Bereaved families have been treated to a half-term canal boat outing.
Two families enjoyed a canal boat trip on The Wanderer, a Worcestershire Community Work Boat which is owned by the Canal & Rivert Trust.
Both families are being helped by Bereavement Support South Worcestershire (BSSW), a team aiding those who have been affected by a sudden or unexpected death which is hosted by St Richard’s Hospice.
Rebecka Klingstedt, from St Richard’s Hospice said, “Both families loved their day out. The outing offered them a fun day giving them the opportunity to spend time as a family as well as doing some litter picking on the Worcester Canal.”
She added, “One of the young boys said it was among the best days of his life and they particularly enjoyed using the fishing nets in the river.”
Shaun Sinclair, St Paul’s Hostel Support Worker captained the canal boat along with a volunteer from the Worcester Canal and River Trust and volunteer Geraldine Loweman, a former teacher who helps the hostel run a creative group for ex-hostel residents. The working canal boat is more often used for litter picking and nature photography.
Jonathan Sutton, Chief Executive of St Paul’s Hostel said, “This is a great way to work in partnership with St Richard’s and is heart-warming to see former homeless people offering some brief respite to families who are going through tough times.”
St Richard’s Hospice provides free specialist palliative care for patients living with life-limiting illnesses and supports their families. Each year the hospice team supports over 2,500 patients and family members in Worcestershire with compassion, kindness, dignity and respect.
Patients are cared for in Day Hospice, the 17-bed In-patient Unit or in their own homes by a specialist professional team as well as many trained volunteers.
In the In-patient Unit, specialist staff are on hand 24 hours a day to manage patients’ symptoms and where, if appropriate, patients may spend the last few days of life in comfort and dignity. St Richard’s is an independent charity and is grateful for all donations to help it to continue its work.
Photo (left to right)
Back row: Tom Misselbrook (CRT volunteer), Shaun Sinclair (St Paul’s Hostel support worker), Gerry Lowman (St Paul’s volunteer)
Front row: Chloe White, Rebecka Klingstedt (SRH), Ruben White and Clare Ivers, Louis Jones, Amanda Black, Imogen Jones