The Prince of Wales Hospice in Pontefract is using local churches and their facilities to operate a new service for those with life limiting diseases and their families and carers.
What started in Badsworth Church as a pilot scheme has proved so successful, the Hospice is now extending this service to Holy Cross in Airedale, pictured left, and the Parochial Hall in Altofts.
Called Outreach – the weekly drop-in offers a place to meet and chat, arts and crafts, some complementary therapies and spiritual and emotional support.
The service is available for adults with ‘Life Limiting Illnesses’ such as cancer, COPD, chronic heart and lung disease, and motor neurone disease. Carers of people with these conditions may also attend.
People can simply drop in for coffee and a chat with staff and with others suffering with similar illnesses.
Since it launched, the group has painted gifts for family members, made Forget Me Nots for a special sculpture, a volunteer has given complementary therapies and they’ve enjoyed a visit from a school choir.
The priest in Charge of Badsworth and Hospice chaplain, Fr Stephen Hotchen, said: “The hospice is much more than simply about death and dying; it is about living and life and Outreach is a project designed to help people live their lives as fulfilling as possible, despite their life limiting circumstances. “
TIMES:
Badsworth 10.00 am - 1.00 pm Friday
Airedale 11.00 am - 2.00 pm Wednesday
Altofts 10.00 am - 1,00 pm Thursday
For more information on the Outreach groups, call Day Therapy 01977 708868.