Combs community cookbook available to download

Sincere thanks to mum and daughter, Val and Megan Jackson from Combs who have raised £640 for Blythe House by compiling a community cookbook for the village – featuring soups, starters, snacks, mains, desserts and cakes!

Val explained: ‘Like so many others we have been staying in at home. Although unable to go out and about to do anything at practical level, we wanted to find some way of contributing, so we have asked village residents to email us their favourite recipes. We are in the process of compiling these into a ‘Combs Comforts’ village cookbook, which will be emailed out to everyone in the village to share. In return, we will be asking everyone to make a voluntary contribution to Blythe House. We hope the money raised will be of use to you in these challenging times.’

The best part is they have decided to make the cookbook available to the wider High Peak community!

Download it here now!

Make a donation to the ladies’ Just Giving page in return.

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Virtual quiz with High Peak MP to raise funds for local hospice care

Virtual Quiz Night

High Peak people affected by life-limiting illness are set to benefit from a virtual fundraising quiz hosted by the borough’s MP.

Robert Largan MP is set to host a general knowledge quiz on Friday 5th June, to raise money for Blythe House.

A suggested minimum donation of £5 per household will ensure that we can continue to provide free services to local people who are affected by life-limiting illnesses including cancer, heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and motor neurone disease.

Throughout the ongoing COVID-19 situation, hospice nurses and healthcare assistants continue to deliver palliative and end of life care to patients and families across the local community. The hospice team is also delivering counselling, advice and support over the phone.

Robert said: ‘Blythe House do amazing work and I’m really pleased to be able to help support them during this difficult time when a lot of traditional fundraising efforts are not possible. I look forward to testing the people of High Peak on their pub quiz skills!’

Alistair Rogerson, Business Development Manager at Blythe House, added: ‘We are very grateful to Robert for giving his time for free and offering to host this quiz in aid of the hospice. If 50 households take part, donating just £5 each, the money raised will pay for 15 hours of Hospice at Home care for a local patient who wishes to die in the comfort of their own home, surrounded by their loved ones.’

The quiz winner will receive a hamper of gifts including biscuits, activities and a House of Commons bottle of whisky donated by Robert.

Registrations are limited so to avoid disappointment, find out more and sign up now.

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Tour de Force – an article by Emma Richards, Community Engagement Facilitator

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Emma Richards, Community Engagement Facilitator at Blythe House Hospicecare, took part in a special fundraising event for the hospice earlier this month, alongside fellow members of an exercise class. They each ran 5km with their families during lockdown – making up a marathon 26 mile total! Emma explains…

We are more than aware that a lot can happen in a week. We have heard of amazing gestures of generosity in times of such adversity. I would like to share with you how touched I was to hear the HIT class I attend was going to hold a fundraising event and it had been decided that Blythe House Hospicecare would be the recipient.

Jo Torr, who organised the fundraising event, said: ‘I wanted to organise and participate in this relay marathon in aid of Blythe House Hospicecare, as the care and love that hospices provide to families is second to none. Their whole ethos is to create a loving, supportive and peaceful environment for the patients and loved ones at a stressful and emotional time.’

Participants volunteered within minutes of a text going out from Jo. My boys volunteered to participate and I agreed to accompany them. I immediately responded to the team with the following message:

‘A huge thank you in advance. It is such a challenging time for all charities who continue to provide front line care in the community, for the community. In the light of the COVID-19 outbreak, I have listened to patients and carers in the Living Well service, who have had their support network removed overnight with social distancing. More recently, I have been redeployed to the Hospice at Home team. I have seen immediately how much our care and compassion impacts so positively on the patients and carers that we listen to and visit. We have never been needed like we have now. On behalf of Blythe House, I thank you from the bottom of our hearts.’

With the lockdown at that time only allowing for an hour of outside activity, Jo decided on the relay idea; 3 groups with 3 participants in each group all scattered over the High Peak. The run commenced at 11.00 a.m. on Sunday 3rd of May. When each of the groups completed their 5k distance, they texted the next participant. I was moved with joy at the messages of support that began to pour in from everyone once the relay had been completed.

Donna said: ‘I felt it was a privilege to run in support of Blythe House, because not only was it a wonderful way to join with my running friends in our relay event, but also to connect with the Blythe House community. It is important to reach out and connect, particularly during this time of isolation. You are all in our thoughts and hearts.’

Even more amazing to think that it took only one week from the conception to completion! Two days after the relay marathon, we have raised an amazing £1,005 and still counting.

Georgie said: ‘It is lovely to do something positive and worthwhile with everything that is going on in the world. I am going to bed feeling happy that we did something that will make a difference.’

Torr de Force have been blown away by the generosity of everyone who has taken the time to donate. I would like to present to you all the Torr de Force team: Jo Torr, Georgie Swift, Nicki Horry, Aga Bickford, Alexandra Sheldon, Miriam Fanshawe (who then had to volunteer her husband Richard, due to an injury – bless you for standing in last minute to allow this to go ahead!), Donna Wood, Noah and Asher Richards (my boys), and of course me following up at the end!

When a group of ladies (and men/boys) come together and unite, we are unstoppable! What a formidable Force indeed!

As Blythe House CEO, Janet said: ‘You are hero’s!’ – I couldn’t agree more!

I would like to finish with another quote from Donna: ‘We are a community not just individuals’.

These sentiments are so meaningful/profound, as the feeling is replicated by Blythe House Hospicecare. We are there for the community but equally the community is there for us. We should all take pride in recognising we are so valued for the crucial role we are playing in our community.

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Dying Matters Awareness Week 2020

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Throughout this week (11-17 May 2020), Blythe House Hospicecare is commemorating Dying Matters Awareness Week, and inviting you to open up and start the conversation about death and dying.

Dying Matters explains: ‘Talking about death doesn’t bring death closer. It’s about planning for life, helping us make the most of the time that we have. However, starting the conversation, particularly with those close to you, is never easy. We don’t want to upset people, or sound gloomy. Still, families commonly report that it comes as a relief once the subject is brought out into the open.’

Now, more than ever, it is important for us to have these discussions with our loved ones. Subjects you might like to talk about include:

  • The type of care you’d like towards the end of your life
  • Where you’d like to die
  • Funeral arrangements
  • Your will
  • What you’d like people to know before you die

Janet Dunphy, Blythe House CEO, says: ‘It is a good time to have those sensitive and really important conversations about what matters…’

Watch Janet’s video now:

Throughout the current situation, our hospice team is providing advice and support to hundreds of local patients and carers about the COVID-19 pandemic. Louise Furmston, our community engagement manager, explained: ‘The current situation has heightened issues around dying. We have seen a definite increase in isolation and losses, compounded by coronavirus. Patients and carers are feeling overwhelmed and are finding it difficult with the loss of 1:1, face-to-face support at the hospice. We have been there to advise local people with questions including about end of life concerns.’ Find out more.

Many people have turned to arts and crafts to occupy their mind over the last few months. This Dying Matters Awareness Week, we have thought about a number of creative ideas you could set your mind to, to keep busy and help you to think about death, dying and bereavement:

  • Create your own, mini ‘before I die’ board.
  • Why not stitch, knit or sew a heart or rainbow to let someone know you’re thinking of them and you are there if they need to chat. Download a free rainbow of hope pattern.
  • Have a go at designing your own coffin! Perhaps you don’t want a standard wooden box – maybe you’d like it to be bright yellow, or painted with seaside huts as a reminder of your favourite holiday destination! You might like a different material like wicker or bamboo! Whatever your ideas, get them down on paper and share them with your family.
  • For hundreds of ideas around getting creative to support grief and bereavement, including painting rocks, making a memory lantern and creating a remembering ornament, visit Pinterest.

Find lots of helpful resources including leaflets about supporting bereavement; talking about dying; and things to do before you die, on the Dying Matters website.

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Glow Twilight Walk to return in May 2021

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A nighttime walk organised to raise vital funds for hospice care in the High Peak and Derbyshire Dales is set to get the whole community glowing when it returns next year.

Our Glow Twilight Walk was due to take place on Saturday 18th July 2020, but following recent Government measures, and in times of such unprecedented uncertainty, this year’s walk is being postponed.

The hospice has worked with event partners and the venue over the last few weeks, and is delighted to announce a new date for the 10k event: Saturday 15th May 2021.

Janet Dunphy, Blythe House Hospicecare CEO, said: ‘Obviously this is not the decision we wanted to make about our fantastic Glow Twilight Walk. The event in 2019 was our first ever, seeing hundreds of people don fancy dress and glow sticks to light up the night in Buxton and raise over £20,725 for hospice care and services.

‘We were incredibly excited to host the second annual event this July, and though we are optimistic that the situation in the UK will have improved by then, we are no longer able to spend the coming weeks working closely with event partners, volunteers, suppliers and of course our dedicated hospice supporters, making the Glow Twilight Walk a reality.

‘We sincerely hope everyone will come together to join us on Saturday 15th May next year, to get their glow on and have a fantastic time with loved ones whilst raising money for end of life and palliative care here in our local community.’

If you have already registered for this year’s Glow Twilight Walk, your place will be transferred automatically to the new date in May 2021. If you cannot make the new date, you would like a refund, or if you have any queries, please email: events@blythehouse.co.uk.

Blythe House Hospicecare healthcare assistants continue to support palliative and end of life patients in the local community during the ongoing COVID-19 situation. If you would like to make a donation to support hospice services throughout this time, please visit our donation page.

Follow Blythe House on social media to stay up to date on when registration for next year’s Glow Twilight Walk will open:

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Blythe House Hospicecare increases support for the community during coronavirus pandemic

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Blythe House Hospicecare is increasing the level of community care to support the most vulnerable people as the coronavirus pandemic continues.

The hospice is providing 24/7 end of life care in the comfort of patient’s homes. In addition, a team of hospice staff and volunteers is posting ‘kindness cards’ to let people know about support including shopping, prescription pick-ups, telephone chats and food parcels.

Nurses, counsellors and healthcare assistants are also on-hand to provide telephone support to all patients and their families.

Janet Dunphy, CEO, said: ‘Our community have supported us to develop to meet the increasing needs of people in the High Peak, and this is payback time, we will be there for them even more now. We are stronger together.

‘The well-being of the people we support, hospice visitors, staff and volunteers is our first priority and that’s why we are following advice and guidance issued by Public Health England and the UK Government.

‘At the present time, we are taking each day as it comes with regards to the ongoing situation. We have taken on-board Government advice and have made decisions to implement some changes to services whilst continuing to support the most isolated and vulnerable people in our local area.’

All non-essential meetings and sessions at the hospice or in the local community have been cancelled for the time being including coffee mornings; out-patient clinics; weekly support groups and walking for health sessions.

The hospice’s four chairty shops in Chapel-en-le-Frith, Buxton, New Mills and Whaley Bridge are all closed.

Janet added: ‘We are liaising closely with our event sponsors and co-organisers to determine what will happen to future fundraising events. National events that our supporters are involved in, like the London Marathon, have already been postponed. We will keep members of the public updated as soon as we have details of the plans going forward.’

If you or someone you know is feeling lonely or isolated due to the current situation, or you’d like to find out more about support from Blythe House, please contact Vicci Wild or Julie Forrest on 01298 816990.

Find out more via our dedicated coronavirus webpage.

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‘Wonderful’ service caring for local people with life-limiting illnesses is looking for new volunteers

Our community volunteer programme, described as ‘gentle, invaluable and amazing,’ is seeking local people who would like to support patients in the comfort of their own home.

The service provides practical and emotional support in the homes of local patients who have life-limiting illnesses including cancer, COPD, heart failure and neurological conditions such as motor neurone disease.

After completing comprehensive training, community volunteers are able to provide help and support to patients and their families including respite breaks, companionship, light household chores and gardening. The current team of 22 volunteers donated over 400 hours of support between October and December 2019.

Alison Dronfield-Boyd (left) from Buxton became a community volunteer in June last year after retiring early. She has been offering help to a local patient who has motor neurone disease, and said: ‘I support with a variety of things including improving accessibility to make life easier, for example, moving items in the kitchen to a lower level. I have ironed clothes, as this is something that the individual can no longer carry out. I have also walked the dog and carried out gardening tasks. The main thing during all this is the companionship; we chat and enjoy each other’s company.

‘The community volunteer programme is a massive support to people who need it and is extremely personally rewarding. It’s the best thing I have ever done with my time; I would say that even the smallest amount of time that can be provided is very much appreciated.’

A volunteer supports Bill with respite care at his home in Chapel-en-le-Frith so that his wife of over 60 years, Marina is able to go out. She said: ‘Jon comes round for two hours each week to chat to Bill and keep him company whilst I go shopping or meet up with a friend. People don’t realise how hard it is to not be able to go out when you want, or need to. Before the community volunteer programme, I very much relied on my daughters who are wonderful but only come round when they can, as they are both at work. With booking in scheduled visits from Jon, I have something to look forward to each week, and know that Bill is so well cared for when I am gone. We are so grateful to Jon for giving up his time to support us.’

To find out more about community volunteering at Blythe House, including a new training programme due to get underway next month, you can:

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Blythe House set to undergo major revamp thanks to national charity and goodwill of local professionals

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The reception, porch and a bathroom area at Blythe House Hospicecare are set to undergo a major transformation to ensure the building is accessible to all visitors.

The hospice is delighted to be working alongside CRASH, a national charity that is supporting the project by drawing on the professional skills, materials and financial generosity of the construction industry.

CRASH has also very kindly donated £30,000 towards the revamp, with the remaining costs coming from trusts and grants applied for by the hospice’s fundraising team.

Ongoing, fundamental support is also coming from local industry professionals including quantity surveyor, Gavin Garner of WCP Associates; Claire Wilde and Jemma Slater from SlaterWilde Architects and Designers; and Terry Ward, formerly of WMA Developments.

Janet Dunphy, CEO, said: ‘Blythe House celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2019 and the hospice has come a very long way in those three decades. As our services have grown and developed, what was once an adequate, welcoming space is now unfortunately not fit-for-purpose to meet the growing needs of our local community.

‘As a small hospice we need to ensure that all of our space is being used to its full potential and we have recognised that at present, there are a number of changes needed to ensure we are running effectively, meeting the demand of services and supporting our patients.

‘As you can imagine, at busy times and periods, the reception area can be very crowded and does not offer easy access to our Living Well service, or any kind of privacy for patients and visitors. The revamp will ensure it is made fully accessible to all patients, and will allow for privacy when visitors are waiting for appointments or meetings.

‘We are incredibly proud to be working alongside exceedingly talented, knowledgeable and dedicated representatives from CRASH and our local community – and we can’t wait to see the amazing revamped area later this year!’

Construction is set to get underway in mid-February 2020, continuing until around March. The hospice is working hard to ensure that disruption to services is kept to a minimum.

As mentioned previously, popular monthly coffee mornings will not take place throughout the refurb process due to access issues. Our next coffee morning is set to take place from 10am to 1pm on Friday 17th January at Alderbrook Day Centre, Buxton Road, Chinley, SK23 6ES.

Further updates about the refurbishment will be available in the coming weeks, so please stay up to date via our website and social media channels.

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Looking for a New Year’s Resolution? Volunteer at your local hospice in 2020

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If you are thinking of giving your time to a good cause this year, then look no further than supporting your local hospice.

Blythe House Hospicecare is on the lookout for volunteers from all walks of life, to help provide care and services to local patients who have life-limiting illnesses including cancer, COPD, heart failure, and neurological conditions such as motor neurone disease, as well as their family members and carers.

Anyone over the age of 16 can volunteer at Blythe House, supporting the hospice in three key areas: patient services, retail and fundraising. Roles include befriending, catering assistant, fundraising and events support, gardener, reception cover, retail assistant, counsellor and driver.

Alistair Rogerson, Volunteer and Support Services Manager, said: ‘Without our dedicated team of over 270 volunteers, Blythe House simply could not open its doors every day. We are incredibly grateful to the friendly and committed bunch, who collectively give almost 600 hours of their time to the hospice every single week. Support from our volunteers means that we can spend the maximum amount of money directly on care and services for local patients and their families.’

(L-R): Emily (with her Nan who came to Blythe House), Tom, Jasmyn, John and Betty

  • Emily Efstathiou from Fairfield undertook volunteer work experience at the hospice during her Business Studies course at Buxton College: ‘The thing I have enjoyed the most has been meeting so many new people including the staff, volunteers and the patients, and hearing about everyone’s lives and reasons for supporting the charity; it has been truly inspirational.’
  • University of Manchester student, Tom Craig from Hayfield, volunteered during his summer holidays: ‘Just being somebody who a patient can talk to about some of the difficulties that they are facing; or simply a chat about a random topic; or helping to clean the teacups at the end of the day; it is worth volunteering here simply because you can really feel like you are making a difference.’
  • Jasmyn Walton, also from Hayfield, works full-time through the week but gives her time to support the hospice’s weekend fundraising events: ‘When I volunteered I went along with a few of my friends, which was great for the organisers as they had more helpers, but this also meant I spent time with my friends whilst contributing to the community. You will feel great after helping others – I am already looking forward to volunteering at the next event with the hospice!’
  • Taddington resident, John Baker is one of the hospice’s community volunteers, which sees him head out across the local area to provide support in the homes of patients, their families and carers: ‘I have supported a patient by ensuring her husband had some respite, taking him shopping and for a coffee and a cheeky cake for just two hours each week. Simply listening and offering a different environment for a couple of hours can and does make a massive difference within a difficult situation.’
  • Betty Moll, from Chapel-en-le-Frith, has volunteered at Blythe House charity shops since 2009, after she relocated to the High Peak from Peterborough with her husband Tony (who is also a hospice volunteer): ‘If you have just moved into the local area and you’re looking to meet new people and make friends, volunteering for Blythe House is a great way to do so. It is a worthy role and I know that I’m giving something back to support a local hospice.’

To find out more about volunteering opportunities at Blythe House, you can:

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More than £5,400 raised so far to help keep High Peak hospice patients at home this Christmas

Dozens of High Peak residents have given more than £5,400 to a hospice appeal to help ensure local patients at the end of their lives can stay in the comfort of their own home.

Blythe House Hospicecare’s Christmas appeal is supporting the hospice’s hugely successful Hospice at Home service. Since it began in 2016, the service has provided over 39,000 of care to local patients who wish to die at home, instead of being admitted to a hospice in-patient unit or hospital.

The service received its 500th referral last month and has supported patients and their families across the local community including in Alstonfield, Buxton, Buxworth, Chapel-en-le-Frith, Chinley, Disley, Earl Sterndale, Furness Vale, Glossop, Hayfield, Longnor, New Mills, Peak Dale, Taxal, Tideswell, Whaley Bridge and Wormhill.

Mark and Rebecca Tollerton from Dove Holes accessed the 24/7 service after they found out that the cancer in Mark’s lungs had sadly spread to his brain. Hospice at Home provided day and night-time ‘sits’ to fit around life with young children, Amelia and George.

Rebecca explained: ‘Blythe House gave us one last Christmas at home, as a family of four. Thanks to the care and support they provided, Mark was able to stay at home with us and that meant we could spend a very special Christmas together, creating important memories. That is something that my children will never forget – and I know it meant the absolute world to Mark too.

‘Mark died on 30th June this year and the loss we feel is immeasurable. But I am comforted to know that Mark received the best care, and his last Christmas was in his own home, surrounded by the people he adored.’

Janet Dunphy, CEO of Blythe House Hospicecare, said: ‘We are overwhelmed by the support from our local community and I want to say a sincere thanks to everyone who has found it in their hearts to donate to such a worthy cause this festive season. A donation of any amount will make a lasting difference to local families like the Tollerton’s, who wish to spend quality time together at home in the final weeks of their loved ones life.’

Find out more and donate.

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