Thorpe Hall - Not just a hospice, this place is a lifeline

The building is surrounded by more than 50 acres of parkland, open to the public every day. There are lots of places to sit and reflect in the inner gardens while the fields surrounding Thorpe Hall are ideal for picnics, dog walking and hide and seek.

Thorpe Hall’s Coffee Shop is open seven days a week. At weekends visitors can enjoy coffee or tea and cake, while in the weekdays there’s the option to have a freshly-cooked lunch with salad bar and drink for just £5.

The Coffee Shop is entirely run by volunteers and raises thousands of pounds every year for hospice funds.

Thorpe Hall’s Sue Ryder shop has been favourably compared to a smart boutique. Shop manager Jane Kitchener has an eye for design – even the mannequins are beautifully accessorised! The shop sells a range of clothes, accessories, shoes, books, DVDs and household items including pretty vintage china. Don’t forget to drop off your unwanted items too – they’re worth money to the charity.

The mansion house’s ground floor is the ideal venue for a party, conference or event. The Great Hall is licenced as a wedding venue and the terrace and gardens provide extra perfect space.

To find out more about Thorpe Hall’s services or to enquire about room bookings please call 01733 225900 or email [email protected]

Bringing light to people at the darkest time

Thorpe Hall’s annual Starlight Hike and Lights of Love concert have been highlights for Jennie Lee during her first year as Thorpe Hall’s family support coordinator.

She said: “For me they encompass everything we do here. Both events are about light and the aim of the whole team here is to bring light to people at the darkest time.”

Jennie works alongside other members of the family support team and nursing staff to ensure patients and their families receive the support they need both pre-bereavement and for as long as it is helpful afterwards.

She said: “The right support at the right time can make such a big difference to what happens next. We need to remove the taboos there are about talking about death and grief so that people will look for that support.”

The focus at Thorpe Hall is about personalised care – finding the care and support that is right for every individual.

Jennie said: “At Thorpe Hall it’s all about the people. I think of all the people I meet as a book and my job gives me access to an endless library of fascinating stories and memories. I remember one lady who loved her perfume and another conversation with a 93-year-old whose wife of 70 had just died. Just remembering those details about people’s friends or relatives helps me build that relationship with them and provide them with the support they need.”

Shopping list

Donate or raise money for Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall Hospice and this is what your money could pay for:

£14 could pay for one hour of incredible care at Thorpe Hall

£75 could give our patients and their families a barbecue in the courtyard gardens

£100 pays for a hospice nurse for a day

£250 could provide essential transport between the hospice and the hospital delivering medical supplies

£400 could pay for a child like Amy to attend a six week course of our Charlie Chimp Club.

You can donate by calling 01733 225999, online at www.sueryder.org, by posting a cheque to Thorpe Hall Hospice, Thorpe Road, Longthorpe, Peterborough, PE3 6LW or by dropping into the hospice.