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NEWSLETTER UPDATE - DECEMBER 2005 Argos Melton Mowbray Partner Dove Cottage We are delighted to be partnered with the Melton Mowbray branch of Argos for a campaign that is running for two years. This is part of a national campaign instigated and arranged by 'Help the Hospices'. This is considered to be a very exciting partnership,one which we are confident will raise our profile in the community, leading to more long term support from the public, as well as benefiting financially from their fundraising events. To start the campaign Argos have placed our donation pots on four of their till points, and are actively selling our Christmas range of POund for Life/Shopping Trolley Tokens. Sue (Argos Store Manager) and Vera (our partnership contact) and their team are really friendly, helpful and keen to help us in any way they can. Do make yourself known to the Argos staff as Dove Cottage supporters when you visit the store and encourage them in their campaign. One of the first joint ventures will be during the new Argos catalogue launch which is taking place on Saturday 21st January at the Melton Mowbray store. There will be a mixture of Argos and Dove Cottage staff and supporters in the store that day raising funds for Dove Cottage. If you are able to spare a couple of hours on this day please contact us to see how you can help. CHRIS'S CORNER Where has the year gone? I can't believe that 2005 is drawing to an end. As we tend to at this time of year, I have found myself reflecting on all that has happened over the past 12 months, both good and bad. I always feel quite humbled when I realize how much so many people have done to support us over the year. Once again we have been able to fulfil our financial commitments thanks to your generosity. Our voluntary workforce has again worked tirelessly, not only giving their time but also their hearts to our guests. Our nursing team and other supporting staff have once again all performed 'over and above the call of duty' with their job descriptions lengthening daily!! It really is a heartfelt 'thank you' I'd like to say to everyone who is involved with Dove Cottage, in whatever capacity. You have helped my dream become a reality and surpassed all expectations of what we initially set out to achieve. In our May newsletter, I mentioned in 'The Dove Story' my kind benefactor who, back in 1994, gave us the building which was to become Dove Cottage. His name was lan Jesson, trustee of The Braithwaite Gospel Trust. Very sadly, lan died in August of this year. Not only was he a great friend to Dove Cottage but was also a very dear man to me. Without his kindness, generosity and support, we would not be in existence today. lan became a huge influence in my life. He always encouraged me to keep going, however tough things got, he supported me and had more faith in me than I had myself. He was a very unique man who I miss very much. Sadly we don't always appreciate how much some people mean to us until after they have gone. 1 do hope that this Christmas, you will really enjoy the company of your family and friends. Sometimes it is all too easy to allow ourselves to get too busy to appreciate each other. May you have a very pleasant and relaxing Christmas and I look forward to being in touch in the New Year. OUR WONDERFUL NURSES What would we do without them? Pat, Nicola & Sue all form part of our dedicated nursing team and until recently Glenys was a major part of that team as our Hospice Co-ordinator for nearly six years. Where is she now? She is living outside L.A in sunny California with husband Phil, daughter Jess and baby Daniel. Before she left we managed to pin Glenys down and ask her a few questions about her time at Dove. I asked her whether, after all this time, she still enjoyed her work. "Absolutely", she replied. "There's so much diversity, one minute I'm dealing with the needs of our guests and the next I could be attending some national meeting, listening to various breaking news in the palliative care world. I think the thing I love the best is being able to act as an advocate to all of our guests. It can be very daunting for people when they are first diagnosed with an illness and they really appreciate a helping hand in guiding them through the system. The job is certainly still a challenge. There have been a lot of changes in legislation during the past six years that need to be kept up with. Working as a nurse at Dove Cottage has certainly proved very different from my NHS days where I worked on much more of a practical level. I've always been interested in the more emotional side of nursing and think it's so important to look at a person as a whole. I really do try to make them feel good about themselves and help restore their dignity. The nice thing about Dove is you feel you are effecting change and making a difference to people's lives." "And your final thought?" "I love working here so much I think I would still come, even if I didn't get paid!" It was a sad day for us all, including Glenys, when she announced she was moving to America to join her husband who had recently secured a job in California. Glenys had made such a big contribution to elevating Dove Cottage to the standard of excellence that it is today. We wish her all the very best in her new life and look forward to some impromptu visits from her in 2006. WELCOME OUR NEW NURSE We are delighted to welcome Sally, our new Registered nurse, who will help share the hands on nursing care with Nicola & Sue while Pat continues as our Care Co-ordinator. Sally joined the team- in November and fitted right in to hospice care 'Dove Cottage style' without a glitch. Hopefully we may get to hear what she thinks about us in the next newsletter. Royal Mail Community Challenge Royal Mail employees have chosen 'Help the Hospices' as their charity of the year. As a result Dove Cottage has been linked to eight local Post Offices who will be organizing various activities to benefit Dove Cottage. The post office branches are Wymondham, Kirby Bellars, Great Dalby, Frisby on the Wreake, Somerby, Harby, Stathern and the Melton Mowbray Delivery Office. We have been in touch with the Royal Mail staff at these branches and once the Christmas rush is over we hope to work with them to benefit Dove Cottage. In the mean time, if you use any of these Post Offices - do introduce yourself as a Dove Cottage supporter to encourage them in their venture. Watch this space for more exciting news. Regards Chris.
Dove Cottage Day Hospice. |