primr se THE
BULLETIN
The latest news from Primrose Hospice Issue 12 | Autumn/Winter 26
Meet our young ambassadors on pg 7
Hear Kim’s inspiring story on pg 5
primrosehospice.org T: 01527 871051 Registered Charity No. 700272
Hello from Louise... In June 2020 at the height of the UK coronavirus lockdown, I attended Primrose Hospice for a socially distanced interview. At that time, I was studying for my Clinical Masters in Child and Adult Psychotherapy with no fixed idea on how I would use my qualification once I achieved it. Six years later I am still at Primrose after quickly realising that what I wanted professionally and personally was to be here working as part of our exceptional Children’s Team who support children affected by terminal illness or the death of a loved one. Throughout this time, it has been an absolute privilege to have been allowed by my child clients to walk alongside them during some of the most challenging periods of their lives. Their resilience, honesty and bravery never fails to be both humbling and inspiring. One question I am often asked is if my role here is depressing? But I always say that it is absolutely the opposite of that. There are lots more tears of laughter than there are of sadness, and as a team we get to be part of the continuation and growth of a new life after death. In my mind, I am here, not as a Psychotherapist, but more as a ‘hope peddler’ where I get to see children thrive and survive in difficult circumstances. I’m immensely proud of my role as part of the Children’s Team and grateful to my colleagues and all of the absolutely incredible children I have been allowed to meet over the last six years. I hope that by reading our latest bulletin, you’ll learn about some of the incredible people we help and consider supporting us. Whether you choose to donate, volunteer or leave a gift in your will, we are grateful for you all.
Louise Holdway
Children’s Team Volunteer Primrose Hospice & Family Support Centre
PJ'S FOR PJ’S
PRIMROSE Could your school take part in a PJ’s for Primrose day?
primrosehospice.org
Suggested donation of £1 per child
Or a school christmas jumper day?
CHRISTMAS JUMPER DAY AW 2026 / The Primrose Bulletin / 2
SUNDAY 6TH DECEMBER Arrow Valley Park, Redditch, B98 0LJ
D ND FFIIN T UT OU O E RE OR MO M Proudly sponsored by:
Run, Run, jog or jog or walk. walk.
Registered charity: 700272
primrosehospice.org/events/santa-fun-run
How does your SUPPORT help US?
£58
could contribute to… petrol for our volunteer drivers, allowing them to transport patients and clients to vital hospice appointments. 3 / The Primrose Bulletin / AW 2026
RReecceeiivv ee aa FFRREE SSaannttaa ss EE uiitt,, u me m ed da all a anndd Kindly supported by: miin m nc ce ep piie e!!
£18
could contribute to…a child joining one of our group sessions, allowing them to feel less isolated and alone.
£162
could contribute to…all our Day Hospice patients enjoying a hot nutritious meal for a whole week together.
£1.95m
is how much it costs each year to fund our services, with only 14.6% being received via the NHS. primrosehospice.org
Compassion in action Primrose Hospice’s Clinical Team are here for you and your family to ensure you are able to live your life as fully as possible. You can hear from them below... Dawn - Head of Clinical Services|What makes you smile at work?
It’s the simple, genuine moments with shared laughter with patients and colleagues, even on the hardest of days. Being part of making someone feel comfortable, valued, and not alone is what really makes it special.
Mel - Clinical Nurse Specialist|What’s something surprising to learn about care at Primrose Hospice?
We are a bed-free day hospice that focuses on helping patients live well, rather than being a place where people go to die.
Lil - Clinical Support Assistant|How do you make a difference?
I think I make a difference by offering patients and families extra support and treating patients as individuals. We help by listening and letting them process their fears and anxieties. We provide families with respite to have some time for themselves and guidance they might need.
Alison - Lead Nurse |What is rewarding about your work?
We build very meaningful relationships with patients and their families. I think making a visible difference to someone's quality of life, focussing on helping people live well rather than focusing on illness is so rewarding.
Rachel - Clinical Services Administrator|What skills are most important in your role? Have good interpersonal & communication skills Have strong administrative skills Be empathic and understanding Be well organised and be a keen team player
Helen - Data Compliance Officer|Why are you passionate about your role?
The data I work with is never just data; it represents people, experiences, and care. Every figure has meaning, and it is collected and used to make a difference, helping us improve the care we provide to our patients and families. Being part of that care (even as one small cog in a much bigger machine), is what keeps me passionate about my work and proud to support the incredible support our teams deliver every day.
Are you or someone you know living with a life-limiting illness? You can self refer to our services, simply scan the QR code or contact our team: 01527 871051 You can also ask a healthcare professional to make a referral for you. primrosehospice.org
AW 2026 / The Primrose Bulletin / 4
“This Hospice gives you life.” Before Kim came to Primrose Hospice she felt angry, isolated and didn’t feel like she could talk about her cancer. She took a chance and certainly didn’t regret it. “It’s the best thing I ever did. You hear the word hospice, and it becomes quite a scary thought. You might think I'm not poorly enough to need a hospice, because you don't realise what the hospice actually gives you and this hospice gives you life.” Kim has secondary breast cancer which has travelled to her lungs, so she was recommended to do things like yoga and tai chi to help her use her lungs. Both of which she enjoys at Primrose Hospice. “I've been on a breathwork course as well, which was absolutely amazing. I've done things at Primrose that I never thought I'd ever do.”
Tai Chi
Scan to find out more about our support
Kim also is a familiar face in our Gals Group - a relaxed none clinical group ran once per month for women living with life-limiting illnesses. “I’ve made so many friends at Primrose. When you come here, you've got freedom to talk about anything, it’s helped me to be confident to open up. There's always somebody that's going to listen, or somebody who wants to talk to you.” Coming to Primrose has become a vital part of Kim’s routine, all her friends know when she’s coming to Primrose and how much she benefits from our support. “I think it's important to me, because it allows me to be me. Everyone at Primrose is here to help you be the better version of yourself.” Kim kindly supports Primrose in lots of different ways including through leaving a gift in her will. “It's important that Primrose stays open, and without gifts in people's will it won't happen. So we need to keep the place going.” Thank you Kim for your kindness and genorosity.
HELP PROTECT
the future of hospice care with a Gift in your Will. 5 / The Primrose Bulletin / AW 2026
primrosehospice.org
Bargains of Bargains of the the season season Want a wardrobe refresh without breaking the bank? Sarah stopped by our shops and snapped up some great bargains. Our charity shops are packed with men’s and women’s clothing, homeware, furniture and books. Best of all, every purchase supports your local hospice and helps protect our planet.
How do I donate to your charity shops? Loafers - £8 like new!
4.00 Top - £ .00 £5 Skirt -
Heels - £7
Dress
Bag - £4
That’s easy! You can drop your pre-loved items to any of our four shops across Bromsgrove and Redditch!
£5.50
Lights Love of
Find out more:
Kindly sponsored by
E: Fundraising@primrosehospice.org T: 01527 889796 primrosehospice.org
AW 2026 / The Primrose Bulletin / 6
Meet our young ambassadors At Primrose Hospice, we’re here to wrap children and young people in care, compassion and understanding when they need it most. Whether they’re coping with bereavement or supporting someone close to them living with a life-limiting illness, our specialist emotional support helps them feel heard, supported and less alone. We’re especially proud to share that some of the incredible young people we support have recently taken on an exciting new role as Primrose Young Ambassadors!
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As ambassadors, they’ll be out and about representing the hospice at events, chatting with the public and shining a light on the amazing support we provide. Hear from them below!
nie an
“Primrose is a very friendly environment and you can get a lot of laughs out of it. It’s a place where I can have fun without any stress.”
“I want to raise awareness of how sometimes people can struggle. Coming to Primrose allows me to communicate with people in similar situations.”
De
“I want to help Primrose Hospice after they have helped me so much. When you first come it may be difficult but it gets easier everytime.”
Cery s
“Primrose has been supporting me since I was six and they’ve done so much for me, I wanted to give back. If you’re thinking about coming to Primrose just go for it!”
xter
L ill y
How do we support Children and Young people? Our service helps children and young people to: Understand and process difficult emotions Express their feelings in a safe and age-appropriate way Build coping skills and emotional resilience Feel less alone in their experiences What to expect? We offer free: - One-to-one sessions - Group sessions - Family-based support Contact our team to find out more or scan the QR code: T: 01527 889799 E: Primrosehospice.familysupportreferrals@nhs.net
7 / The Primrose Bulletin / AW 2026
primrosehospice.org
The people behind the pounds Mark Crisp’s Memorial Match More than 1,500 supporters came together at Bromsgrove Sporting on Sunday 22 March for a special charity football match held in memory of Bromsgrove Rovers legend Mark Crisp.
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Organised by Mark’s son, Max, the event saw Birmingham City All Stars take on a Bromsgrove Rovers XI. The community shone on the day, raising an incredible £18,064 for Primrose Hospice.
C M ax
Mark, who made more than 300 appearances for Bromsgrove Rovers and scored 91 goals, sadly died in October 2024. The memorial match provided a special tribute to a much-loved player while bringing together family, friends, football fans and local businesses in his honour. Reflecting on the event, Max and Jacqui said: “We have been blown away by the number of people who came to the game and by all the local businesses who supported us. A heartfelt thank you to our friends, family, and everyone who contributed. The support has been incredible - just amazing.”
Ethan’s Go Yellow Tea Party
Kerry’s Winning Night
After 14 year old Ethan and his family received support from our team, Ethan wanted to organise his own tea party as part of our Go Yellow fundraising event.
Kerry Dowler, recently held a a funfilled Games Night in support of Primrose Hospice raising £450.
Taking on the challenge entirely on his own, Ethan planned and delivered every aspect of the event. From promoting the fundraiser and securing Millfields Social Club to organising the set-up, arranging refreshments and welcoming guests on the day.
She said: “I organised the Games Night as Primrose has been a lifeline for me, so I wanted to give something back. I’m so thankful that I get included in the Primrose world.”
His tea party raised an amazing £660.13 for Primrose Hospice.
Kerry has been a dedicated Primrose volunteer for the past two years. She began by driving patients to our Day Hospice before helping in the kitchen and assisting at many of our groups and activities.
We asked Ethan why he wanted to fundraise for us, he said: “The support, care, and kindness Primrose has shown has meant a great deal to me, so I wanted to find a way to give something back. Organising this fundraiser was my way of showing my appreciation and helping Primrose continue the incredible work they do in supporting other individuals and families who need their services.” Ethan wanted to thank everyone who helped with this event including his Aunty, whose homemade cakes were a highlight of the event. Her generosity and support helped make the tea party such a success. PRIM ROSE
primrosehospice.org
Volunteers like Kerry are at the heart of everything we do, and we are incredibly grateful for her support, fundraising efforts and the difference she makes to everyone at Primrose. AW 2026 / The Primrose Bulletin / 8
The fivers are flourishing 117 students from Bromsgrove Preparatory School have taken part in our Flourishing Fivers Campaign and raised a record breaking £10,466.33! Primrose Hospice gave each student £5 and challenged them to make it 'flourish' as far as they can - they got creative to raise their donations including selling flowers, sweets and toys as well as sponsored silences, walks and cricket challenges. Kate Darwood - Head of PHSE at the school said: “This is a truly staggering achievement and a testament to the enthusiasm, creativity, determination, and teamwork shown by our Year 7 students, supported by staff, families, and the wider school community. To turn their initial £5's into such an outstanding amount is something everyone involved should be immensely proud of.”
Giving in Memory When someone we love dies, supporting a charity is a meaningful way to commemorate them, especially if that charity has supported them or yourself in a time of need. We are humbled to be chosen by many supporters to benefit from their loved ones Funeral Collections and online tribute pages. Georg’s family chose to donate his funeral collection to Primrose after learning about his visits to our Cook’n’Share group after the death of his wife, here he leant how to cook but more importantly made friends with others. We created a beautiful personalised collection box and delivered it directly to the funeral director. Another way of remembering your loved one is by up a digital tribute page, an online space where you can remember and celebrate a life. It can be an easy way to share details of a funeral and collect donations online or it can be used as a memorial space to celebrate an anniversary. Hannah set up a tribute page for her mom Beverley in 2022, it started as a place to share memories for the funeral but as the pages never expire, people have since added thoughts, lit candles and added more photos. Anyone, anywhere in the world can visit the online page to share memories, stories and photos. We can help you set up your page. Speak to our dedicated In Memory Fundraiser today about how you could support us.
Dates for your diary Lights of Love: October-December Santa Fun Run: 6th December
Every fundraiser begins with someone who simply wants to make a difference. Help us fundraise today.
Christmas Wrapping: December Treecycle: 9th-11th January
Call: 01527 889796
Check our website for more info:
Email: fundraising@primrosehospice.org
9 / The Primrose Bulletin / AW 2026
primrosehospice.org
Finding Calm and Connection Yoga is just one of the groups available for patients and clients at Primrose Hospice. The group forms part of our Living Well Service which aims to improve your wellbeing and quality of life. Mark has recently joined us as our new volunteer yoga teacher, so we recently sat down with him to find out more... Throughout my journey of setting up my yoga business, volunteering was always something I hoped to do. Then one afternoon, an email landed asking if I’d be interested in volunteering at Primrose Hospice. My availability had just changed, so it felt like perfect timing. During my classes, we explore meditation, movement and breath awareness, which help people turn their attention inward and reconnect with their bodies. Everything I offer is adapted and tailored to the people who attend. The most important part of yoga is simply being present. There’s no expectation to achieve anything or to be particularly flexible. If someone spends the entire session sitting and breathing, that’s absolutely perfect. While I enjoy seeing the progress of people in the group, what I value most is the sense of community. The patients have reinforced my belief that, at our core, we’re all the same. They’re a wonderful group of people who welcomed me warmly from the moment I arrived, and I’m grateful to be part of that community. Many people arrive feeling anxious, nervous, or unsure L E of themselves. I hope they leave understanding that A R yoga isn’t about performance, competition, or N achieving perfect poses. What matters is showing up M as you are. I hope people leave feeling that yoga is O truly for everyone and that their practice can be R exactly what they need it to be. E
COULD YOU GIVE A SHIFT? COULD YOU GIVE A SHIFT? We need people like YOU to volunteer your time for Primrose Hospice. Whether you can give one or one hundred hours, we’ve got a role for YOU.
“It's really special to volunteer for a small local charity where your time can be put to good use and where you really feel part of a team. Jenny - Volunteer
primrosehospice.org
AW 2026 / The Primrose Bulletin / 10
The Power of Singing Ever tried singing? Whether it’s singing in the shower, in your car or as part of our therapeutic singing group - it can have huge positive effect on your physical and mental health. We recently spoke to Ruth who volunteers her time in our therapeutic singing group. Singing is far more than a pastime. It is a powerful activity that can bring significant benefits to people living with a life-limiting illness. Research has shown that singing, particularly in groups, can reduce stress by lowering cortisol levels while helping to regulate breathing and heart rate, calming the nervous system. It can also support improved immune function and encourages the release of endorphins – the body’s natural pain relievers.
Ruth
At Primrose Hospice, therapeutic singing sessions are part of our Living Well Service providing a safe, welcoming space where patients and clients can relax, connect, and enjoy the experience. Singing together can ease feelings of anxiety and depression, improve cognitive function, and even help manage symptoms such as breathlessness for those with lung conditions. Importantly, singing is accessible to everyone at Primrose Hospice. There are no expectations, only an opportunity to take part and experience joy. As Ruth says, singing engages the whole brain, allowing people to be fully present and offering a valuable sense of mindfulness and escape. Through shared songs, laughter, and connection, therapeutic singing helps enhance quality of life, increase confidence and provide a sense of community.
Getting a real Christmas tree? 9th-11th January 2027 For a small donation, Primrose Hospice can collect and recycle your tree, so you don't have to! Collecting in Bromsgrove, Redditch and surrounding areas. 11 / The Primrose Bulletin / AW 2026
primrosehospice.org
Can you help us today? Together, we can make a difference. DONATE ONLINE:
It’s simple to donate online - scan the QR code or visit: primrosehospice.org
DONATE BY CHEQUE:
Please make your cheque payable to: ‘Primrose Hospice Ltd’ and post to: Fundraising Department, Primrose Hospice, St Godwalds Road, Bromsgrove, B60 3BW.
DONATE BY PHONE:
Call our team on: 01527 889796. Thank you for your support.
Primrose has been an extremely beneficial support for me. Everyone has been so kind and understanding at what has been a devastating time in my life. I will forever be grateful. Family Support Client
Thank you for for being part of the Primrose community. The services and support we provide are only possible because of the kindness and generosity of people like you. Every counselling session, family visit and moment of care is provided free of charge to those who need us most. If you're able to make a donation, no matter the size, you'll be helping us continue supporting individuals and families across North East Worcestershire.
How to access support
How to stay in touch
There are several ways you can access our support services. If you would like to make a referral to our Clinical or Family Support services, you can call: 01527 871051 or you can make a referral online for our Clinical support by scanning the QR code.
From time to time we like to keep in touch with you to tell you about the exciting updates and fundraising events we have going on throughout the year.
You can also talk to your GP, Consultant, District Nurse or any other health care professional involved in your care. For more information on all of our services visit: primrosehospice.org primrosehospice.org
You can sign up to receive email updates by scanning the QR code. We want to keep our communications as cost effective and environmentally friendly as possible. If you would like to change the way we contact you, let us know what is the best way to contact you by getting in touch with our Fundraising Team: 01527 889796 or email: fundraising@primrosehospice.org AW 2026 / The Primrose Bulletin / 12