Sue and Tony Thompson from Herne have a wealth of volunteering experience with the Herne Bay Pilgrims Hospices shop. Together they have amounted more than 40 years of valuable time and skills.  They took some time away from looking after customers on the shop floor, to tell us a little about themselves and what makes volunteering special for them. Tony who is now 83 years young, and originally from North East Durham said: “I love it, I’ve always kept myself busy, and being part of the hospice shop team is an important part of my weekly routine. “I’ve had an interesting career; after schoo ..read more

The Wellbeing team at Pilgrims Hospices were delighted to welcome Samba Pelo Mar, the Whitstable based community samba band, to the Wellbeing group, to share their drumming and rhythms with service users, along with staff members who came along to enjoy the uplifting music. Ann Day, Musical Director Kim and Kelly, Pilgrims Wellbeing Practitioners said: “We know drumming has a positive effect on anxiety, grief, fatigue and behavioural issues. We loved being involved with the group where everyone had an opportunity to be creative with the drums and shakers. “We promote wellbeing to everyone, pat ..read more

Pilgrims Hospices sends its warmest congratulations to King Charles III and Queen Camilla on their coronation. Chief Executive of Pilgrims Hospices, Helen Bennett said: “On behalf of everyone at Pilgrims Hospices, the Board of Trustees and I, we send our heartfelt congratulations to Their Majesties, King Charles III and Queen Camilla, as they share this momentous day with the country. “The United Kingdom is marking the occasion with events that will see people take to the streets in celebrations. We at Pilgrims, will share the Coronation day with our patients, their families, and friends; a nu ..read more

At Pilgrims Hospices, specialist palliative care doctors and consultants play a vital role in supporting patients and their families. They focus on managing and improving the physical symptoms that accompany a variety of life-limiting illnesses, with the broader aim of helping people to live well – in both mind and body – in the time that they have left. Ahsan Ashfaq and Tarek Boumrah, trainee doctors who both volunteered at Pilgrims when they were at school and spent time in the hospices during their medical training, share their experiences of hospice care in east Kent. What inspired you to ..read more

Local artist Anthony Giles, has generously offered his studio for Pilgrims to hold the 100 Pieces of Art charity auction, taking place on 1 July 2023. Anthony lives and works in Margate, surrounded by Turner’s best skies in the whole of Europe. Pilgrims are inviting budding artists of all ages and abilities, to submit their paintings, ceramic or sculpture art to create 100 pieces of art to be sold at auction to help support Pilgrims Hospices’ end-of-life care. Karen Kenward, Pilgrims Hospices Community Fundraising Manager said: “Anthony has been involved with art events for Pilgrims Hospices o ..read more

The Blackbird Project helps people hear their loved ones’ voices – even when they’re no longer here. Sheena and Nick Jackaman lost their son Ben in 2017, when he was only 34 years old. He was cared for at Pilgrims Hospice Canterbury. As with many bereaved families, they realised how much they missed the sound of Ben’s voice of which they had no recent recordings. Nick and Sheena Jackaman They, his sister Anna, family and their friends raised funds in his memory, in order to create a legacy project that would allow grieving families to listen to the voice of their loved one, and feel comforted ..read more

Follow the Ashford UNFRAMED 2023 art trail this April half term, and be amazed by the murals created by national and local artists, who have transformed blank walls in Ashford town centre, into a sea of colour and creativity. Sue Sharp with artist Will Redgrove At the UNFRAMED launch, Sue Sharp, Pilgrims Hospices Director of Income Generation and Marketing, met mural artist Will Redgrove, painter of Pilgrims Hospices shop on Castle Street with his interpretation of the work of Pilgrims. The masterpiece depicts three blue tits representing the three Pilgrims Hospices; a ribbon in flight within ..read more

The generous 11th Broadstairs Beavers, visited Pilgrims Hospice Thanet with Tracey Garnier, to present their donation of £200. The Beavers had been saving money each week, to help support people who need important Pilgrims’ care. They were interested to find out more about activities that take place in the Therapy Centre, and enjoyed a craft session during their visit. Jane Stanley, Wellbeing Practitioner said: “It was such a great evening! We had prepared packs of 3D desktop beavers to make, and coiling dreamcatcher snakes to decorate. After a brief overview of some of the Wellbeing groups h ..read more

As a member of Pilgrims Hospices Always Caring, Daphne Smith supports the charity with a monthly donation, to give back for the care and support her and her husband, Ron, received. My late husband Ron and I were both in the Civil Service working for the prison department. Ron was an electrician before he joined the Service, so went in as a Trades Officer and worked his way up through the ranks. He always worked and played hard and I was immensely proud of him. He was 89 when he died and we had been married for 68 years. Whilst Ron was receiving immunotherapy at the Viking centre, he also ..read more

Emma Swietochowski-Hay, Kent Police’s Fraud Prevention Co-ordinator, was invited to talk at the Living Well Group in the Therapy Centre at Pilgrims Hospice Canterbury, by Kim and Kelly, Wellbeing Practitioners. The talk was to highlight how criminal activity faces us all, and how we can make simple changes to our reactions, and practices to help to keep safe and secure when it comes to fraudulent activities. Emma has hands-on experience, working as a uniformed Police Community Support Officer in Ashford. She is passionate about passing on her experience of local crime, and how to take steps to ..read more