Meet the team – Poppie Staden, digital marketing apprentice

Poppie Staden started as digital marketing apprentice at Blythe House and Helen’s Trust in August 2022.

Poppie is undertaking a 15-month level 3 digital marketer apprenticeship with QA, the UK’s number one provider of tech and digital apprenticeships, whilst gaining valuable on-the-job experience at the hospice.

Poppie’s role is fully funded by the government (95%) with the remainder paid by Asda as part of the company’s obligation to support the national apprenticeship levy. This means that Blythe House and Helen’s Trust can continue to spend as much money as possible directly on patient care.

Poppie, who’s from Harpur Hill in Buxton, explains: ‘Before starting my apprenticeship here at the hospice, I was doing an events management degree at Leeds Beckett University. As for a lot of people studying during the pandemic, it just didn’t work for me, and I didn’t get the experience and study I wanted out of it. I decided that digital marketing was the path I wanted to pursue. This apprentice role came up at the hospice, and it couldn’t be more perfect, as Blythe House holds a special place in my heart.

‘The hospice supported me and my family in a very difficult time early this year, when our beloved Grandad died in May. Blythe House supported Grandad by providing Hospice at Home care, and even after my Grandad’s death, the hospice continues to support my family in multiple ways. So, when this apprenticeship role came up in July, it couldn’t have been more perfect. It was exactly what I was looking for, and the fact of how I know what an amazing organisation the hospice is, it made it even more rewarding to be accepted for the role.

‘During my first few months here at Blythe House and Helen’s Trust, I have met some extraordinary people; it’s such an honour to be apart of such a lovely and caring team. I would say my favourite part so far has been that during my first few weeks here, I was given the opportunity to get to meet everyone individually, which made settling into the job very easy. This also gave me the chance to share with everyone my ideas for my role here at the hospice, and everyone was so accepting and open to new ideas and opportunities, which is great!

‘My apprenticeship will help me to increase my knowledge and understanding of digital marketing, and throughout the course I will be studying: practical digital marketing; relationship marketing; web technologies; analytics and so much more.

‘I hope that looking forward, we will be able to maximise the potential of marketing here at Blythe House and Helen’s Trust. I hope that I bring a new set of eyes and ideas to the organisation, and I help to reach the goals in which we’ll set out.

‘I’m looking forward to increasing my knowledge and understanding on digital marketing, charity marketing, and Blythe House and Helen’s Trust in general. I will do this by using a variation of new platforms and techniques, to increase performance on our variety of channels and marketing strategies. Working here is just such a great opportunity, and I can’t wait to start spreading the word of the amazing care, support and services we provide here, that we’re not just a hospice, we are so much more than that.

‘In my spare time I love socialising, going to a variety of events, and going on walks with our beagle, Rex.’

Read our patient and families stories that Poppie has been involved in sourcing and writing.

/by

Accessing Hospice at Home care for a parent, to becoming a hospice nurse – Penny’s story

,

Penny Ellis became deputy manager of our Hospice at Home service in August 2021, supporting local people to keep their beloved family members at home as they near the end of life.

Penny understands ‘exactly how important it is’ to be able to grant a loved one’s wish to stay in the comfort of their home as they die, after the Hospice at Home service cared for Penny’s mum, Pat Wilson, during the final days of her life in 2018.

Penny, who has been a nurse for over a quarter of a century, explains: ‘My Mum and Dad, Pat and Dave Wilson, have lived in Chapel-en-le-Frith since 1973. My Mum worked at Chapel-en-le-Frith C of E VC Primary School as a caretaker and later worked as a teaching assistant, before moving onto a teaching assistant position at Whaley Bridge Primary School.

‘After her retirement, Mum’s health started to decline, and following many tests, investigations and surgery, she was diagnosed with adrenocortical carcinoma (cancer of the adrenal glands; two small glands on top of each kidney), in 2016. This came as a shock to us all as a family. Unfortunately, her prognosis was only two to five years as this is a very rare form of cancer.

‘After several rounds of palliative chemotherapy, Mum became weaker and weaker, and the decision was made to stop further treatment and plan for best supportive care at home. Mum made the decision to die at home and she herself got in touch with Louise Furmston (community engagement lead nurse at Blythe House), who was an old neighbour, to ask about support from the hospice. Louise arranged for Mum to visit the hospice; to meet staff and discuss the services available to her. Dr Sarah Parnacott (consultant in palliative medicine and a trustee on the Blythe House and Helen’s Trust board), also became involved at this point.

‘Mum was really looking forward to attending some group sessions and relaxing by enjoying some complementary therapy. Dad and I always attended Mum’s clinic appointments at Blythe House with Dr Parnacott, who she trusted wholeheartedly. Mum regularly commented on the family-friendly feel and the kind staff at the hospice.

‘Within weeks, Mum’s condition deteriorated rapidly and she was never able to attend any of the Blythe House services that she was so looking forward to. In October 2018, Mum became bedbound and as a family, we chose to care for her at home. We had excellent ongoing care from both Dr Parnacott and the Chapel-en-le-Frith district nursing team.

‘The district nurses referred mum to the Blythe House Hospice at Home service and I received a call from Ruth Brown (former manager of the service who has now retired but sits on the hospice’s board of trustees). Mary Rooney, a Hospice at Home healthcare assistant, sat with Mum overnight so we as a family could get some much-needed rest. I remember talking with Mary about the Hospice at Home service as it was new to me. Mum died very peacefully with all her family around, warm and comfortable, two days later. Without the Hospice at Home service, it would have been a struggle to continue as a family. The team’s intervention was so valuable.

‘Three years later in 2021, I saw a vacancy for a Hospice at Home nurse and knew I had to apply. As a nurse for over 25 years, my passion has always been caring for palliative and end of life patients. I’m really pleased that both Shane (O’Reilly, hospice CEO) and Jude (Webster, Hospice at Home manager), could see my passion for this type of nursing. I have been within the Hospice at Home team for nearly 18 months and I absolutely love it.

‘I feel so privileged to be helping other families care for their loved ones at home. I totally understand the difficulties our patients and their families face daily when patients wish to die at home, but with the help and support of the Hospice at Home team at Blythe House and Helen’s Trust, this can be made so much easier. After utilising the service for my Mum, I now know just exactly how important it is; the care and support given is utterly immeasurable. It is both a pleasure and an honour to work for Blythe House and Helen’s Trust.’

Find out more about the Hospice at Home service and how it could support your loved one.

/by

Meet the team – Marie Brown, in her new role as senior retail manager

,

Marie Brown has been retail manager for one or more of our Blythe House Hospicecare and Helen’s Trust retail shops throughout the last decade, and now she is beginning a new chapter, after her recent promotion to senior retail manager. In this role, Marie will oversee all five of our local high street stores, as well as our online shops, including eBay and Depop.  

Marie, who graduated with a degree in surface pattern design in 2000, worked as a textile designer producing products for retailers such as John Lewis, Dunelm and many others across the UK and throughout Europe. Here, she was responsible for bringing together ranges of designs each year and presenting them on exhibition stands at huge trade shows in Belgium, Frankfurt, Italy, London and Birmingham.  This is where she developed her skills in visual merchandising and retail, and fell in love with how creative, exciting and challenging it was.

Marie then decided that working in the textiles industry was just not for her. She explains: ‘It was polluting, exploitative and wasteful, and I was unable to reconcile my conscience any longer. Therefore, I then left the industry and opened my own independent boutique selling Fair Trade furnishings, my own artwork, design-led gifts and interior accessories, plus ranges from other UK designers and manufacturers.

‘I also opened a gallery which operated as a community interest company for local artists which was run by volunteers. Ten years later, The Gallery is still open and can be found at 12 High Street, New Mills.  Later, a change in my personal circumstances meant that my little shop was no longer viable, and in 2009 I closed it down.’

The same year, Marie was offered a managerial position in what was the original Blythe House Hospicecare furniture store in Whaley Bridge. She said: ‘In 2010, we opened a small Blythe House clothes shop just across the road and a further 12 months after, that we merged the two shops, and in 2011 became the Blythe House Hospice department store that we know today.

‘I was retail manager of the department store for five years until 2016, when the opportunity arose for me to become the retail manager for the three smaller outlets we have in New Mills, Chapel-en-le Frith and Buxton.  Six years later, I have remained the retail manager for Blythe House’s shop in Buxton, and also our Helen’s Trust store in Bakewell which I opened last year. This is all about to change again as I recently accepted the role of senior retail manager for Blythe House Hospicecare and Helen’s Trust.

‘The retail enterprises for Blythe House and Helen’s Trust just keeps growing; ecommerce has expanded; the turnover of all the shops has grown year on year; we have opened a Helen’s Trust shop in Bakewell, and we are looking to open more. My new role is to support our retail managers and their teams to keep our existing shops safe and secure through whatever challenges may lie ahead, and to ensure they continue to thrive and generate essential funds that support Blythe House and Helen’s Trust in providing high levels of care for people with life-limiting illnesses.

 ‘It may be obvious, but I love charity shops; they are the perfect solution to so many problems – social, environmental and financial. To be given the opportunity to open more as we expand throughout Derbyshire is what inspired me to apply for the role and what excites me most about the future. I have been a part of all our charity shops for the past 13 years; some of our volunteers have been with us for decades, we have had many adventures together.

‘It is the people who are my favourite part of what I do; the dedication of our volunteers is my motivation, the generosity of our communities who give us fabulous donations of clothes, homewares, books, toys and furniture feed my creativity, and the loyalty of our customers makes all the hard work worthwhile. Our charity shops have huge personalities where laughter and cups of tea are very important; I am very grateful for both.’

Could you spare just four hours of your time per week? If so, does becoming a volunteer at one of our Blythe House Hospicecare and Helen’s Trust shops or online stores interest you? Find out more and apply online now: Volunteer Opportunities – Blythe House Hospicecare

/by

Philippa’s story

Philippa Heath, from Chapel-en-le-Frith, became a Hospice at Home healthcare assistant in March 2017 after deciding to apply because of her passion for ‘people to have the choice and the option to die at home.’

Here, she explains more…

‘My husband sadly died two years earlier; it was his preference to be at home until the end and this was made possible with the dedication of the district nurses, and of course family and friends. Hospice at Home was not available then but I could see the huge benefits to patients and families that it would bring.

‘I enjoy every aspect of my job and see it as a privilege to be able to be part of a patient’s journey towards the end of life. As well as personal care, we are there to help with general day-to-day tasks and sometimes to just be a listening ear. We often sit with patients to allow their carers, usually a spouse or other family members, to get some respite. Each person has his or her own personal needs so it is a varied and challenging role.

‘It is paramount for everyone to benefit from good end of life care. Every single person matters and whilst we are caring for them, they are still living their best life possible. We can ensure that personal needs are met to avoid unnecessary discomfort and that dignity is maintained throughout. We can be the eyes for the district nurses and doctors, and so report any issues as soon as anything becomes known. We offer support in whatever way is needed. Many families feel lost or overwhelmed, and to be able to offer the kind of help and support that Hospice at Home does is just incredible, usually when families are exhausted, scared and in emotional turmoil.

‘I’ve been with patients on just two occasions at the actual time of death and arrived at one house very soon after. On a practical basis, I have called for a doctor to certify death, contacted the funeral directors, and helped to wash and dress the deceased. On the more emotional side, just giving the family space, understanding, staying calm and of course making tea. Sometimes just being there is worth its weight in gold. I truly believe that we make a huge difference to every single person we sit with. Being with a lady while she died just before midnight one evening really sticks in my mind. I held her hand, talked to her and was able to let the family know that she was not alone in her final moments and that it was a peaceful. This is something each family can take great comfort from.

‘I hope that Hospice at Home can continue to grow. We are so lucky to have this service in the High Peak and I feel privileged to work for Blythe House. Being able to die at home provides so much comfort to the patient, surrounded by people and things that they love.’

/by

Sheila’s story

Sheila Darcy qualified as a nurse specialising in mental health in 1976, beginning her career at Cheadle Royal Hospital. The self-confessed night owl undertook different roles covering mental health, accident and emergency, Alzheimer’s and acute services, at local hospitals including Stepping Hill and Manchester Royal Infirmary.

The Disley resident found out about Blythe House’s Hospice at Home service and called Ruth Brown, the service manager, to find out more. Ruth explained that there were opportunities available, and Sheila became a night-time healthcare assistant for the 24/7 service in April 2016.

Sheila explained: ‘My dad was diagnosed with cancer when I was nine, and he was nursed at home by my mum for three years before he died when I was 12. I have been involved with patients who are dying, or who have died, throughout my career including caring for anxious or upset families. The Hospice at Home healthcare assistant role just seemed to fit perfectly with my previous experience.

‘I have always worked in hospital settings, so adjusting to a community role and visiting people’s homes was strange at first but wow; it is an absolute privilege to do this job. Families really want you to be there; you can be the person to watch over the patient and gently nudge a loved one or family member to say: “Their breathing has deteriorated, would you like to come in and sit with them?” Sometimes they are so frightened; but just being there you can help to support them through very sad times.

‘One evening I arrived at a patient’s home and I knew that the person sadly didn’t have long left. I said to the family: “Let’s sit together and hold hands” and we gathered around the patient’s bed whilst the family shared stories and anecdotes. The patient died not long after but it was so comforting to know the family shared precious moments beforehand.

‘Someone died recently who I had been spending two nights per week with since April – I was very, very close to her, and it is so sad when someone you care for does die. The day we stop being upset that our patients have died is the day we stop doing this role.

‘Working through the night with patients is so precious because it is such a vulnerable time and I am always resourceful with crosswords, knitting or reading. One night, in the run up to Christmas last year, a patient asked me if we could sing some carols. I sat on her bed and we were singing Good King Wenceslas when she suddenly stopped breathing. I went to wake her husband and said I am so sorry but she died so suddenly – he said: “Don’t worry, because she died, doing exactly what she loved – singing!”’

‘I have never worked anywhere before where people make you feel so welcome. You really hope you’re going to make a difference, and you are so very appreciated by patients and their families.’

/by