January 2020 - Page 3 of 3 - East Cheshire Hospice

Meet Tess Cleaver, Hospice @Home Manager

Posted on 16th January 2020 by Luke Brightmore

Tess Cleaver decided she wanted to work at East Cheshire Hospice when she attended an open day there five years ago.

She was a hospital staff nurse at the time and highly recommends working for the hospice which has now created two more nursing vacancies for qualified nurses.

Tess said: “The experience I gained as a hospital staff nurse was so valuable and I wouldn’t have done what I do here without that background.

“I applied here and was fortunate enough to be offered a full-time position on the inpatient unit as a staff nurse. When I attended an open day I thought this is the place where I’d like to be.

“I’ve never looked back and it’s a unique place to place to work. Everyone who works here, whether on the inpatient unit or in the Hospice @Home team, feels privileged to be here.”

Tess, who is now the Hospice @Home Manager, added: “We focus on holistic care and time is allowed for all duties, especially those patient-facing tasks. Everyone has heard of the Hospice and has some kind of experience, whether in a professional capacity or as a volunteer.

“The Hospice is also committed to developing staff through training, education and experience and the support from managers and colleagues is something you’ll never experience anywhere else.”

East Cheshire Hospice needs HCAs!

Posted on 16th January 2020 by Luke Brightmore

East Cheshire Hospice is looking for new staff as it prepares to extend its Hospice @Home service to 24 hours a day.

The Hospice is advertising for 15 community health care assistants with experience in the health care sector not a requirement.

The recruitment drive comes as the charity gears up for a round-the-clock Hospice @Home service from April.

The facility has been an outstanding success since it began two years ago, supporting more than 400 people enabling them to die in their preferred place.

The service has been operating ‘out-of-hours’ from 6.30 pm until 8 am and 24 hours at weekends so far, but due to demand and popularity will shortly be available all day.

Clair Watson, the Hospice’s People and Development Manager, said: “We know there are patients and families dealing with life-limiting illness who want to remain at home but still need care, support and kindness.

“If health care assistants haven’t worked in care before we’ll train them fully. It could be a great opportunity for someone who’s just finished education, or wants to change career.

“The successful applicants must want to be a vital part of someone’s daily routine and would be joining an extremely well-supported team.

“Hospice @Home is about maintaining quality of life in a patient’s preferred place of care, allowing them to live as well as possible in the comfort of their own home, rather than go into hospital or attend a medical centre.

“The Hospice is a great place to work. In our last staff and volunteer survey, 98 per cent of respondents felt they enjoyed their work and believed in everything we’re trying to achieve here.

“The same survey was conducted in 42 hospices in the UK and 25,000 other people working in charities, and we exceeded the average scores easily in all categories.”

New staff would need to travel independently through Cheshire East and High Peak areas. Anyone interested can attend a drop-in session at the Hospice on Thurs, Nov 21 (9-11 am) or Tues, Nov 26 (6 pm – 8 pm).

Steve Nixon Challenge 1,2,3

Posted on 16th January 2020 by Luke Brightmore

It was full steam ahead for Steve Nixon who combined a love of railways and running for a charity challenge.

He took part in races in locations known for their railway heritage in aid of East Cheshire Hospice.

Steve, from Tytherington, included the Bollington 10k and Macclesfield half marathon in his schedule to mark the 150th anniversary of a railway in Bollington.

The route between Macclesfield and Marple is now the Middlewood Way and this year’s Bollington Festival had trains as a theme in recognition.

Steve, a stalwart of the Macclesfield Model Railway Group, also ran marathons in Manchester and Liverpool in honour of the line which operated the world’s first steam locomotive.

His itinerary featured the Great North Run and the Kielder marathon in the north east, birthplace of Robert and George Stephenson, regarded as the ‘Father of Railways’ and whose home Steve has visited.

Steve, who has raised more than £600, said: “I’ve supported the Hospice many times before and thought it’d be good fun to link my runs with railway history. Stephenson’s Rocket is such an important part of engineering history and I’ve enjoyed model railways since I was a boy.

“I did nine long-distance events in six months and achieved personal best times for a marathon, half marathon and 10k, but most importantly raised money for a good cause.”

The father-of-three works across Europe as an interim executive so his training runs take him far and wide.

* To support Steve go to justgiving.com/fundraising/stevenixon2019

Ecclesiastical – 12 Days of Christmas

Posted on 16th January 2020 by Luke Brightmore

East Cheshire Hospice is asking supporters to help it earn £1,000 as part of a 12 days of giving campaign.

Specialist insurer Ecclesiastical is making a £1,000 donation to 120 different charities as an early Christmas gift.

To vote for the Hospice go to www.ecclesiastical.com/12days. Nominations close on Thursday, Dec 19.

Winners are drawn at random and the more times each charity is nominated the more chance of being selected. The 10 daily winners are announced on the 12 week days from Dec 5-20.

Kate Bowmar, Corporate Fundraiser at the Hospice, said: “The Hospice received £1,000 from Ecclesiastical earlier this year thanks to votes from supporters and the local community and it’d be wonderful if we can attract enough votes again.

“Such a gift would fund a day’s catering, laundry and housekeeping services, or three overnight stays on our inpatient unit so it means a lot to us.”

Mark Hews, Group CEO of Ecclesiastical, said: “Our annual 12 days of giving Christmas campaign will help charities change lives for the better and we know that for many charities, £1,000 can make a real difference.

“We’re encouraging everyone to nominate a cause close to their hearts this Christmas to be in for a chance to win a festive financial boost.”

Fred Slater & the Dementia Companions

Posted on 16th January 2020 by Luke Brightmore

Cricket coach Fred Slater is completely bowled over by the way he has been welcomed into the fold at East Cheshire Hospice.

He became a volunteer in the Sunflower Centre a year ago and enjoys the company of people with dementia and their carers.

His next role as one of the charity’s Community Champions is a similar ‘buddy’ role in someone’s home, giving their carer vital respite for a few hours each week.

Fred, from Tytherington, said: “I’ve really enjoyed helping the Hospice. It’s so inspiring and I’ve learned so much from chatting to people within a group.

“It’s about finding out what makes individuals tick. You might get someone who doesn’t want to engage particularly, but you get a jigsaw out and suddenly they spring to life and they see the picture far better than me.

“The staff there are fabulous and I’ve learned so much. They’re so professional with their patience and caring approach and are the real unsung heroes of the service.

“We get a thorough background about who we’re looking after and in some ways I just fill around the edges.”

Fred, aged 66, worked for the English Cricket Board before retiring, but still coaches at King’s School, Macclesfield, and helps juniors at Macclesfield, Bollington and Ashley cricket clubs.

He regrets not taking his late father Fred to the Hospice for the sessions. “I didn’t know about the Sunflower Centre otherwise I’d have taken him there. He was an inspiration to me and now I’m retired this voluntary work is his legacy.

“Being matched with someone is an important small step for me on my journey and I’m looking forward to it.

“More than a dozen Community Champions visit homes but they don’t provide nursing care. They enjoy the company of individuals while their carers may go for a walk, shop or perhaps visit a library.

“The Sunflower Centre provides wonderful support and it’s re-assuring to know that expert staff are there as a safety net.”

Fred and fellow volunteers were finalists in the Volunteer Team of the Year at the 2019 North West Charity Awards.

Nepal Trek 2019

Posted on 16th January 202016th January 2020 by Luke Brightmore

One-time keen mountaineer Jonathan Edwards is undaunted by trekking in Nepal.

His biggest challenge since February has been avoiding alcohol in preparation for the 12-day trip starting on Saturday (Nov 9).

The medical writer is part of a five-strong group raising funds for East Cheshire Hospice.

Two days helping a hospice project in Kathmandu is followed by a tough five-day trek with stunning views of the Annapurna mountain range.

Jonathan, from Macclesfield, said: “My wife Verity saw the trip on the Hospice’s Facebook page and I’ve always wanted to visit Nepal, but was going to wait until my 50th next year.

“I enjoyed mountaineering before our children Molly and George were born so won’t be out of my comfort zone, but staying off alcohol has been difficult.”

He is fundraising in memory of Verity’s stepfather David White who died of prostate cancer last year and was cared for by the Hospice.

The family has raised £2,500, including £500 from a music night at the Wharf pub, supported by Macclesfield musicians, and Jonathan ran the Coniston half marathon.

At 70, Helen Connolly is the oldest hiker. Sister-in-law Sheila Kirk, from Prestbury, fundraises for the Hospice and alerted her to the trip via social media. Helen walked in Machu Picchu and Costa Rica several years ago.

Sherry Daniels, who ran a salon in Marton, enjoys mountaineering and is fundraising in memory of late friends, including Pip Roberts, a Hospice patient.

The party also includes Hospice staff members Sarah Dale and Louise Delany.

Welcome to the 500 Club – The Switched On Solutions Group

Posted on 16th January 2020 by Luke Brightmore

Company director Geoff Gittins has a professional and personal involvement with East Cheshire Hospice.

Father Harold and uncle Leslie Singleton were both cared for by the Hospice until they died more than 10 years ago.

Now Geoff’s business The Switched On Solutions Group (SOSG) has become the latest addition to the Hospice’s 500 Club in which members raise at least £500 a year over a three-year period.

Geoff and fellow directors David Baker and Martin Havenhand are keen to promote the 500 Club to other businesses.

Geoff, a lottery volunteer at the charity, said: “The Hospice has a loving environment for patients, families and friends and SOSG is delighted to offer its support.

“We’re a growing business helping businesses and organisations reduce costs and increase profit. We work with our expert partners in the energy, telecoms and finance sectors to get the best deals available for our clients.

“Our principles are trust, respect and integrity. Our client base includes churches and not-for-profit organisations which might not, for example, have secured the best energy deals in the past. Our commission comes from the suppliers with no cost to clients who make all the savings.”

Business Briefing with Nick Robinson

Posted on 16th January 2020 by Luke Brightmore

Leading BBC journalist Nick Robinson has made a personal appeal to business leaders to continue to support East Cheshire Hospice.

The Macclesfield-born presenter of Radio 4’s Today programme has first-hand experience of the charity’s work.

His late father Robbie was cared for by the Hospice and his mother Evelyn was among the audience for his keynote speech at the Hospice’s annual Business Briefing at Alderley Park.

Robinson said: “The Hospice is a place of sanctuary, welcome and re-assurance. It’s also a place that makes those last few days tolerable, manageable and removes all the other anxieties there can be when somebody comes to the end of their life.”

His entertaining talk, entitled ‘The New Chaos’, gave an insight into his career covering politics, including Brexit. He was the BBC’s chief political correspondent for 10 years.

He added: “I’m nervous because my mother’s here. When I was on the telly the test for my piece would be the ‘my mum’ test. It meant does this make sense to someone who doesn’t follow everything incredibly carefully?”

Robinson, who was treated successfully for lung cancer in 2015, said: “What angers me about politics and the New Chaos over the last three years, is we’ve spent a lot of time insulting each other and being angry with each other and taken our eye off the ball of the things that really matter and change people’s lives.”

More than 150 business leaders were urged to support the charity’s Hospice @Home service.

He said: “You’re being asked today to help make the end of people’s lives better. What’s really exciting is it isn’t just in the Hospice, but increasingly will be in people’s homes.

“It’ll mean the experience of the last few days is as tolerable as possible and that’s a great cause to be involved in.”

Other speakers included Dr Kath Mackay, Managing Director of Alderley Park; Hospice @Home Ambassador Chair Dr Simon Hayward; and the Lord-Lieutenant of Cheshire David Briggs MBE KStJ, President of East Cheshire Hospice.

Hospice Director Karyn Johnston said: “We’re extremely grateful to Nick for giving up his time during yet another busy political week and all our other speakers and members of the business community who attended.

“We’re fortunate to enjoy wonderful support from the corporate community which is vital to our future. We’d also like to thank our friends at Alderley Park for hosting our third Business Briefing.”

Tough Woofer 2019

Posted on 16th January 2020 by Luke Brightmore

Every dog has its day and Tough Woofer 2019 saw the canine world support East Cheshire Hospice.

Around 300 pets tackled a 5k obstacle course at Capesthorne Hall on Sunday morning (Oct 20).

The four-legged friends, accompanied by their owners, negotiated a series of mud, water and climbing challenges, supplied by Extreme Adventure Ltd.

The picturesque estate was the perfect setting, with cars and vans having more difficulty dealing with the heavy ground than the dogs.

Beth Candy, Events Manager at the Hospice, said: “We were blessed with a lovely sunny day and want to thank everyone for coming along and making it such a special occasion.

“It wouldn’t have happened without the support of amazing volunteers and a special thanks must go to James Bunker who rescued a few vehicles from the soft ground. We’d also like to thank Capesthorne Hall for use of such a great venue.”

Owner Sue Clarke took part with eight-year-old mini wirehair dachshund Margot. Sue has an office at Alderley Park where the Hospice also has a base.

Lyndsey Annikin and her cockapoo Sky joined Abby Dellow and her Hungarian vizsla Penny. Lyndsey has a family friend cared for by the Hospice.

She said: “The Hospice has been brilliant and we’re delighted to take part in Tough Woofer as way of thanking everyone there.”

Student nurse Anna Mather was joined by mum and dad Clare and Jonathan and 18-month-old labrador Millie.

Anna said: “I’ve got friends who’ve worked at the Hospice which is so well known and we want to help such a good local cause. The dogs love the outdoors here.”

Mother and daughter Kim and Nina Bennett guided cockapoo Elsie round the course. Nina has visited the Hospice in her role as a student physiotherapist.

A Charity Village, including stalls and activities, kept dogs and owners entertained.