A look at 2022 from our Family Support Team

Upon reflection of last year, we feel it is important to highlight the success and positivity that the hospice has experienced throughout 2022.
It has been an absolute pleasure being a part of the support groups restarting back in August, after remembering the success of previous groups and feeling the frustrations of not being able to offer them to those who needed them most during Covid. It has reinforced the importance of peer support and group facilities being available to those who are grieving and feeling isolated through difficult times. It’s been evident to us that the groups are beneficial to the attendees and seeing people come together and form friendships with one another is what Dove House is all about.
 
The groups we now have running are; Welcome Wednesdays, Carers Group and Friday Friends. Welcome Wednesdays is a new concept of a Bereavement Café, where individuals who are bereaved through any circumstance can come along and enjoy a coffee, cake and chat amongst those who have been through the same, or similar, situations to them. We have received many compliments regarding Welcome Wednesdays and how its style of working is helpful to those who are wanting to begin socialising again, but are not yet ready to speak out loud about their grief. It is an informal group with a relaxed feel that encourages relationship building, providing a friendly and warm environment for all.
Our Carers Group is massively beneficial for those caring for a loved one, who may feel lonely or isolated due to their responsibilities and the demands of daily tasks. The group allows carers to share their stories in a safe space and be reassured they are not alone in their feelings.
Finally, our Friday Friends Group is an amazing way for anyone in the community, regardless of their circumstances, to socialise and get involved with games, activities and find their creative side. It is an inclusive group that has always been well-attended and it’s a joy to see restart. It allows people to come together and be able to laugh and joke with one another.
 
As 2022 came to a close, we were fortunate enough to end the groups this year with a lovely Christmas Lunch. It was a real hospice team effort, with the most appreciated help from our catering department, care takers, communication and events team, fundraising team, volunteers and the family support team staff, along with corporate volunteers from RSM and support from the hospice shop. We were lucky enough to have the Hull Community Voices Choir come along and perform for us, with the lovely guest appearance of Philip Daniels, our Chair of the Board of Trustees.
Those who attended the Christmas Lunch were extremely complimentary of the food provided, the music and entertainment and overall experience.
We can confidently say that the Christmas Lunch was the highlight of our year! Seeing the happiness shine through the faces of those who have experienced such difficulty this year is the priceless and rewarding reasons as to why we love what we do.
We are wanting to capture the hope and positivity that the groups have brought out in 2022 and carry this through this new year. We are looking forward to the groups commencing again in the first week of January, as we are very aware this can be a difficult month for most, therefore we have hope that the happiness of the groups can carry them through.
 
We wish you all the very best for the New Year.
 
Beth and Janet.