st vincents hospice Archives - Page 2 of 12

At St. Vincent’s Hospice’s Strictly Come Prancing dance event, the unlikely duo of Lynn Ferguson and 81-year-old Alex Glass shocked both the audience and the judges by beating 12 other couples to win the competition.

The 8^th annual Strictly Come Prancing, based on the hit TV series, was the biggest in the organisations history with nearly 500 people in attendance, raising an astonishing £57,500 for the local charity.

With 13 twinkle toed contestants taking to the floor, the audience were treated to quicksteps, cha-chas, jives, sambas and tangos as the couples looked to impress the judges following months of training and preparation, all to support St. Vincent’s.

Senior Fundraiser for the Hospice, Louise Strachan, said: “What a great night this was! So much hard work and effort was involved in the lead up and owe a great debt of thanks to all involved. From Barr + Wray ltd (our headline sponsors for the event) to our choreographers, judges, make-up artists, local businesses, supporters and of course our incredible dancers who have given us so much of their time and dedication to fundraise and rehearse.

“Their efforts were not in vain, as this was our biggest Strictly event to date, raising a whopping £57,500, which will go directly towards helping St. Vincent’s to care for people in Renfrewshire and beyond who are affected by a life-limiting illness.”

Argentine Tango Dancers, Lynn and Alex, put their best feet forward and triumphed in the dance off against joint runners up, Martin Innes and Toni Kane and Joe McCrystal and Morag Lewis.
Alex said: “It was a joy to win the trophy and help raise such an amazing amount of money for St. Vincent’s. I have had such a wonderful time taking part and would recommend this experience to anyone. You’re never too old – I’m 81!”

His partner on the evening, Lynn, added: “I had a fantastic time taking part in Strictly. I met great people, from fellow dancers, to Hospice staff and volunteers, it was just a great experience for a great cause and I can’t believe we won!”

The Hospice are already looking forward to Strictly Come Prancing 2020 and welcome all applications from potential dancers and sponsors. For more information, contact Info@svh.co.uk.

29/03/2019/by Brian McGuire

Guinness World Record holder and the first Scot to receive a double hand transplant, Cor Hutton, has joined St. Vincent’s Hospice today to celebrate the grand reopening of their charity shop in Lochwinnoch.

Cor, who has made headlines all across the globe with her inspirational accomplishments, is a long-time supporter of the Hospice and was delighted to join with members of the Change Lochwinnoch Project and Hospice staff to mark the culmination of months of hard work, fundraising and renovation to the village store.

Cor said: “I’m so delighted to be here to celebrate the opening of St. Vincent’s Hospice. Charity and community are two things extremely close to my heart and this is a celebration of both. I’m certain the shop will be a success because of the fantastic locals and I’ll be popping in whenever I can.”

The Change Lochwinnoch project was launched by a group of volunteers in the local community who have close ties to the life changing work of St. Vincent’s Hospice and the importance that donations to their charity shop make to their services.

After months of extensive fundraising efforts and generous contributions from supporters and businesses, renovation works began at the start of March to completely transform the shop, creating a modern and warm environment for the community to enjoy while continuing to raise vital funds for the charity.

One of the organisers of the project, Christine Midgley, said: “It seems like the whole village has supported the Hospice shop refurbishment! There are far too many people to name, but we want to thank everyone who has given their time, services, materials, money or even just dropped in with snacks or well wishes to keep us going.

“Special thanks has to go to Eric Whitfield. The entire refurbishment was his idea, and he ran with it, planning, organising and managing the whole thing – begging, borrowing and chasing support from anyone we could get to make this a reality. He is our hero.”

St. Vincent’s Hospice is a specialist provider of palliative and Hospice care for individuals and families affected by life-limiting conditions from across Renfrewshire.

Chief Executive of St. Vincent’s, Kate Lennon, commented on the project, saying: “We cannot put into words how much this means to everyone at the Hospice and the people who rely on our care. The time, dedication and efforts of the community in Lochwinnoch to make this shop renovation a reality has been absolutely unbelievable.

“The Group involved in our shop renovation have worked tirelessly for months on end to raise the funds, liaise with organisations, contractors and supporters to get the support and materials necessary. Many of them even went that step further, taking up tools to physically help with the construction work. Every year our Hospice shops raise more than £400,000 towards our services and the renovation of Lochwinnoch will make such a positive difference to so many people in the community. On behalf of all of us, from the bottom of our heart, thank you!”

Every year, the Hospice shops raise more than £400,000 towards the life changing work of the Hospice. Please, drop in and visit the Lochwinnoch store, or find your nearest St. Vincent’s shop by visiting: www.SVH.co.uk.

21/03/2019/by Brian McGuire

Due to the hard work of the Change Lochwinnoch Campaign and St. Vincent’s Hospice Volunteers, the charity shop in the heart of the village will begin its major refurbishment on Friday 1^st March 2019.

Having hit their ambitious target, the shop is now set for a complete refurbishment, creating a modern, warm and welcoming space for the community to enjoy while continuing to raise vital funds for the charity.

The Change Lochwinnoch project was launched by a group of volunteers in the local community who have close ties to the life changing work of St. Vincent’s Hospice and the importance that donations to their charity shop make to their services.

Commenting on the work, Trading Support Manager for St. Vincent’s Hospice, Fiona Campbell, said: “The level of support our Hospice receives from the community in Lochwinnoch really is second to none, and we have been blown away by the work and dedication they have put in to make this refurbishment a reality!

“Each year our shops generate more than £400,000 which goes directly towards supporting the work of our Hospice. Not only will these changes to the shop help patients and families all throughout Renfrewshire, but it will also be a hub for the community, a place for people to meet, chat, make new friends and bring people together.”

St. Vincent’s Hospice is a specialist provider of palliative and Hospice care for individuals and families affected by life-limiting conditions from across Renfrewshire.

In the last year alone, the Hospice offered care for hundreds of families across Renfrewshire through their eight bed In-patient Unit, Day Hospice Service and in the comfort of people’s own homes with their Community Nurse Specialists team.

Fiona added: “Work will be ongoing in the shop throughout the month of March, and we owe a massive debt of thanks to every single person who has helped make this possible. Thank you!”

For more information and updates, follow St. Vincent’s Hospice on Facebook, @StVincentsHosp on Instagram and Twitter, or visit www.SVH.co.uk.

14/02/2019/by Brian McGuire

Barr + Wray, a world leading provider of pool and spa design alongside water engineering, has pledged its support to St. Vincent’s Hospice by becoming headline sponsor for their hugely popular Strictly Come Prancing event this Spring.

St. Vincent’s Hospice’s award nominated event Strictly Come Prancing is now in its eighth year and will take place on Friday 15 March at Ingliston Country Club & Hotel, aiming to raise vital funds to support the work of the Hospice.

Thirteen couples have been training hard for several months, and will compete on the night to win the prestigious trophy by performing a series of dance routines to impress the judges and live audience. The variety of Tangos, Quick -Steps, Waltz’s and Sambas will all be danced by couples who started out as non-dancers.

St. Vincent’s Hospice is a specialist provider of palliative and Hospice care for Renfrewshire and beyond, supporting families and patients who have been impacted by life limiting conditions.

Operations Director for Barr & Wray, Lorne Kennedy, said: “Barr + Wray take great pleasure in supporting local charities on an annual basis. St. Vincent’s Hospice is a highly commendable charity, providing care for all. We admire the hard work, love and support that go in to every aspect of the charity from the In-Patient Unit to the Day Hospice and the Community Nurse Specialists. Not to mention the support provided not only to the patients but their families and loved ones. B + W are proud to sponsor St. Vincent’s Hospice and give a little towards helping such a worthy charity.”

The evening will be hosted by their very own ‘Brucie’ and ‘Tess’ and will also feature performances from previous winners, contestants and professional dancers. An audience of approximately 500 will watch this spectacular event, including family, friends and Hospice supporters, as well as our panel of expert judges and a special guest.

Senior Fundraiser for St. Vincent’s Hospice, Louise Strachan, said: “On behalf of everyone at St Vincent’s Hospice, I want to say a heartfelt thank you to Barr & Wray for their continued support.

At St Vincent’s Hospice, we offer specialist palliative and Hospice care for people and families all across Renfrewshire and beyond who are impacted by life-limiting conditions. Every year we have to raise more than £1.1 million to offer the level of support that we do for the community, making sure we are offering the right care, in the right way, for anyone who needs it.

This simply wouldn’t be possible without the wonderful support of the community, and we truly cannot thank Barr & Wray enough. Their generosity and continued support will make such a huge difference to patients and families all around the community, at a time when they need it most.”

There are a very limited number of places left at what is sure to be a sell-out event. If you would like to purchase a ticket, support the hospice or be kept up to date with any fundraising events Email Info@svh.co.uk or call 07521988488.

13/02/2019/by Brian McGuire

On Wednesday 6^th February, St. Vincent’s Hospice is offering confidential legal advice sessions completely free of charge. This service is being provided courtesy of the voluntary support from trusted local solicitors. Sessions are open to any adult, however, as places are limited, priority will be given to people living in Renfrewshire.

Legacy and Trust Officer at St. Vincent’s Hospice, June Burgess, said: “We have received some extremely generous and kind offers of support from local solicitors, and we are very pleased to welcome them to St. Vincent’s to help anyone who needs legal advice and guidance.

“The sessions will provide an introduction to professional advice and information to help with planning for the future – such as writing Wills, arranging powers of attorney and other legal matters. The service is provided without obligation or commitment. We know that people are often worried or anxious about discussing these issues, and we hope that this service will alleviate some of the pressure for individuals and families.”

Sessions are held in a private, comfortable, meeting room next to the Reception area of the Hospice, with appointments of up to 30 minutes available. Anyone who feels they could benefit is invited to get in touch and make an appointment between 11am and 1.30pm. Other dates will become available throughout the year.

Places are limited, so please contact:
June Burgess, St. Vincent’s Hospice
Midton Road, Howwood, Renfrewshire PA9 1AF
Tel: 01505 705635 Email: June.burgess@svh.co.uk

St. Vincent’s Hospice is a local charity, providing specialist palliative and Hospice care for people impacted by life-limiting conditions all across Renfrewshire.

29/01/2019/by Brian McGuire

To mark the end of their 30^th Anniversary, St. Vincent’s Hospice are having their hottest fundraising event ever, with a Firewalk on Tuesday 29^th January.

Teaming up with FireWalk Scotland, the Hospice are looking for people to sign up and face their fears, for this exciting challenge to support St. Vincent’s by doing something truly remarkable.

Commenting on the event, Fundraiser for St. Vincent’s Hospice, Linda Campbell, said: “Our 30^th Anniversary year has been nothing short of spectacular, with some absolutely incredible events and support from people all across our Community. It only seems fitting that we close our 30^thyear in the same way, with this very special event, giving you the chance to do something you’d never think possible and literally walk through fire to raise money for a good cause.”

St. Vincent’s is a specialist provider of palliative and hospice care for people and families affected by life limiting conditions throughout Renfrewshire. Taking pride in offering the right care, at the right time, they offer support via their In-patient Unit, Day Services and in people’s own homes throughout the community.
They are also one of the few organisations in Renfrewshire to offer bereavement counselling and support for children and young people who have experienced the loss of a parent or loved one.

Jamie McKenzie, from FireWalk Scotland, said: “We are very excited to be teaming up with St. Vincent’s to put on this Fire walking event. Not only will this help raise vital funds for the Hospice, and help so many people going through difficult times, but it is your chance to take part in an ancient ritual and rite of passage that is a truly unique experience.

“During the evening, you will learn how to conquer fear and how your minds can be turned to confidence and certainty, in any situation, focus on the future and your goals, rediscover your own inner power and use these new found skills to walk over hot coals, at temperatures of more than 800 degrees Celsius.”

The event begins at 6pm at St. Vincent’s Hospice and costs £37.90 to take part. For more information, contact Info@svh.co.uk.

21/01/2019/by Brian McGuire

On Friday 15th March, fourteen couples will go head to head for charity, as St. Vincent’s Hospice presents their annual Strictly Come Prancing event at the five star Ingliston Country Club and Hotel.

Now in its eighth year, the hugely popular event, based on the Strictly Come Dancing television series, sees duos with little or no dancing experience take to the floor in an attempt to impress the judges and live audience, each vying to be crowned the 2019 champions.

Senior Fundraiser for St. Vincent’s Hospice, Louise Strachan, commented on the event, saying: “Strictly Come Prancing is a great, fun filled, evening which is one of the most popular in our fundraising calendar. Since early January, our twinkle toed couples have been giving up time every week to train in preparation for the evening and we are so grateful to them for all their efforts.

“Our couples are in the hands of Curtis Campbell and Rebecca Elliot, our star choreographers who are putting everyone through their paces for the night and we cannot thank them enough for their outstanding contribution.

The evening will be hosted by our very own ‘Brucie’ and ‘Tess’ and will feature performances from our 2018 dance couples, last year’s winners as well as our professional dancers.”

All funds raised from the event go directly towards supporting St. Vincent’s Hospice, a specialist provider of palliative and end of life care for individuals and families affected by life limiting conditions.

For more information, visit www.SVH.co.uk.

20/12/2018/by Brian McGuire

As Christmas draws closer and we get excited about the prospect of seeing extended family, filling up on food, and eagerly opening piles of presents, it’s important to remember that not everyone in our local community is feeling the same way.

Storage Vault Paisley Branch have been doing their bit to help those struggling in the community by supporting some fantastic Paisley and Glasgow-based charities who are doing a world of good.

Christmas is a time of giving, so why not see what you can do to give these fantastic groups some assistance?

A Helping Hand

A Helping Hand are an inspiring local community group who have banded together to help the homeless and less fortunate across Paisley.

Every Tuesday they congregate at the entrance of Marks and Spencers on Paisley High Street between 8 and 9pm, distributing soup and hot drinks.

They also donate clothes, bedding, shoes, and toiletries to those who need them, storing all of their donated stock in a storage unit that we have donated to them at our Paisley self-storage site.

A Helping Hand are currently in urgent need of various food items and personal hygiene products which they have listed on their Facebook page, as well as items for their special Boxing Day Event.

Renfrewshire Christmas Toy Bank

Another fantastic charity we put our full support behind is the Renfrewshire Christmas Toy Bank.

The toy bank works closely with social work, Barnardo’s threads, the STAR project, and the Foodbank in order to provide children aged 0-18 across Renfrewshire with Christmas presents. They too keep their donations in a free storage unit gifted by the Storage Vault Paisley team.

Christmas can be stressful enough for parents without the worry of providing their families with enough food over the holidays, let alone purchasing them toys, books, and games.

Until the 17th of December, Renfrewshire Christmas Toy Bank are holding drop-offs of toys at various locations across the county. Toys and books in good condition are being sought to donate to donate to children of all ages desperately in need of some Christmas cheer.

ACCORD Hospice

Christmas should be a time of joy where families gather together, but for some, serious illness takes this bonding opportunity away.

Storage Vault support ACCORD Hospice by giving them free storage as well as donating £1 to them for every storage unit we rent.

ACCORD strive to provide palliative end-of-life care to those with terminal illness across Renfrewshire and some areas in East Renfrewshire.

Catering to both physical and emotional needs, they are doing a fantastic job bringing families together, which is much needed at this time of year, giving individuals a dignified end to their life.

Homeless Street Team Glasgow

This group are a not-for-profit community group who venture out onto the streets of Glasgow City Centre twice a week to help the homeless, giving out food and hot drinks, toiletries, and clothing.

They actively seek out individuals who are homeless and ask if they are looking for support. They sit and talk to them, which is often much-needed, especially during the winter snap when it’s easy to feel helpless and alone.

Storage Vault help the team by providing them with storage unit space to keep their wares in.

Give Your Support

Storage Vault are passionate about giving back to the community that has supported them for so long. These Paisley and Glasgow-based charities deserve immense aid for all the good they do, particularly at this time of year.

14/12/2018/by Brian McGuire

This Christmas, St. Vincent’s Hospice and Change Lochwinnoch are appealing for donations to help them raise £1,500 to reach their target amount to refurbish the charity store in the heart of the village.

The Change Lochwinnoch project was launched by a group of volunteers in the local community with close ties to the life changing work of the Hospice, aiming to give the shop a complete refurbishment, creating a modern, warm and welcoming space for the community and continue to raise vital funds for the charity.

One of the key members of the group and dedicated supporter of St. Vincent’s, Dr Morag Thow MBE, said: “We have been working extremely hard for the last several months towards our goal of refurbishing the shop, which means so much to so many people across the area, and so far the response has been fantastic. However, this Christmas we need your help to get over the finish line and reach our target.”

St. Vincent’s Hospice is a specialist provider of palliative and Hospice care for individuals and families affected by life-limiting conditions from across Renfrewshire.

In the last year alone, the Hospice offered care for hundreds of families across Renfrewshire through their eight bed In-patient Unit, Day Hospice Service and in the comfort of people’s own homes with their Community Nurse Specialists team.

Additionally, St. Vincent’s delivered more than 1,400 bereavement counselling and support sessions, many of these for children and young people between the ages of 2 – 18, going through some of the most difficult time of their lives following the loss of a parent or person close to them.

Morag added: “I have been involved with the Hospice for the last four years, taking an exercise class for the Day Hospice. I see what a difference the Hospice makes to patients, families and friends of people who need their support. Without the money from the charity shops, this fantastic work could not continue.”
Chief Executive of St. Vincent’s Hospice, Kate Lennon, said: “The support we receive from the community in Lochwinnoch is absolutely second to none, and we are overwhelmed by the work the group have already done to make the shop refurbishment a reality.

“More than 50% of our funding is made up of voluntary donations and the income generated by our shops, but our Lochwinnoch store is much more than that. It is a space for people to meet, to chat, to make new friends, a space to bring the community together. This Christmas, please help us reach our target and play your part in supporting hundreds of families every year.”

To donate to the Change Lochwinnoch campaign, please visit: http://bit.ly/2Eo089h

10/12/2018/by Brian McGuire

Students from Gryffe High School are attempting to raise awareness of the issues facing young people who have lost a parent or loved one by sharing their own experiences, and pioneering a new approach to bereavement support in school.

In a collaboration between the Children and Young People’s Service at St. Vincent’s Hospice and Gryffe High School, the pupil’s own words and experiences of some of their hardest moments after the loss of a significant person in their life, and attempting to readjust to school life, have been shared as part of a new set of support and information materials, aimed at teachers, parents and other pupils.

Children and Young Persons Bereavement at St. Vincent’s, Alison Provan, said “Being a teenager is a difficult time for anyone, there are so many changes going on in your life that it can be overwhelming at the best of times. Now imagine going through that after the death of a parent or someone close to you.

“Sadly, for most schools and teachers, the resources simply aren’t available to provide proper training and development to give staff the confidence and knowledge to effectively manage issues around bereavement. The students felt so passionately that they wanted to help people to understand, that we thought this would be a fantastic opportunity to collaborate with Gryffe High School and develop materials which can make a real difference and offer tangible, practical support.”

As well as being a specialist provider of palliative and hospice care for people with life limiting conditions in Renfrewshire, St. Vincent’s Hospice also offers bereavement counselling and support for children and young people aged 2-18, helping them come to terms with major changes in their lives.

As part of the project, which included creating practical guides and advice for teachers, pupils and staff, the group created an “Advice from our Pupils” booklet. This listed significant incidents, issues, worries or concerns that the students had experienced while coming to terms with loss, written in their own words. This has now been made available to all teachers and support staff across the school.

Andrew Findlay, Principal Teacher for Guidance at Gryffe High School, said: “The collaboration with St. Vincent’s is something that has been in development for a couple of years. Gill Brand, a fellow Guidance Teacher at Gryffe High School, and I identified a large gap in the universal support offered to young people within a school setting. As we supported pupils who were experiencing loss and bereavement, we found that there was no specific guidance for all pupils, staff and parents to follow to ensure the pupils and their families received the best, and most appropriate support required at such difficult times.

“Through conversation with Alison, who already supported a number of pupils within the school, we discussed the possibility of creating resources to aid that process. The relationships and confidence that she had built with the pupils, allowed a unique insight into the approach staff members could take to ensure an environment is created in which a pupil would feel safe and supported.”

These materials have now been rolled out across the school, and are available for all members of staff, pupils and parents, to help them gain a more meaningful understanding of bereavement and loss for children and young people. The materials, and more information, can be found at: http://www.svh.co.uk/services/supportive-care

06/12/2018/by Brian McGuire