mum email 2

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Transcript of mum email 2

Contents3-4 | C H R I S T MA S B ER EAV E M ENT

1-2 | K E EP I NG R I C H A R D G RO U ND E D

5-6 | P H O ENI X

7-8 | FA I R D EA L F O R C A R ER S

9-10 | VO L U N T EE R S W EEK

10-11 | T ED DY B EA R P I C N I C S

12-13 | C H R I S T M A S R EI ND E ER

14-15 | H O S P I C E C A MPA I G N

16-17 | T R EK TO V I ET N A M

18-19 | U NWA NT E D P R ES ENT S ?

20-21 | M U S I C I A N R A I S ES MO N EY

About us

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Here at St Giles hospice we spend close to £9 million a year providing specialist services to those in need. We rely heavily on donations from the local community.

Patients come from the hospice’s catchment area, which ranges from Ashby-de-la-Zouch and Atherstone in the East, to Cannock and Walsall in the West, and from Burton and Uttoxeter in the North, to Sutton Coldfield and Coleshill in the South.

We are a registered charity offering high-quality specialist care FREE of charge for those living with cancer. We also provide support for their families and carers.

In 2013, we celebrated our 30th anniversary. We would like to thank everyone has helped take us this far. May your support continue for another 30 years and beyond.

WHAT

WHERE

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ST GILES DAY HOSPICE HELPS KEEP RICHARD GROUNDED AMID ROLLERCOASTER OF BRAIN TUMOURWhen father-of-two Richard Law was

diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour, his doctor warned him to

steel himself for “one hell of a rollercoaster” as he prepared for the treatment and therapy which lay ahead. That prediction, says the 40-year-old police officer, has certainly turned out to be true. But with help from leading local charity St Giles Hospice, Richard has been able to retain a positive outlook through the ups and the downs – and also spread a little positivity to others like him. Having been referred to St Giles’ Day Hospice service following his diagnosis in 2013, Richard has found new ways to think about his situation as well as new approaches to living with the condition.

“It was back in November 2013 when I first found out I had the tumour,” says Richard, who lives with his wife, Kate, and their children Thomas (12) and Sophie (10) in Hockley, Tamworth. “I was driving to work on a Sunday morning trying to earn myself some overtime when I suddenly felt a tingle down my legs and there were flashes of light in my eyes. I really did think that was it for me.” Richard managed to call 999 and was taken to Good Hope Hospital in Sutton Coldfield, where the diagnosis came as a devastating blow. “There aren’t many worse things you can have

so it was very difficult to take in,” says Richard. “The doctor said I was going to have one hell of a rollercoaster ahead of me and he was certainly right about that. “Having the opportunity to get involved with the St Giles Day Hospice has also been a huge help.” Richard initially attended a programme of 12 weekly Day Hospice sessions at St Giles’ centre in Whittington and, following a short break, has since been referred back to the hospice for a second spell. Day Hospice patients have the chance to take part in a wide variety of activities and therapies in a relaxed, informal environment. The Day Hospice also provides opportunities to speak to specialist staff for advice and support while sharing experiences with others in similar situations – and it’s this which has been of most benefit to Richard. “I was determined to make the most of the opportunity and I didn’t want to just sit quietly in the corner so I threw myself in there right from the start,” he says. “I’m the youngest in the group but when you share the kind of experience we do, age isn’t really a factor. It’s really interesting hearing other people’s stories and how they are coping with their condition. “You discover more positive thoughts that you bounce off other people and I’m sure others have benefited from me being about the place as

well. I have always been positive from the start and it’s good to know I have been able to help others by sharing my outlook with them.” One of the activities which has proved particularly engaging for Richard was a session where patients were encouraged to express their feelings through poetry. “Purely by chance I had already written a number of poems when I was in hospital and had them all stored on my phone – so when we were asked if we had any to share I was able to come up with about 10! “It’s really useful to be able to look at your situation in different ways and the Day Hospice staff are fantastic. They’re so understanding and the whole thing makes you realise you are never alone. You get a great three-course meal out of them every week as well!” The St Giles Day Hospice is a centre which offers care and support to people living with progressive life-limiting illnesses, located within St Giles Hospice, Whittington. Each patient is given a 12-week placement attending one day a week. A team of specialist nurses offers support such as management of symptoms, planning for the future and psychological support through a variety of methods.

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CHRISTMAS

BEREAVEMENT

Leading local charity St Giles Hospice is encouraging local people to make a lasting difference this Christmas

by offering support to those who have lost a loved one. While the festive season can be the happiest time of the year for most, for some it’s a reminder that not everyone is present to share in the celebrations. But reaching out and letting someone know there are people out there who care can mean so much to someone coping with bereavement. According to a new national study by the Dying Matters Coalition, almost half of Britons (47%) say they would feel uncomfortable talking to someone who has been recently bereaved, and many bereaved people have experienced negative reactions to their grief, including others avoiding them. The Coalition has launched a national ‘Being There’ campaign, encouraging people to feel confident to reach out. As well as providing specialist care for local people living with cancer and other serious illnesses, St Giles Hospice is also working to change attitudes towards death and bereavement in the local community.

Whether it’s keeping regular contact, making practical offers to help, or being open and talking about the person who died, unless someone has made it clear they do not want to, there are lots of ways to help those coping with bereavement to feel cared for. You might not be able to change their grief, but knowing someone is there to talk to if they need it is something that can mean the world of difference. Ian Leech, Community Engagement Manager at St Giles Hospice, says: “It can be very difficult to know what to say or do when someone has lost a loved one. Everyone’s grief is different, but by talking to someone you can find a way to help them. “This Christmas, take some time to have that conversation with your friend, family member or neighbour who might be feeling lonely – the best thing you can do is to offer a listening ear and keep in regular contact. Invite them to social activities but be understanding if they don’t want to join in.” St Giles Hospice is a registered charity offering high-quality specialist care free of

charge for people living with life-limiting illnesses, as well as providing support for their families and carers. For ideas about how you can support someone who has been bereaved, visit www.stgileshospice.com/support. Further information about St Giles Hospice is available by visiting www.stgileshospice.com.

Knowing someone is there to talk to if they need it is something that can mean the world of difference...

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A newly extended bereavement service, launched by St Giles Hospice, is offering support to local children

and young people who have been affected by bereavement. Children, like adults, respond to bereavement in different ways and the new service, called ‘Phoenix at St Giles’, will provide a flexible support programme designed to meet the individual needs of the family – including helpful information, one-to-one counselling, family group counselling, a children and young people’s group, peer support groups, and activities such as boxing and crafts. Run by St Giles Hospice, the service has been launched to offer much-needed support to children and young people who have suffered a bereavement and to help them and their families overcome such a difficult time. Advice and training will also be offered to the child’s family, school and wider support network to give them an opportunity to share their experiences – especially because young people, following a loss, are often more vulnerable to health disorders, lower self-esteem, isolation and disengagement. An important part of the service is to work in partnership with local services, so that children experiencing bereavement will be supported not only by St Giles Hospice, but also by other organisations close to home. Nikki Archer, Head of Supportive Care at St Giles Hospice, says: “We are incredibly excited about Phoenix at St Giles. Every day,

we meet the families of patients and we know that so many children and young people need specialist support. We wanted to widen access to our bereavement service to include those whose relatives were not involved in St Giles care. Thanks to local and national funding, we have now been able to develop and expand, to create Phoenix at St Giles: a full range of support for all young people within our catchment area”. The new service was launched at a special event on October 31 at St Giles Hospice in Whittington, Local young people and their families contributed to the development of Phoenix at St Giles by helping to choose the name and the logo. They also created a short film about the service which had its first official screening at the launch; each young person was presented with an award for all their hard work. The event was attended by St Giles staff and supporters as well as the Mayor of Lichfield Councillor Norma Bacon, the Mayor of Tamworth Councillor Richard Kingstone, and the MP for Lichfield Michael Fabricant. The service is provided free of charge to all who use it, and St Giles Hospice would like to thank all the funders who have contributed to date to help provide this much needed service: Arts Connect West Midlands Partnership Investment, Matthew Ellis Police and Crime Commissioner’s People Power Fund, BBC Children in Need and the NHS South East Staffordshire & Seisdon Penninsula CCG. To ensure that the service can meet the needs of the local people out in

the community, future funding is required; if you can help, please get in touch. For more information about how Phoenix at St Giles can help support young people, call 01543 434536 or email [email protected]. To find out more, and to watch a short film about the service, visit www.stgileshospice.com/phoenix

Phoenix“Thanks to local and national funding, we have now been able to develop and expand”

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A Fairer Deal For Care Workers

Leading local care provider St Giles Care Agency is backing calls for a fairer deal for care workers.

Recent news stories have highlighted the fact that some care workers do not receive the true National Minimum Wage because they are not paid for their travel time. The UKHCA (UK Homecare Association) says that at the heart of the issue lies the low rates paid by local authorities for care – and is calling on councils to pay enough for employers to meet all their legal obligations, including those which cover workers’ pay. St Giles Care Agency, which is at the forefront of improving working practices across the sector, has echoed the UKHCA’s concerns. Bill Cooper, Chief Executive for St Giles Care Agency, says: “Our carers are offered contracted hours and paid travel, but we are having to turn away from providing local authority funded care because the rates don’t allow us to maintain our principles of delivering quality care and being a good employer. “We are concerned that these low rates paid by councils are adversely affecting

working conditions in social care – which may in turn discourage potentially excellent carers from considering a career in this incredibly rewarding sector. “At St Giles Care Agency, we would like to reassure anyone considering becoming a carer that our key priorities are providing high-quality care for our clients and delivering fairness in pay and conditions for our carers. “We strongly believe that good working conditions for employees promote the best possible care for our clients.” Payment of at least the National Minimum Wage for all working time, including applicable travel time, is the law. However, the UKHCA says that fewer than 2% of employers receive a separate payment from councils to cover careworkers’ travel time or travel costs, which have to be met from the hourly rate they receive for delivering care. St Giles Care Agency is an independent care provider which draws on St Giles Hospice’s wealth of expertise and specialist knowledge to deliver private non-clinical services to local people. The agency provides care on a paid-for

basis and was founded in order to support the provision of St Giles Hospice’s services. It costs £156,000 a week for St Giles Hospice to keep going, and the Care Agency aims to deliver at least 6% of its revenues to help fund hospice care. The services of St Giles Care Agency are available to anyone with a short or long-term illness, a disability or mobility problems and those who are looking for greater independence. Staff can assist with personal, domestic and social needs, including dressing, washing, meal preparation, cleaning, exercise, writing letters and using a computer. The service is highly flexible to suit each person’s needs and profits will go towards enabling leading local charity St Giles Hospice to continue providing free care for patients living with life-limiting illness in the local area. Further information is available by contacting St Giles Care Agency on 01543 434481.

“You have two hands. One to help yourself, one to help others.”

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VOLUNTEERSWEEK

An incredible 1,500 kind-hearted volunteers give their time for free to support the staff and

patients at St Giles Hospice – and during National Volunteers’ Week the leading local charity is taking the opportunity to say a massive thank you. Running from Monday 1st to Sunday 7th December, Volunteers’ Week is a national event that celebrates the contribution made by the millions of volunteers across the UK. St Giles Hospice’s volunteers work in a variety of roles across its three centres in Whittington, Walsall and Sutton, as well as its 31 charity shops, where 1,000 volunteers have come forward to lend their time after seeing a friend or loved one benefit from the services of the hospice. St Giles Hospice provides high-quality care for local people living with cancer and other serious illnesses. Kay Adcock (53) combines volunteering one day a fortnight as a receptionist at St Giles Hospice in Whittington with her work as a part-time book-keeper at home in Tamworth. She says: “Working from home can be a little isolating and I decided to do some volunteering as I wanted to get out, meet people and feel part of a team, as well as giving something to the local community. I’ve had relatives and friends who have died from cancer and felt St Giles Hospice was a very worthwhile cause.

“I have a daughter at school, so whatever I do has to fit in with the school run, but I’m lucky that my work means I can be flexible, so I can do extra hours for St Giles if it’s needed. “There’s a fantastic team of people at St Giles. They’re so welcoming and so grateful for what we do, however much or little we can do. They are so reliant on volunteers and I feel those few hours I do make such a difference. “It’s also a lovely environment to work in. It’s true that there are moments when it’s sad, but most of the time it’s a very happy place to work.” Hospice volunteers help out in a variety of roles, including fundraising, administration, spiritual care, complementary therapy, flower arranging, buddies for carers, transport, and supporting clinical staff. Meanwhile, shop volunteers can help with sorting donations, steaming clothes and serving at the till – or they can assist behind the scenes with the St Giles Hospice eBay shop, in the warehouse, or in office administration. Amy Moore, Volunteer Services Manager for St Giles Hospice, says: “We’d like to say a huge thank you to every single volunteer who contributes in their own way to the vital work we do at St Giles. Each volunteer brings different life skills and experiences which add such value to what we provide for our patients, their families and in the local community.

“During Volunteers’ Week, I’d also like to encourage anyone considering volunteering to get in touch and find out more. Volunteering is a great way of meeting new people and we have an incredibly wide range of different opportunities available – there’s something to suit everyone!” For more information about the volunteering opportunities currently available at St Giles, call 01543 434546 or visit www.stgileshospice.com/volunteer.

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Teddy Bear Picnics

Supportive Care Co-ordinator Julie Nicholas! Ian Leech, Community Engagement Manager

for St Giles Hospice, said: “Strengthening our links with the local community is

an important part of the work we do here

at St Giles.

“We provide high-quality care to people

living in the local area, and the more people know about us, the more people

we can help when their need is greatest.

“We were delighted to welcome

the youngsters from Elswick House for the teddy bears’ picnic

and it was fantastic to see them having such a great time!”

Linden Green, Owner of Elswick House Nursery School, Whittington,

said: “We had a really lovely time. The children enjoyed games and cakes and were each given a teddy to take home with them.”

St Giles Hospice rang out with the sounds of delighted squeals and

laughter when a group of children from the neighbouring nursery school were treated to a special teddy bears’ picnic in the grounds. Elswick House Nursery School is located just along the road from the hospice, in Fisherwick Road, Whittington, and its youngsters were invited as part of the leading local charity’s outreach programme. St Giles Hospice provides high-quality care to local people living with cancer and other serious illnesses and aims to engage with the local community to raise awareness about its work. During the afternoon, the children played party games and enjoyed bear-shaped cakes as well as meeting St Giles Hospice’s very own teddy bear guest, also known as

“The more people know about us, the more people we can help”

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CHRISTMAS REINDEER

A festive fun day for all the family is being held on Saturday 14th November to raise money for leading local charity St Giles

Hospice. The annual St Giles Hospice Christmas Fayre will give children the chance to meet a real live reindeer and have their photograph taken with them too. Father Christmas will also be stopping by to find out what’s at the top of their Christmas list! Grown-ups can get a head start on their Christmas shopping, as the event will include a range of craft stalls – plus there will be all the usual festive fun, including a raffle, tombolas and a barbecue, as well as cakes, refreshments and cards for sale. You would be silly to miss out! Lyn Shiel from the St Giles Fundraising Team says: “Our Christmas Fayre is always a lovely day when we’re joined from people across our catchment area to have fun and raise much-needed funds for the hospice. “There really is something for everyone to enjoy, with live reindeer and Father Christmas here for the children to meet and plenty of gifts on sale for some early-bird Christmas shopping – so don’t miss out on this special festive event!” The St Giles Hospice Christmas Fayre is on Saturday 14th November from midday to 4pm at the hospice, in Fisherwick Road, Whittington. Entry is free for children and £1 for adults.

So why not come down and enjoy the beautiful things we have to offer. It is a children favourite, and we would love to see you enjoy the day with your family.

“The perfect oppurtunity for families to start the festive season by giving”

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HOSPICE CAMPAIGN

Leading charity St Giles Hospice is at the forefront of a campaign to challenge outdated depictions

of hospice care on two recent BBC programmes. Emma Hodges, Deputy Chief Executive of the Lichfield-based hospice, posted her frustration on Twitter after hearing two of the BBC’s flagship dramas – EastEnders and Casualty – use the phrase ‘dingy hospice’. Her tweet and photo of St Giles Hospice’s high-quality facilities was picked up by Hospice UK, with other hospices across the UK and as far afield as Australia joining in by posting their own pictures as part of the #notdingy campaign. St Giles Hospice has invited the BBC to visit its facilities to see its first-class care for patients living with cancer and other serious illnesses.

Emma explains: “I watched the EastEnders storyline, involving Stan Carter dying from cancer, unfold with growing frustration. Stan wanted to die at home and there was a real missed opportunity for him to be supported by hospice nurses in his own home. At St Giles, we support many patients to die at home if that is their wish. “When finally hospice care was mentioned it was described as a ‘dingy hospice’ – and I

have since heard the same phrase used again on the BBC on an episode of Casualty. “There is nothing ‘dingy’ about hospice care or the incredible support we have from staff, volunteers and our community. Being described as ‘dingy’ fuels the anxiety of patients and their families and is detrimental to patient care.” Over 75 hospices have joined in the #notdingy campaign, demonstrating the care and attention given to ensuring the very best environment for their patients Emma adds: “The key issue actually isn’t our built environment – it is the fact that many people are anxious about receiving care from a hospice, as we are unfortunately still considered a place to go to die. “However, our philosophy of care is to ensure that our patients and their families can enjoy living as much as it is possible to whilst living with a life-limiting condition. “We support the control of symptoms, achieving goals, changes in social circumstances, pre- and post-bereavement, helping to navigate the health and care system and end-of-life care when that time comes. The sooner people are referred to St Giles the more we can support both the patient and their family.”

#notdingy

So come and join us. Join our campaign and hashtag ‘notdingy’ to show your support and solidarity with our stance.

The #notdingy has gone global, and we aren’t the only hospice using this.

We take immense pride in our work. Our volunteers and staff put in 100% maximum effort when working with patients, and we believe this work needs to be appreciated a lot more.

We were angered when we heard the phrase used, however we would like to transform this into positive energy. We will look foward and take this as a positive step to continue working hard, and serving patients.

Our number one goal is to offer patients a stable system and here at St Giles Hospice we believe we are following up and reaching that goal.

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JOIN OUR

TREK TO

VIETNAMIntrepid adventurers are being

offered the chance to tackle a challenge they will never forget

– an exhilarating trek in Vietnam in aid of leading local charity St Giles Hospice. The 10-day expedition will give people from across the region an opportunity to take part in the experience of a lifetime, hiking for eight days in the beautiful Hoa Binh province, located in the mountainous area south east of Hanoi, as well as participating in a 2-day community project. Those wanting to take part can find out more at one of two special Open Day Sessions being held at the hospice in Fisherwick Road, Whittington, at 3pm and 6.30pm on 9th January, 2016. Trek company Skyline will host the presentations and question and answer sessions, along with walkers who have completed previous St Giles treks. Helen Relihan, Head of Fundraising for St Giles Hospice, says: “This is an incredible opportunity to experience the stunning scenery of Vietnam while raising money for a fantastic cause. “The trek to Vietnam will give participants a fascinating insight into the history and culture of this captivating country. It promises to be an unforgettable experience.”Just 20 places are available for the trek, which takes place between 10th and 20th October 2016.

It is open to anyone aged over 18, and those interested in taking part are being encouraged to attend one of the Open Day Sessions on 9th January, 2016. Previous expeditions which have raised tens of thousands of pounds for St Giles include successful treks along the Great Wall of China and the Inca Trek through the Peruvian Andes, as well as a trip to Vietnam. Helen adds: “Our previous treks have been a huge success and we’re hoping for more of the same with this latest exciting expedition. It’s a great chance for people of all ages to get together and meet like-minded people and could be the fulfilment of a personal dream or perhaps a positive way to get over a difficult life event. “And as with all our fundraising events, the money raised will go towards helping to care for local people living with cancer and other serious illnesses. “We look forward to welcoming people to our Open Day Sessions so they can find out more.” Further details on the trek and the Open Day Sessions are available at www.stgileshospice.com/vietnam

Also by calling Jenni Dawson on: 01543 434542 or email:[email protected].

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PUT UNWANTED

CHRISTMAS

PRESENTS TO GOOD

USE WITH ST GILES

HOSPICE SHOPS!Whether it doesn’t

fit, you already have one or it just isn’t your style, there’s no need to find a place in the back of the cupboard to hide unwanted gifts this Christmas – as St Giles Hospice Shops have the perfect solution! Once the festivities are over, recipients of unwanted presents can donate any of the gifts they don’t want or need to the leading local charity’s network of shops across the region, which will help pay for the care of local people living with life-limiting illnesses. There’s no need to feel guilty, as the giver can be happy in the knowledge that their gift will be helping those who need it the most. Lynwen Truesdale, Head of Retail for St Giles Hospice, says:“By donating unwanted gifts to St Giles Hospice, the item can be recycled and allow someone else to enjoy them whilst raising funds for a good cause. Unwanted presents are crucial for our successful charity shops, and by donating gifts they don’t

wish to keep, local people can make a positive start to the New Year – as well as giving a helping hand to the hospice.” Items can be donated at any of the St Giles Hospice charity shops across the region. What’s more, UK taxpayers who sign up for Gift Aid by filling in a simple form when they donate goods allow St Giles to reclaim 25p in the pound from the tax man for every item sold. The shops sell a wide choice of high-quality donated goods including clothing, books, homeware, gift items, as well as a small selection of new goods including greetings cards. The full list of shops is as follows: Aldridge - Unit 35, The Square, Aldridge, West Midlands, WS9 8QS Ashby-de-la-Zouch - 17 Bath Street, Ashby, Leicestershire, LE65 2FH Ashby-de-la-Zouch Bookshop - 26 Market Street, Ashby, Leicestershire, LE65 1AL

Atherstone Bookshop - 111 Long Street, Atherstone, Warwickshire, CV9 1AB Bilston - 82 Church Street, Bilston, West Midlands, WV14 OAX Bloxwich Superstore - 226/234 High Street, Bloxwich, Walsall, West Midlands, WS3 3LQ Boldmere - 28 Boldmere Road, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, B73 5TD Boldmere - 44 Boldmere Road, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, B73 5TD Brownhills - 12-28 High Street, Brownhills, Walsall, West Midlands, WS8 6EQ Burton Bookshop - 192 Station Street, Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire, DE14 1BH Burton Superstore - 35 High Street, Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire, DE14 1JN Cannock - 2 Wolverhampton Road, Cannock, Staffordshire, WS11 1AH

Cannock - 110a Walsall Road, Cannock, WS11 0JB Darlaston - 41 King Street, Darlaston, Walsall, WS10 8DE Dudley - 198 High Street, Dudley, West Midlands, DY1 1QQ Kingstanding - 436 Kingstanding Road, Kingstanding, West Midlands, B44 9SA Lichfield - 17 Tamworth Street, Lichfield, Staffordshire, WS13 6JP Lichfield Bookshop - 22 Market Street, Lichfield, Staffordshire, WS13 6LH Mere Green Superstore - 15 Mere Green Road, Mere Green, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, B75 5BL Mere Green Bookshop - 284a Lichfield Road, Mere Green, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, B74 2UG Rugeley - 4 Upper Brook Street, Rugeley, Staffordshire, WS15 2DN Sutton Coldfield - 113 The Parade, Sutton Coldfield, West

Midlands, B72 1PU Swadlincote - 8 Midland Road, Swadlincote, Derbyshire, DE11 0AG Tamworth - 43-44 Church Street, Tamworth, Staffordshire, B79 7DE Tamworth - 7 Little Church Lane, Tamworth, Staffordshire, B79 7AX Uttoxeter Bookshop - 13 The Maltings, Uttoxeter, ST14 7LN Walmley - 39 Walmley Road, Walmley, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, B76 1NP Walsall - 26 Digbeth, Walsall, West Midlands, WS1 1QU Willenhall - 10 Union Street, Willenhall, West Midlands, WV13 1PA Wylde Green - 406 Birmingham Road, Wylde Green, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, B72 1YJ Wylde Green - 368 Birmingham Road, Wylde Green, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, B72 1YH

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MUSICIAN RECORDS CD TO RAISE MONEY FOR ST GILES HOSPICE

A collection of music composed and recorded by two internationally-renowned

musicians has been released in time for Christmas to raise money for leading local charity St Giles Hospice. Well-known guitarist Freddy Woodley, who lives in Lichfield and whose wife Kaye was cared for by St Giles Hospice, has joined forces with songwriter and recording artist Stuart Jones, of Sutton Coldfield, to release an album of music for therapeutic healing and relaxation called Tranquil Moments. Priced just £5, the CD would make an ideal Christmas present, with all the proceeds going towards St Giles’ high-quality care for local people living with cancer and other serious illnesses. The music was inspired by the book ‘Being Here’ – the culmination of a project which saw a group of St Giles patients, carers, staff and volunteers sharing their feelings and memories with a professional writer, photographers and a graphic artist. Stuart said: “We only needed a tiny spark to unleash a flurry of passion and emotion which we captured in music. “As we perused the writings and beautiful relaxing pictures in ‘Being Here’, we lost ourselves in an uplifting escapism which manifested itself in melodies and, combined with Freddy’s guitar brilliance, led to this album.” Helen Relihan, Head of Fundraising at

St Giles Hospice, says: “We are delighted that Stuart and Freddy, who are both so well known within the music world, have produced this wonderful and relaxing album for their local hospice. “Anyone who buys the CD for a friend or relative will be getting them a great Christmas present – and what’s more, they’ll be making a difference to the valuable work of St Giles at the same time!” Freddy has recorded 15 albums including a multi gold and platinum rock gospel album. He’s written music for film and video productions and also recorded with artists such as Edwin Starr and Alvin Stardust. Stuart, meanwhile, has over 35 million total hits on YouTube and more than 50,000 videos on YouTube use his music as their video soundtrack. He’s recorded over 45 albums, while his music is often heard on TV on programmes such as Emmerdale, A Place In The Sun and This Morning. Anyone wishing to purchase the CD can do so online at www.stgileshospice.com/tranquilmoments. Further information about St Giles Hospice is available by visiting www.stgileshospice.com.

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