Published on: Friday 03 Nov 2023 at 11:13
A gourd time was had by all when St Clare Hospice held its first-ever Pumpkin Party!
More than 60 people came along to the Hastingwood-based hospice for the autumn-themed event on Saturday 28th October, where young and old enjoyed a host of seasonal arts and crafts, party games and other fun activities, from carving pumpkins and wreath making to donut bobbing and decorating chocolate coated apples.
The event was organised and hosted by St Clare’s Patient and Family Support Team with the aim of supporting bereaved children who have been impacted by the loss of someone close to them, or those who have a relative or friend who is living with a terminal or life-limiting condition.
Project manager Chloe Rich said: “Our first-ever Pumpkin Party was a huge success and we were so pleased that so many people were able to join us for such a fun-filled afternoon of games, arts and crafts and other autumn-inspired activities.
“Our dining room was a hubbub of activity, laughter and even a bit of sibling rivalry when it came to the donut bobbing! We had children of all ages and their grown-ups attend throughout the afternoon, which included two families who had a loved one staying with us on our Inpatient Unit. It was lovely to see them pop in and out whilst visiting their relative at the Hospice.”
Chloe added: “This event would not have been possible without the support of so many across the Hospice, from our facilities team and kitchen staff, to our fundraising department and marketing team, not to mention our volunteers who came along to help on the day.
“The Pumpkin Party follows the success of a bunny-themed summer picnic for bereaved families, which was held at the Hospice during August and was inspired by the children’s book, The Rabbit Listened. Plans are already in the pipeline to host it for a second time at Easter, so watch this space!”
If you are supporting a child or young person who has been bereaved, you can find more information about the support available to you here.
