Teesside Hospice’s Post

December 2014 I moved to the Isle of Wight, every second weekend in May starting in 2015 I’ve completed all or part of Walk The Wight in aid of Mountbatten Isle of Wight. I have volunteered in this organisation for approaching 9 1/2 years - in retail, income generation, catering services every 2nd Sunday, and coming up to 2 years in psychological services as grief support in groups and 1to1s. ICG hospice funding across the country is not adequately meeting the cost services we are contracted to deliver on their behalf, so it looks very timely Walk the Walk 2024 could be another record breaking year in support of our Hospice. We were blessed with 9500+ walkers and beautiful weather, I managed the first half of the walk from Bembridge to Carisbrooke Castle until my left knee demanded I stop. On arriving home I wrote this: What an incredible day we enjoyed for Walk The Wight 2024 on Sunday 12th May. This event always strikes as the biggest feelgood day of universal joy and benevolence you could imagine, with precisely planned organisation coupled with an Island-wide army of volunteers ensuring everyone walks with the broadest smiles. I'd hoped to complete the full walk, the mind and body were willing but the knees were not. I played safe deciding to finish halfway at Carisbrooke not wanting to sustain an injury. With donors continuing to pledge support and more donations to come through, I am nearly 75% of the initial aspirational fundraising target I published. I will admit to not having the same emotional investment as others whose loved ones have been cared for by Mountbatten, but as I begin to approach the tenth anniversary of my involvement as a volunteer, the more I learn about what Mountbatten means to the island drives me to want to do more whenever I can. In all my Mountbatten volunteering; whether participating in events like WTW, being one of a team of Mountbatten Fundraisers at Festivals & Shows, serving Sunday Lunches in the John Cheverton Centre Mountbatten Café, or providing Bereavement Support to individuals and Groups the impact of Mountbatten being able to make a difference to all with whom we come in contact never leaves me. As an organisation we are supporting islanders at the most difficult of times when coping with Death, Dying, and Bereavement. Our services continue to be provided free at the point of delivery and we support islanders 24/7. To be able to do this fundraising contributes a phenomenal amount to the £10.5 million it requires to run Mountbatten's services, and donations of any amount at all really does make a difference. Every penny & pound counts, so if you are willing and able to donate via the attached link this will mean more Islanders will face death, dying, and bereavement with Mountbatten by their side. Thank you sincerely for your continued support. Allen - the man in the Yellow Tutu https://lnkd.in/euDrqWqw

Hospices across the UK are facing a huge funding crisis. There is no national or local priority given to Hospices, or palliative and end of life care. Parliament have ignored the positive impact of hospice services. An estimated 1 in 4 people who could benefit from hospice care do not receive it, according to figures from Hospice UK. Now, more than ever Birmingham Hospice needs your company’s support, to continue to make every moment matter. There are several ways you company can support: - Hold a fundraiser at work with the support of our Fundraising Team. - Talk to us about sponsoring one of our events, including our Golf Day. - Become an ABC member and go Above and Beyond: https://ur0.jp/pthZw - Sign your company up to Payroll Giving. - Take part in one of Birmingham Hospice’s events. - Join us for a day of #volunteering. - Book your FREE corporate bereavement training. Click here to find out more: https://ur0.jp/mQEN0 £5,950 could pay for someone to have round-the-clock expert palliative and end of life care on one of our Inpatient Units. Please share, tag, comment and get in touch if you feel like your company can support those facing a lie limiting illness and their families… Put US in your bUSiness. [email protected] [email protected] Together, we’re making every moment matter 💛

It's World Heart Day and this year, we would like to highlight the important work by the charity Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY-UK). Did you know that every week in the UK, at least 12 young people die from undiagnosed heart conditions? CRY offers subsidised ECG and Echocardiogram screenings for those aged 14-35, as early diagnosis can often detect life-threatening conditions. If your family has been affected by the sudden death of someone under 35, you may also be eligible for NHS screening. 📈❤️ A simple ECG test (Electrocardiogram) could be the difference between life and tragedy, and it only takes a few minutes to perform. CRY also provides bereavement support for families, ensuring no one faces this heartache alone. How you can help: 1️⃣ Encourage young people to get screened 2️⃣ Support CRY’s efforts by attending free public events 3️⃣ Spread the word—raising awareness can save lives. Your heart matters, no matter your age. Let's take steps to protect young hearts today. ❤️ #CardiacRiskInTheYoung #YSCD #HeartHealth #CRY #ECGScreening #PreventionMatters #YouthHealth

Grief doesn’t stay at home when we come to work and failing to support colleagues properly when they've experienced a bereavement can result in long term absence, reduced productivity and increased pressure on the rest of the team. Not everyone will want lots of time off work when someone they love dies. Some may want to return quite quickly, especially if they feel that what they do is a large part of who they are or if they feel that it's the only way to maintain some stability or sense of control through their bereavement experience. Others may need longer but might have to come back to work much sooner than they would like. Whatever their situation, everyone needs to feel that support and understanding will be offered to them during such difficult times. Many will not want to admit that they are struggling in the workplace. This could be because they don't want colleagues to think that they are incapable of doing their own job and will need to pass tasks on to them or that their line managers will step in to micromanage them. They may also be worried that asking for help will result in a conversation that they will be unable to cope with. Compassionate and flexible bereavement leave, access to support and a culture of openness can make all the difference. St Oswald's Hospice can work with you to develop and deliver tailored Grief and Loss training within your organisation and we can also offer 1 to 1 bereavement support for staff. If you would like to chat about what your organisation can do to improve your current policies and procedures, do drop me a message. Something else you might like to find out more about is Hospice UK's Compassionate Employers programme which is designed to help organisations support employees through grief and challenges around caring: https://lnkd.in/evmbbbZ8 Grief Awareness Week is a chance to rethink how we support employees who are grieving. It doesn't take much to make a positive impact and there are lots of things that can be implemented quickly and easily to improve things for everyone. #WorkplaceWellness #GriefSupport #CompassionateEmployers #GriefAwarenessWeek

* Trigger Warning - conversations about death * Do your family know your wishes following death? Would you rather burial or cremation? Would you rather donate your organs or not? Would you prefer a religious ceremony or something else? Having these conversations may feel morbid initially but respecting your wishes after death is the last act your family and friends can do for you and may assist in the grieving process. The Irish Hospice Foundation are currently campaigning for these conversations to take place. Death is an unfortunate inevitability. Making your wishes known, provides reassurance that your desires are implemented. #havwthoseconversations https://lnkd.in/e-7tH8aD

"Given health-care institutions cultivate this dependency on their systems throughout the care trajectory, it should be incumbent on these very institutions to address grief needs before and after a patient's death." Transitional bereavement care to bridge the gap between healthcare systems and community-based bereavement support is an interesting idea to prevent poor bereavement outcomes. However, investment in the aftercare of families following a bereavement is seriously lacking, with an over-reliance on charities and social enterprises to provide support without public funding. https://lnkd.in/dhvQ4ChT

🌟 **RU OK Day: More Than Just a Day** 🌟 Just two weeks ago, we observed RU OK Day, but it's crucial to remember that this should be a daily ritual. Asking our friends, colleagues, and family "RU OK?" can initiate meaningful conversations that might change everything for the better and help prevent tragedy. You don't need to be an expert in mental health, and it doesn’t cost anything to reach out with that simple question. Last week, my dear friend faced an unimaginable loss with the passing of her daughter, Savana. She was a beautiful soul who left this world far too soon, and her family is heartbroken. The news of her passing is now in the media, allowing me to share this on LinkedIn. I’m sharing this here because many professionals struggle to open up about mental health, fearing it may be perceived as weakness. It’s essential to create a safe space for these conversations whether in business or in personal life. If Savana's story resonates with you and you feel compelled to support her family during this difficult time, please consider contributing to their GoFundMe page linked below. Donations will not bring her back, but they will help provide the family with the support they need to give her the send-off she deserves. ❤️ [Support Savana's Family](https://gofund.me/a1d97d32) Let’s continue to check in on one another and foster a culture of support and compassion. We can all make a difference by asking the question. RU OK? 💙 #RUOK #MentalHealthAwareness #sydney

💙 Supporting Each Other, Finding Hope Together 💙 At Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide (SoBS), we believe in the power of community, compassion, and shared strength. Losing a loved one to suicide is an unimaginable tragedy, but no one should have to face that journey alone. Every day, we witness the incredible resilience of those who, despite their loss, find a way to heal and help others in their time of need. Our charity is here to offer support, understanding, and a safe space for everyone affected by suicide. Together, we are rebuilding lives, fostering hope, and breaking the silence surrounding bereavement by suicide. If you or someone you know is struggling with loss, know that there's a network of caring individuals ready to listen, support, and uplift. Bereavement is a process, and we're here every step of the way. 🌟 Let's continue to raise awareness, show kindness, and be there for one another. 💪💙 #Support #MentalHealthAwareness #Community #Hope #SOBS #YouAreNotAlone #BreakTheSilence

Last week the ADEC (Association for Death Education and Counseling) Board approved the request for me to join its Credentialing Council as the Public Member. This opportunity arose from a colleague who I had the privilege of working with 30 years ago. What an honor to be considered, recommended, and then approved to fill this role. If you are like me, I was unaware of this international organization and looking forward to being an active participant in the Credentialing Committee. ADEC Mission statement: The Association for Death Education and Counseling® is an international, professional organization dedicated to promoting excellence and recognizing diversity in death education, care of the dying, grief counseling and research in thanatology. Based on quality research, theory and practice, the association provides information, support and resources to its international, multicultural, multidisciplinary membership and to the public. ADEC Vision statement: The Association for Death Education and Counseling® envisions a world in which dying, death, and bereavement are recognized as fundamental and significant aspects of the human experience. Therefore, the Association, ever committed to being on the forefront of thanatology (the study of death and dying), will provide a home for professionals from diverse backgrounds to advance the body of knowledge and to promote practical applications of research and theory. I am including a link to the home page. Association for Death Education and Counseling (adec.org). Work is not just about putting in the hours and completing the tasks, it is about building relationships and making a difference. You just never know where/how your path may take you and how you may work with others again but in different capacities.

We never 'get over' grief and that's why it's important to be there for someone for as long as they need us to be. Although grief never ends, it changes, and we change too. Learning to live with grief and accepting that life will never be the same again. It's Grief Awareness Week this week, so why not reach out to someone that might need to talk? You don’t have to find the perfect words. You don't need to offer advice or solutions. Acknowledging their loss and being willing to talk about the person who has died is all you need to do. So many of my clients say that nobody mentions their loved one anymore and it feels like they are forgotten or were never there at all. We often find it hard to start these conversations so, if you want to build your confidence, there are some brilliant videos on the Grief Channel that might help you to understand grief a little better: https://lnkd.in/gpTbqCvj How do you start a conversation about grief? Did someone say something helpful to you when someone you love died? Share in the comments. It might just help someone else. #BereavementSupport #GriefAwarenessWeek