Kate's Challenge

Kate has recently started working here at the hospice and wanted to share with you how she is giving more to this wonderful charity....

In 2011 I ran the London Marathon – undoubtedly one of the best experiences of my life.  I still run regularly and usually manage to fit in a local half marathon once every 6 months, and now I am training for the Great North Run!  It takes place on 7 September.   

I started work as Personnel Director at the Hospice in May so this has given me a great chance for fundraising.  All sponsorship and moral support welcome for this fabulous challenge! 

I thought I would leave you with my running mantra that got me through the Marathon (and many other challenges!)   

‘Fear behind, road ahead, power within’. 

Kate Walker

Summer Service

On Tuesday evening, 15^th July, we had wonderful ‘Summer Service of Celebration and Thanksgiving’ at St Peters Church here in Pembury. We celebrated the work of the hospice and our joys, and prayed for healing in our sadness and sorrows. 


We were accompanied by inspiring music and readings. Thank you to everyone who came and made this a very special evening for us all!   

‘Very many congratulations and thanks for such a beautiful uplifting service   I know this gave many people great comfort’ Elaine

‘Just to say how lovely the Service was yesterday!  It was so beautifully done and very moving.  I enjoyed the music sung by the Hospice Choir and have already added the Rutter’s works to my Spotify List!  The readings were very well chosen and were read out with just the right expression.’ Jo

‘Carrie’s solo singing was beautiful and soothing. It was my first experience of the Hospice choir and they were really fantastic! I couldn’t believe how packed full the Church was’ Alison

‘It felt like a lovely big family occasion – all coming together’ Tony

‘Thank you, it was inspiring to see all parts of the hospice working together’ Cath

‘I found it uplifting, spiritual and thought-provoking’ Terri

‘The service was really lovely. The words about joy and sorrow meant a lot and rang true so thank you’ Jean  

The Elephant in The Room

As some of you may have read in our previous post of Our School's Project, the first week started off with lots of excitement!  And the excitement was definitely high during the students last week with us.  Please find below how the students found the project.  You will also find the final photographs of the collaborative piece of artwork between the students and the patients based on Terry Kettering's poem, 'The Elephant in the Room'.

The Children’s Thoughts of the Hospice…..

’I have enjoyed working with Gaynor because she is nice and kind.’
Ellie W-T

‘Even though people have illnesses, it doesn’t stop them from doing  great  activities at the hospice.
Nikki is the patient I worked with and she was really fun and gave our table some great ideas.’
Daisy

‘I enjoyed working with Mrs Leonard because she is a good helper and has a lot of ideas.’
Kayla

‘I enjoyed working with Gayner because she is nice and funny.’
Chloe

‘We learnt there are some people’s diseases which can’t be cured.  The hospice makes people feel at home.’
Ethan

‘We learnt about somebody’s life.  Some diseases can’t be cured but the Hospice makes people feel at home.’
Jack

‘The people that I care about have died although now I know that they are still with me.’
Caitlin

‘My visit to the Hospice helped me feel better about death.  It also helped me and Lexie to have lots of fun.  My partner had a lot of great ideas.’
Rose

‘I enjoyed the arts and crafts and working with the patients.’
Lexie

‘It has made me feel so lucky because the of the way I am.  I feel sad for the people who have an illness that can’t be treated.’
Joey

‘I learnt that the Hospice is for poorly people.’
Thomas

‘How much there is to do here.  I made friends with Margaret and Josie.  I enjoyed drawing and painting.’
Millie W

‘I enjoyed working with Gaynor because she is always happy and cheerful and she is really good at drawing.’
Ella

‘I didn’t know that Art and music helped patients at the Hospice in the Weald.’
Sian

‘I loved meeting Carolyn and writing the songs.’
Ollie

‘I like working  with Hayley and writing the song.’
Eian

‘I enjoyed everything.’
Danny

‘I enjoyed everything here.’
Luke

‘I have learnt that the Hospice in the Weald is not like a hospital and is more like a retirement home.’
Leo

‘Some diseases can’t be cured.  the Hospice makes people feel happy before they die.’
Adam

‘I have enjoyed working with the patients.’
WY

John's Story

John is currently a patient attending the Hospice Day Service once a week, he wanted to write down why and how he came to be at the Hospice.

Before I came to the Day service I would associate hospice care with terminal illness and nothing else.  My wife and I had discussed it and we remembered our own experiences with nursing homes, of everyone sat in chairs looking at each other.  Fortunately my neighbour spoke with us and told us of the Day Service and how many activities there were to do there and how good the hospice care had been for her.

When I am here at the Day Service it is a great respite for my wife as my condition must be an awful stress on her as well.  Since being here I’ve been really really impressed (and I cannot express this enough) with the quality of care and love of all the staff.  I also find a lot of support from other patients as well, learning about their own struggles and stories.

John joins the art group on a Tuesday afternoon, led by one of the 

Creative Artist Volunteers.  This is some of the work he has achieved 

The nurses are brilliant; I believe I have confided in them more than anyone else, as it feels so comfortable to do that here.  It’s great that my medical records are kept here as the nurses in the Day Service work together with local hospital specialists and GPs.  It was my specialist who referred me to the Hospice in the first place.

There is a gathering half way through the day that is open to all patients if they want to attend.  Sarah, the chaplaincy volunteer that runs it, brings a unique balance of presenting spirituality that encompasses all who join.

 "You would never have caught me with paintbrush in my hand before coming here!"

There is a peaceful, gentle buzz about the Hospice Day service.  I like to feel like there is life around me and other patients have shared this feeling with me as well.  We are still able to maintain our independence.  There is so much to do here!  But the day goes far too quickly.

A Nurses Point of View

Caroline is one of the nurses in the Hospice Day Service.  She wanted to share her story with you about how she became a nurse in palliative care and why she works for Hospice in the Weald.

Working at the Hospice Day Service happened quite by chance. Having worked as a District Nurse 20 years ago, I was looking for a new challenge. The Hospice in the Weald was still in the planning stages and having commenced a Diploma in Palliative Care at Brighton University, a year in I realised this was an area I very much wanted to work in.

 I applied for a job as a Staff Nurse at another hospice, working on their Inpatient Unit for four years and then a seconded community post for two years. After the birth of my daughter Alice, I took a break and while on leave I noticed the Hospice in the Weald were advertising for bank staff. I felt this was an opportunity I couldn’t miss.

 I joined the Hospice in the Weald and worked on the Inpatient Unit as a bank staff nurse for a year or two. One day whilst at work I was asked if I could do some shifts in the Day Centre to cover for sickness. The extension was just being completed and after a couple of months, once worked had finished and the extension opened, I applied for a part-time position in which I have been for the last 6 and half years.

 Over that time things have changed dramatically and the Hospice Day Service, as it is now known, has grown into a busy, flourishing unit, offering patients and their families a variety of services, activities, support groups and expertise.  I have the opportunity to meet patients and their families with a broad variety of life-limiting illnesses and journey with them, which is an enormous privilege.

 I am very grateful to be working in a place where I want to be.