Hospiscare’s Light Up a Life event takes place annually in the run up to Christmas, a particularly poignant time of year for many bereaved people. The services offer a time and space apart to remember and honour loved ones who are no longer with us. With a blend of readings, poetry, music and the opportunity to join voices in singing carols, these occasions bring at least as much joy as sadness and are never less than uplifting.
This year’s series of services will culminate at Exeter Cathedral on Sunday, 17 December. Hospiscare’s Karen Turner said: “Everyone is invited to attend...
The wait is almost over. The hour is very nearly at hand.
Sunday (29 October) will see this year’s epic 7.5-mile Jolly Good Jaunt walk from the Deer Park Hotel through the breath-taking beauty of the autumnal East Devon countryside. This year promises to be bigger and better than ever.
Advance bookings including online registration ( www.jollygoodjaunt.co.uk ) closed on 24 October but you can still sign up on the day itself with entry being £20 for adults and £10 per child.
The NEW nature trail consisting of a scavenger hunt, nature bingo, crafting and storytelling...
Local charity Hospiscare has over 20 shops in Devon and relies heavily on the generosity of volunteers to run the stores. In the Seaton shop they have a core group of volunteers but could do with at least five more.
June Shaw, 61 from Seaton, volunteers at the shop and has done for the last three years. June commented: “Shortly after my husband died four and a half years ago, I decided to give up work. When someone close to you dies it brings it home to you that there is more to life than work, but I still wanted to have something to do. A friend of mine already volunteered at the...
This year’s Jolly Good Jaunt is fast approaching on Sunday 29th October. The sponsored walk is guaranteed to be lots of fun and for a very good cause. Much of the money raised will go towards funding the services at Honiton`s Kings House day centre.
The role provided by Day Care is invaluable. Operating on a Tuesday and Thursday, the centre enables patients to take part in a range of activities including crafting and chair-based exercises, a freshly cooked lunch (with veg grown from the garden) and the opportunity to enjoy a variety of different guest speakers and entertainment....
Judith Harris-Deans from Exeter has been volunteering for local charity Hospiscare for the last six years, and describes it as “the happiest place I’ve ever worked.” Since 2012 Judith has been popping into Searle House in Exeter to support the fundraising team with donations administration.
Judith described her typical day: “I usually come in once a week, but it’s a flexible arrangement so if I can’t make it in it’s never a problem, I just let them know beforehand. Likewise, sometimes I will come in much more often during busy times, like Christmas, when the team needs extra help....
Alphington retirees Peter and Mary Collins began volunteering at the Hospiscare Warehouse Shop on Trusham Road when it very first opened in 2012. Every Friday, Peter would repair donated furniture ready for selling in the shops and Mary sorted bags of clothes, sizing them, putting them on hangers then onto racks for distribution.
Peter is also a cycle repair man in his spare time and tells us how his hobby spilled over into his volunteer role: “After a year of the Warehouse Shop being open Hospiscare got permission to recover unwanted cycles from Exeter University and someone was...
“If there is one guarantee in life that’s absolute, it’s death. We are all going to die. However, many never give this a second thought until it happens to someone we are close to. When it does, it can shatter lives. That’s why it’s so important that we talk about death and drop the old stiff upper lip attitude.”
Liz Philpott, 69, from Exeter has been a volunteer for local charity Hospiscare for over 14 years. Having worked previously as a nurse and midwife, Liz began volunteering at Hospiscare as a complementary therapist and reflexologist. Giving treatments to patients and...
Jeff Stokes from Exeter has found a sense of purpose and renewed self-confidence from volunteering with local charity Hospiscare. Five years ago Jeff, who is now 67, retired early from a busy job with South West Water. Having been unwell for a while with a persistent cough, Jeff made the decision to leave work and investigate his ill health further. After seeing various specialists a tumour was discovered on one of Jeff’s tonsils and subsequently he was given the devastating diagnosis of having head and neck cancer.
Jeff had to undergo what he describes as “barbaric treatment” in...
What do you do when your A level results don’t make the grade and you want a career in medicine?
This is the situation Conor Goldsmith found himself in a couple of years ago, but instead of giving up on his on his dream job, Conor started volunteering.
“When my A levels didn’t go as well as I’d expected I had to re-think everything, so I signed up to do BTEC Applied Science at Exeter College. Around the same time I also started volunteering for WestBank. I befriended a lady who had dementia and paid regular visits to offer companionship and alleviate her feelings of...
Hundreds of pyjama-clad runners, joggers and walkers from across Devon turned up at glorious Knightshayes near Tiverton on Sunday 17th September to take part in the Hospiscare Breakfast Run. The novelty event which featured a 5 or 10k route attracted runners from all age groups and abilities, with 482 people joining in to raise much-needed funds for local charity Hospiscare.
The participants enjoyed an off road course with some challenging inclines and were rewarded for their efforts at the end with a delicious breakfast from the Stables Kitchen.
