Summer Appeal

Could you make a donation to Dove House Hospice today to ensure that no one in our local community faces life's hardest moments without the specialist support they deserve?

   

“The Living Well Group is a safe space where you can share anything that’s on your mind or just sit and enjoy being with others. It’s such a relief to be able to get worries out of your head, knowing you’re being listened to. Coming to the hospice has become such an important part of my life, and I honestly don’t know where I’d be without it.”

- Pat, who accesses wellbeing support at Dove House

 

Pat is one of many local people whose lives have been transformed through wellbeing support at Dove House Hospice. For patients like Pat, alongside pain, fatigue and breathlessness, there can be anxiety, isolation, and a loss of confidence. And yet, with the right support, there can also be moments of calm, connection, and even joy. Moments where someone begins to feel like themselves again.

Too often, people turn to Dove House for support much later than they need to. Some have spent months, or even years, waiting for the specialist care that could help them continue living well, while their illness continues to change and everyday life becomes more difficult. We know there is a better way.

We are asking for your support today to help us to ensure that more local people can receive the support they need before the challenges they face become overwhelming. Your kindness today would help us continue to grow our range of new wellbeing group services, developed to better care for people earlier in their illness; people who are trying to stay independent, manage difficult symptoms, and hold on to the routines and activities that matter most to them.

We shape each of these groups around the individuals attending, supporting their goals, improving their quality of life and helping them live as well as possible. Whether it's rediscovering meaningful activities, finding moments of peace and relaxation, or improving emotional and physical wellbeing, every session is designed to help improve self-esteem and enable them to enjoy the things that matter most.
 
Alongside expert therapeutic support, we also know there is something incredibly powerful about connecting with others who truly understand what they're going through, sharing experiences and realising they are not alone.

"I've lost so many of the things I once loved doing, but since coming to these groups I feel like I've gained something too. They've shown me what hospice care can look like, and it's so much more than I ever imagined. Coming to Dove House helps make a sad time happier. It doesn't make me forget about my illness, but it helps me put everything that comes with it on pause for a little while. That break is something I need more than I ever realised."

- Gaynor, who attends Dove House Therapy groups

Read Gaynor's Story




Through our growing programme of therapist-led services, local people like Pat and Gaynor, are learning practical ways to manage their illness and regain a sense of control over everyday life. Whether they're adopting techniques for managing fatigue, anxiety and breathlessness in our FAB groups, discovering new ways to cope through Living Well sessions, finding friendship and reassurance in Tea & Talk, or reconnecting with nature through Hearts in Bloom, they are also creating friendships that continue long after they leave the hospice each week.
 
These new services are already changing lives, but we know there are so many more people in our community who could benefit from this kind of support.

Together, we can ensure that more local people can access the right support at a time when it can make the greatest difference. With a hand to hold when they need it most, they can experience the comfort, connection and dignity that Dove House is known for, not only at the end of life, but throughout the journey of their illness.

"I encourage anyone who can to support the hospice so they can continue helping people like me, and so more people discover that hospice care isn't just about the end of life, it'sabout helping you live well for every day you have."

- Gaynor