Read all the latest news from Lewis-Manning Hospice Care and how you can help our charity with our ‘Grow Some Sunshine’ appeal.

In this month’s round-up we also meet Susan Newcombe, our Head of Retail, and volunteer receptionist Maria Wyatt.

We hope you enjoy our monthly round-up of all the latest news from your local charity hospice.

Your support would mean so much to local families, so please head over to the Lewis-Manning website to find out more about the free of charge vital services that we offer.

Just click here.

Read up on what we’ve been up to this month.

We’ve certainly been grabbing the headlines over the last few weeks!

• High Sheriff of Dorset shows support and makes his maiden visit in new role: Michael Dooley FRCOG, the newly declared High Sheriff of Dorset, visited Lewis-Manning Hospice Care and looks forward to fully supporting the charity during his term in office. He took time out to visit the hospice on his maiden official visit in his new role.
  Read more here.
• Three new bravery testing challenges launched: We’re appealing to businesses, individuals and groups to join in with a fire walk,  Jurassic Coast trek and wing walking. Find out more here.
• Star Tech select Lewis-Manning Hospice Care as its charity of the year: Read more about the decision of the Poole-based, independent car servicing business here.
• New mobile Lymphoedema clinic launched: It’s part of our plan to bring services closer to people’s homes. Initially the clinic will be open every Thursday from 9am to 5.30pm at Kings Park in Boscombe with plenty of free parking for patients, meaning people do not have to deal with the stress and costs of travelling miles to the hospice. More details here.

We cannot thank our volunteers enough for their continued support and help.

Each month we turn the spotlight on one of these incredible people who are an integral part of the organisation.

This month we meet receptionist, Maria Wyatt.

Role & task: Reception duties – checking patients in and answering the telephone. Being the first point of contact.

When and did you start volunteering? I started volunteering in January 2020

What’s the best bit of the role? Meeting the patients and the interaction with them and the staff

What advice would you give to anyone thinking of volunteering? I would say, give it a go. It’s good to be a part of something and to meet and help people at a time in their lives when they are facing challenges.

• If you or anyone you know would be interested in sparing some precious time to become a volunteer, we would love to hear from you! Please get in touch with our Volunteer Manager today by emailing Nicola.Garsden@lewis-manning.org.uk or calling 01202 708470.

‘Grow Some Sunshine’

We are encouraging you to come on board and support Lewis-Manning Hospice Care and grow some stunning sunflowers to show support to patients and families facing the challenges of a life-limiting illness.

In these uncertain times, there is one thing we can always be sure of, which is Lewis-Manning nurses will go above and beyond to care for families across East Dorset and Purbeck.

They bring sunshine into patients’ lives during some of the most difficult times they will ever face.

The ‘Grow Some Sunshine’ campaign is all about bringing families and communities together to grow giant sunflowers this summer.

We want to fill the gardens of Dorset with their bold, bright and summery faces as a huge thank you to all of our nurses, supporters and community who ensure we can keep providing much-needed hospice care.

Click here to make a donation and receive your sunflowers.

We’re proud of our dedicated and committed team, especially seeing how everyone has dealt with the challenges and adversities that Covid-19 has presented to the charity.

This month we wanted to find out more about our Head of Retail, Su Newcombe.

Name: Susan Newcombe
Role: Head of Retail
What’s the best thing about your job? Definitely the retail shop people. They are just so full of energy and creativity. They take your old shirts and turn them into support, your tables into treatment and chairs into care. Wonderful really.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever been given? Whatever you choose to do, stick with it…and one day you will be an expert in that field and your services will always be in demand.
Tell us something about yourself that we wouldn’t know – I got 99 per cent in my cycling proficiency test. That tells you a lot about me.
Describe yourself in 3 words – Mad. About. Horses. That pretty well sums me up.
If you were going to rule the world for the day, what law would you introduce? I would pass the law that I ruled the world for eternity. Imagine what you could do with that!
Your best place for a holiday is? There are some wonderful destinations around the world but I have to say the Cotswolds with the beautiful countryside and wonderful gourmet pubs. I love a pie and a pint!

Our aim is to help as many local people as possible, who are dealing with a life limiting illness, to live their precious lives well.

There is no charge to attend Lewis-Manning Hospice Care.

If you wish to make a donation to support our extraordinary hospice care, please visit lewis-manning.org.uk/donate-online.

If you would like to know more about our vital services, or discuss anything in greater detail, then please contact a member of our team on 01202 708470 or email enquiries@lewis-manning.org.uk