches, and now I’m full swing into the training programme of walking or running three times a week with a big run planned each week.
“My biggest worry is injury.” Cara hopes to complete the marathon in under five hours and would be over the moon with a finish in under four and a half.
Cara has set up a JustGiving page and has a target of raising at least £2,000.
She said: “Working for Trinity, I get to see first hand the difference good hospice care can make to a family going through a very difficult time.
“Everyone in my team at the hospital is so generous, as well as everyone at the wider hospice. I just want to raise as much as I can for such a worthwhile cause that I am privileged to be part of.”
A huge thank you to them for raising an astonishing £90,000 this year!
To support Cara, scan here.
“Being a Trinity Nurse, we are privileged to be able to support people in their own homes to feel as well as possible. We can give our assurance to them; giving them the confidence to stay where they feel comfortable surrounded by familiarity. And we help their loved ones to provide the best care they are able. It’s truly rewarding.”
Your regular donation will help us to pay for dedicated hospice nursing care to patients at home, in hospital or in the hospice.
To sponsor an amazing nurse, visit www.trinityhospice.co.uk/sponsor-a-nurse
The latest from our dedicated children’s hospice
Welcome from our team at Brian House. No two days are ever the same at our dedicated children’s hospice, where we are privileged to help our exceptional children create magical memories and share wonderful experiences.
We’re always busy planning fun activities at Brian House, as well as incredible trips out.
While the sun has been shining we’ve been to the beach thanks to Fleetwood Beach Wheelchairs and had a trip to Morecambe Bay. Plus we’ve been to Farmer Parrs, Sandcastle Waterpark and SEA LIFE Blackpool.
We’ve even had a day out in Manchester! If that’s not all, we’ve also had some lovely trips with our Siblings Group, including a wonderful time at Brockholes.
These treasured moments mean so much to our children and their families. A trip to the beach isn’t easy when you have a child in a wheelchair, and planning a family day out with a child who has constant medical needs can be stressful.
Brian House exists thanks to the wonderful people like you who support it through fundraising and donations. The smiles on our children’s faces and the memories they keep are down to you and your generosity.
Thank you for helping to make a significant difference to a local child.
Madeline’s story
Little Madeline
has had a tricky start to life.
As soon as she was born doctors noticed she wasn’t interested in feeding, her skin was pale and she was a little ‘floppy’.
After eight days of tests and being fed through a tube, Madeline and her mum Laura were allowed to go home with just the results of a genetics test to come.
Then, just days before Christmas, Laura and partner Chris got the news that Madeline has a rare condition known as Prader-Willi. It affects just one in 30,000 children, impacting on their diet, mobility and growth.
To help the family manage her diet, Madeline needs weighing regularly. At first, a neonatal nurse was coming to their house twice a week, but then Brian House was mentioned.
Laura said: “The nurse told me about the clinic at Brian House where I could get Madeline weighed.
“At first it was a scary thought – why are they mentioning Brian House to us? It’s a hospice, so does that mean they aren’t expecting Madeline to do so great in the future?
“But we went along, and we learned so much! The team there know so much about children with complex health needs, and the clinic means
I can speak to the nurses, get some reassurance and meet other parents who have children who need a higher level of care.
“There’s so much support and different services you can access once you get past the stigma of children’s hospice care.”
Laura says Madeline is doing incredibly well, with support from a dietitian, a physiotherapist and an occupational therapist.
She added: “We’ve been told that her milestones will take longer than other babies her age, but we’re so proud of how far she’s already come.
“We were coming to Brian House every week to have her weighed, but she’s been doing so well that now we just come every two weeks.
“The team at Brian House are amazing. Not only have they got to know Madeline, but they know about her condition. Before I walked through those doors, I hadn’t met anyone who had heard of Prader-Willi before, yet they knew exactly how to handle her and help her mobility with exercises.
“Madeline’s future is hard to predict. But it’s reassuring to know that if we need to be referred to Brian House for more care, that they will be there.”
Art trail raises astonishing £160k for Brian House!
This spring, we brought Blackpool its first ever art trail – a herd of 71 sculptures based on David McKee’s much-loved Elmer the Patchwork Elephant, each uniquely painted to create a journey which celebrates the diversity and friendships our town –and our children’s hospice – has to offer.
For eight weeks, thousands of people took to our streets to discover our Elmers, many using our dedicated free trail app to collect the sculptures and redeem rewards. Our trail concluded with a farewell weekend – the final chance to see all of our sculptures one final time before they were sold at auction.
In total, though our trail events, auction and the incredible fundraising efforts of the talented school children who joined our Learning Programme, this first for Blackpool has raised an astonishing £160,000 for Brian House!
On top of that, experts estimate the event was worth a massive £14m to Blackpool’s economy.
Our chief executive, David Houston, said: “To say we are overwhelmed at the success of our art trail is an understatement.
“It has done great things to put Brian House – our area’s only children’s hospice – on the map and raised a significant amount of money to help us care for incredibly fragile children who need our dedicated, expert care.
“Not only that, it has been a driving force in getting people to Blackpool, whether they were visiting from out of the area or local residents falling in love again with their hometown, and spending money in the resort during their time here.
“We are so very proud to have brought Elmer’s Big Parade Blackpool to our town, and owe a gratitude of thanks to our Presenting Partners, our Official Sponsors, our Elmer Sponsors, each school involved in our Learning Programme, our Trail Volunteers and each and every person who took the time to visit an Elmer during its time on our streets.”
SUPPORT A GREAT CLAUS
Success on the High Street
Our Retail Team is going from strength to strength.
Based on the success of our Attire by Trinity Hospice shops in Lytham and St Annes, our Brian House Superstore and our dedicated Book and Music stores in St Annes and Cleveleys, we’ve identified new locations for these break-out charity shops and will be opening more in new areas very soon.
We’ve even attracted attention from other charities who are sending teams to our shops to learn more about making the most from charity shops.
And our Head of Retail, Paul Guest, was invited to speak at the latest Charity Retail Association Annual Conference about our successes when other charities are being forced to close their doors.
Paul said: “We have excellent shops in fantastic locations, which drive customers in thanks to the great stock we are able to offer and our internal décor which puts us in the leagues of well-known high street stores.
“Our team of shop managers and assistants, our volunteers, van drivers and admin team are an incredible asset to our charity, always striving to raise as much money through their shop as possible to support local hospice care.”
Our door-to-door van picked up an extra 750 bags of
last year.
Our special thanks
Teeing off in memory of Paul
We’re saying a huge thank you to the friends and family of Poulton man Paul Andrew who hold an annual golf event to raise money for Brian House.
This year, the Paul Andrew Open raised a massive £3,000, making it the most successful event in its 15-year history.
Organiser Dan Wootton said: “It is always such a popular day and filled with fun and laughter. I have always tried to make it bigger and better each year and really hope that, as well as keeping Paul in our thoughts, we can raise more money each year for this fantastic cause.”
Pebbles, Pigeons and Rounders
Our Friends at Co-op Funeral Care have gone above and beyond in their fundraising efforts.
Not only did they join us for Elmer’s Big Parade Blackpool, sponsoring our in-memory sculpture Pebbles, and spend time volunteering throughout the trail, but they also joined our £50 Challenge, coming up with varied ways of raising as much money as possible for Trinity Hospice.
Their efforts have included a pigeonracing event, a car wash and a rounders match at the HASSRA Sports Pavilion.
We know how hard they’ve worked to support our charity, and can’t wait to reveal their total once the £50 Challenge draws to an end later this year.
Young author pays a visit
It was an honour to welcome 10-year-old Eve into Brian House to read the short story she had written and illustrated to raise money for our children’s hospice. Eve did so well reading her book Sand Saga in front of the children and care teams, and we’re delighted that she’s sold 70 copies, raising a wonderful £319 for Brian House.
Eve’s mum Kaylie said: “Eve loves to write and draw and she decided over the school holidays to write and illustrate her short story (or book, as she calls it). She sold copies for £1 and we can’t believe how much it’s raised.
“It meant so much for her to come in and read to the children and staff. She did so well, and we’re so proud of her.”
Night of Madness raises £5,600
We know Brian House is a house of fun, and we were delighted that our night at Lytham Festival when Madness took to the stage raised a total of £5,612 for our charity.
We love being part of this magnificent event, which gives us the chance to speak to festival-goers about the incredible work we do at Brian House, and the difference they are helping to make.
We’re thrilled to have raised such a great amount. Huge thanks to Lytham Festival and to everyone who came to see Madness and made a donation so we can be there for local families at the time when they need it most.
Getting social with our volunteers
This summer we were delighted to bring about the return of our volunteer trips, offering the exceptional people who donate their time to our charity the chance to spend time together away from the hospice.
Our first outing was a coach trip to Bowness, Windermere, where our guests enjoyed lunch and shopping by the famous lake.
Volunteering Manager Megan Scot said: “It’s wonderful to be able to invite our volunteers on trips again. As well as giving them the chance to meet other hospice volunteers who support us in different areas of the hospice, it’s an opportunity for us to show how truly valued our volunteers are at Trinity.
“We all had a lovely time at Windermere, and received wonderful feedback from the volunteers who were able to join us.
“We’re now really looking forward to our next trip to the Christmas Markets in Manchester.”
Our volunteers are worth an estimated £1.5million in the support they provide to us. Each week these committed people who are so passionate about making a difference to local families support us in so many ways. We simply wouldn’t be here without them.
To find out more about volunteering at Trinity Hospice, visit our website: www.trinityhospice.co.uk/volunteer
Sunday 8th December 2024
We’ll be holding our annual Light up a Life service at Trinity Hospice on Sunday 8th December.
We hope you can join us for this uplifting celebration of your loved ones. Details on how to dedicate a light in memory of someone you love will be on our website and on our social media pages soon.
B L A C K P O O L
Walking in memory of loved ones
Alex joined us for Blackpool Memory Walk last year just weeks after losing her mum, Sheila.
SATURDAY 12TH OCTOBER 2024
Walk together in memory of those you’ve lost... and raise vital funds for your local hospice.
“I didn’t know what to expect when I heard Mum was going to the hospice,” she said.
“But the whole place and the people who work and volunteer there are just inspiring. They helped to make it as lovely an experience it could be when you know your mum is coming towards the end of her life.”
Alex quickly signed up to Blackpool Memory Walk with her partner, sister and two best friends in an effort to give something back to the charity that had done so much for her family.
“It was such a special event,” she said.
“It was tough, emotionally, but Mum would have wanted me to do it. It pushed me to do something for such an important charity and there were hundreds of people there doing the same thing. We were all together.”
Alex and her team set up a JustGiving page and was blown away by how much sponsorship the group raised.
“Unless you’ve had an experience at Trinity, it’s hard to believe how truly amazing it is,” she said.
“People don’t understand that the hospice isn’t part of the NHS. But every single person who works or volunteers there is absolutely amazing. It’s important to me to give something back when people have been so good to you. And I encourage others to do the same for this incredible charity that needs us.”
Community Corner
Every Wednesday from 3rd October
Afternoon Tea Dance
Bispham Community Centre with Wilson’s Dance
11th October
Blackpool Friends Quiz Night
St Kentigern’s, Blackpool
12th October
Blackpool Memory Walk
Blackpool Tower Headlands
19th October
Poulton Friends Coffee Morning & Christmas Card Sale
Poulton Methodist Church, Poulton
26th October
Thornton Cleveleys Friends Coffee Morning
St Theresa’s Church Hall, Cleveleys
2nd November - 9.30 to 12.30
Blackpool Friends Christmas Coffee Morning
Layton Methodist Church, FY3 7DZ
16th November
Thornton Cleveleys Friends Christmas Fair
Thornton Methodist Church, Thornton
30th November
Poulton Friends Christmas Market
Poulton Methodist Church, Poulton
1st December
Blackpool Santa Dash
Sandcastle Waterpark, Blackpool
8th December
Light up a Life
Trinity Hospice, Bispham
Don’t forget to let us know if you’re holding a fundraising event – call us on 01253 952561
