A hospice in Mapperley has launched an urgent appeal for funds to help expand a vital support service to help meet demand.
Nottinghamshire Hospice is facing huge demand for its Bereavement Support services, which has led to a waiting list for their help. The charity is now asking people from across the city and county to help fund an expansion.
The hospice has provided care and support to people dying in Nottinghamshire for over 40 years. As well as taking hospice services to people’s homes and providing wellbeing activities for patients with a life limiting diagnosis, the hospice also offers Bereavement Support, providing a lifeline to people during the darkest periods of their lives.
This can take many forms – either emotional support sessions, 1-2-1 counselling, online group therapy and peer support groups. Support can be pre or post bereavement and is available to everyone across Nottinghamshire for free.
One person who turned to the Hospice for help was 32-year-old Emma Youd from Beeston, whose father Leroy died unexpectedly in 2021, just months after she gave birth to her daughter.
Emma, who received 12 free counselling sessions from the hospice, said: “Dad died suddenly in 2021 and losing him came at a confusing time. I’d just given birth, so coming to terms with his death was incredibly difficult – I’d lost my dad, and my baby would never know her grandfather. It didn’t seem fair to lose such an important part of my life, at a time that should have been so happy.
“Bereavement Support is a wonderful service that I’d recommend to anyone experiencing grief. We don’t tend to talk about death very much, but I found it really helpful to open up to someone.”
Debbie Hastings, Bereavement Support Services Manager at Nottinghamshire Hospice, added: “Our Bereavement Support is a vital part of the help we give to people affected by a life-limiting diagnosis. Alongside our Wellbeing offer and the care we deliver in people’s homes, the psychological and emotional support we provide is a lifeline to people experiencing grief.
“We’ve seen more and more people reach out to us, and we know that we need to expand in order meet the needs of our community. By raising vital funds, we can make sure people are not left to suffer loss on their own and can take pressure off other healthcare services in Nottinghamshire.”
Money raised will be invested in the expansion of the Bereavement Support services, including the recruitment of new counsellors and supporting volunteer counsellors. It will also help the hospice take its Bereavement Services out into the community, so more people can access their help.
Find out more about the appeal and make a donation: Nottinghamshire Grief Appeal – Nottinghamshire Hospice (nottshospice.org)