The Eastern Area Charity Steward, Russ Perks, recently applied to the ELMC for a Teddies for Loving Care (TLC) grant for Springhill Hospice in Rochdale. The application was approved and dealt with very quickly by Karen Hall at Hewlett Court.
Springhill Hospice serves the local communities of Rochdale, Middleton and Heywood, providing end-of-life care through its inpatient unit and specialist community services. Its Hospice at Home service provides care to patients in their own homes seven days a week, with a team of specialist nurses, physiotherapists, nursing assistants and counsellors.
The hospice has a 16-bed inpatient unit where patients are cared for with dignity and compassion. Patients may be admitted for symptom management, such as pain control, or for end-of-life palliative care. The hospice also provides overnight accommodation in family suites, allowing relatives to stay close to their loved ones.
Springhill also offers a wide range of day therapies, including massage, aromatherapy and creative activities such as arts and crafts. These services provide holistic care, promoting the physical, emotional, social and spiritual wellbeing of both patients and their loved ones. The hospice also provides counselling and bereavement support, as well as a 24-hour advice line.
Eastern Area Charity Steward Russ Perks said that, like a hospital, a hospice can be a frightening experience for a young person. The Teddies for Loving Care initiative provides a unique cuddly bear to children who are distressed or in need of comfort. The nationwide initiative, supported by Freemasons, has now delivered more than four million bears to children in distress, helping to reduce the shock and anxiety of their experience and rewarding them for being brave during a difficult time.
Russ Perks and Joanne Ali also discussed upcoming events where members of the Eastern Area Freemasons will be out supporting the hospice and helping it to engage with the local community. These include the Christmas Fair in November. Joanne was very thankful to all the members who turn out in all weathers to support the hospice and its various projects.
Danielle also expressed how grateful the hospice was to have been thought of and to receive the bears, saying a massive thank you to both the ELMC and the Eastern Area Freemasons for their kind generosity.
