Time to shine

On Tuesday we spent the day with carers that use a drop in service at the hospice. This is a service available to anyone who cares for someone in a non-professional role. For instance, there was a lady there who had cared for her disabled son until he died a few months ago. She was able to use the drop in while he was still alive and has used the service since to help her cope with her son’s death.

A gentleman that attends used to look after his wife. Again she had passed away but he was another example of a carer using the service to maintain some sort of social life and to keep his spirits up.

Up until now we’ve experienced a fair amount of nervousness around the camera kit and a definite resistance. Tuesday this all changed.

A notice had been put up on the website to inform people that use the service that filming would be taking place for a documentary about the hospice, as well as letters being sent out to the regular attendees.

Usually around 8 people attend this service however, on the Tuesday 24 people turned up eagerly waiting to be interviewed.

We were overwhelmed by the amount of the people that were willing to help us and couldn’t believe how passionate people were to give their stories to us. (Although we did have a rather large queue of people waiting and wondered how we were going to get through them all!)

Michelle organised the day for us and was extremely helpful! She made sure we had everything we needed in order for the day to run smoothly. Michelle made us feel as though we were part of the group and not just there to document the drop in session.

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Charlie was behind the camera and I (Natasha) was interviewing the carers. There were times during the interview where the carers were visibly upset and this then reflected on me and I could feel myself welling up.

One thing I’ve taken from this and learnt is that it is important to engage but at the same time you need to remain professional and think about what you’re there for.

Overall, the day was really successful and we managed to speak to a lot of people who have shown the importance of St Catherine’s work, not only just with patients but for outside carers and beyond.

Shop Opening

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On Monday 30th April we were invited to film the new St Catherine’s shop opening in Leyland. This was exciting for us as it was turning out to be a big event. Local media were down to take snaps of the opening and the Mayor was also invited to cut the ribbon.

One of the reasons why we were so excited was because we were able to come out of the hospice environment and see a different aspect of St Catherine’s and the volunteer work.

We had tried to arrange an interview with the Mayor beforehand however; it was difficult to get hold of him as he was busy elsewhere. We were determined to get an interview as we felt the Mayor was a crucial part to the day because of his status in the community.

As soon as the Mayor arrived, we grabbed the opportunity to ask him if he would be happy to be interviewed on camera- which to our relief he agreed to. He was keen to see the outcome of our documentary and in particular his part.

There was a lot of buzz around the shop with the general public eager to come in and have a look (before the opening, when the doors were closed people were already knocking on the door to come in).

The hospice had put on quite a spread with food and drinks. We spoke to Rachel- Head of Trading who was so enthusiastic about the hospice and the documentary we were making for them. When we interviewed Rachel she told us more about what the volunteers do who are working outside of the hospice in the shops. She also tickled us with her stories about interesting donations.

We briefly spoke to the Chairman of the hospice who was also very friendly and passionate about the documentary we are making.

Although we were only there for a couple of hours, our time was well spent and we obtained a great deal of information that has helped us gain an understanding of all the work that goes into the hospice not just the efforts that are put directly into the patients care. All this information will all go towards making our documentary the best it can be.

An Emotional Day for Ellie

It was the second time I was in day therapy in St Catherine’s on a Thursday. We spent nearly the whole day there and I felt liked we’d built firm relationships with the nurses, patients, volunteers and other staff that are around on this particular day.

I felt like when we left the week before people were looking forward to seeing us again and this has taught me an important life skill about building relationships with people. Little things like remembering someone’s name, saying hi and asking them how they are has been detrimental in making and building relationships with people at St Catherine’s. They might sound like common sense, but when you’re trying to create a film these can be easily forgotten.

I enjoyed being in Day Therapy on Thursday because people were so welcoming and it made me feel as though we were apart of the furniture by the third week. I felt privileged that patients wanted to speaks to us and have a laugh about everyday things, as they only get to come to St Catherine’s once a week, so it’s their personal time.  They say it’s ‘an exclusive club’ to be in and so to welcome us and be as friendly as they were was so heart-warming . This has made me even more determined to make a change for St Catherine’s as the people that are involved deserve recognition.

There was a particular day that made me really assess my outlook on my life in particular. It was the second week we’d been at St Catherine’s on a Thursday, but today we interviewed patients and a particular carer that comes to Day Therapy with her husband.

We spoke to Peter, who comes once a week to Day Therapy; he was so open and trusting with his story and feelings about his health. I was touched by what he was saying and his story really put things into perspective. I felt honoured that he wanted to share his story with us and that he wanted to help other people by being on the video. At first the nurses said that he wasn’t feeling too well and that he was only offering to speak because he wanted to help us out. I spoke to him in the day therapy room and said I didn’t want him to feel like he had to take part in the video. Peter insisted he was fine and that he wanted to speak to us because he wanted to help other people.

We spoke to Elaine Betteridge, who is a carer and cares twenty-four/seven for her husband – Johnny Betteridge. We listened to Elaine’s story and quickly learnt how passionate she is about St Catherine’s and the support they give her, to help her cope with her husband deterioration. She talks about her husband with such love and when we asked her how she manages to look after herself and have time to herself, she said she doesn’t get any time to herself really. She explained that she looks after her husband because she loves him and she wouldn’t have it any other way. Even thinking about it now makes me feel very emotional as she is so selfless and it’s such an enviable quality to see in a person.  This particular story has really opened my eyes up to how much time and effort carers actually put into helping their loved ones.

People at the hospice are so selfless. When I came home that evening I had other work to be getting on with, in particular a time-constrained essay.  I got myself really worked up because I knew the assignment had to be finished. I ended up in floods of tears because I felt so guilty about worrying about something so insignificant like the essay that won’t determine the person I am.

I’d spent a day with people who were opening up about their serious problems yet they still held the courage of not breaking down or making people feel sorry for them. 

Even though I got upset it wasn’t because of anyone in particular, nobody at St Catherine’s has a downbeat attitude, ever!

I think this is what got to me because I was low about something that really didn’t matter in the grand scheme of things, yet people at St Catherine’s always have a smile on their face.

I was upset that day, yet I was still really looking forward to my next visit to St Catherine’s. From visiting the hospice on a regular basis has taught me the importance of life. Even though I wasn’t helping anyone in particular, I still felt a sense of reward.

 

 

Our First Visit to Day Therapy

Thurday 19th was our first day filming in day therapy. This is an account of the day from Lee;

This was my first day filming at St Catherine’s since joining the group just after Christmas.

Now, before going to film I’d already had prior experience with a hospice, as my Nan was in one just before she passed away. This was just over 8 years ago now, so I was still quite young at the time, therefore the association I had with hospices was the exact opposite of what we are trying to show with this project.

However, once I’d arrived at St Catherine’s, this opinion almost immediately changed having witnessed the amazing work everyone is doing there.

On the Thursday we were filming interviews with the staff and patients involved with the day therapy sessions. The patients involved in these only come one day a week, and are made to feel comfortable and just generally looked after.

They are able to do whatever they want. Sit in a nice comfy chair with their feet up with a hot cup of tea – or even a glass of sherry! Take part in arts and crafts or receive some massage and aromatherapy treatments, or even get their hair cut.

Over the course of the day we interviewed four members of staff and one patient. Being able to talk to the patient was particularly interesting and being able to get their own personal account of how the hospice has helped them was a really drove home just how helpful St Catherine’s is, and what a wonderful place it is.

Speaking to the staff was also really pleasing, as you could tell each and every one of them loves their job. It is obvious to see just how much each of them helps each person that walks through the door at St Catherine’s, but they’re so modest about just how much they do to benefit these people’s lives.

When I used to visit my Nan in the hospice, I would only ever see her lying in bed so I was never able to see all of the great work that goes into making each and every patient feel comfortable.

My Nan was in a St.Lukes hospice down in my home town of Sheffield, so although she wasn’t at St. Catherine’s, I’d like to think that the treatment she received was just as fantastic as the level of care provided by the staff here.

Visiting St Catherine’s has made me appreciate the amount of care and time that would have gone into looking after my Nan. Walking out of the hospice I felt a sense of contentment knowing that when my Nan did die, she died a happy person thanks to all the care and attention she received.

First Day Filming

Last Friday 13th was our first day filming and this is an account of the experience from one of the more recent addititions to the group – Ellie…

I joined Charlie and Natasha’s group after Christmas after seeing their pitch and being unable to continue with my initial idea. They both told me how brilliant and inviting St Catherine’s was and how lovely all the staff there are. However, I just felt like they were saying these things as encouragement and to boost my confidence before arriving at the Hospice.

My first day at the hospice was last Friday and all people kept saying was how brilliant the hospice is and the work they do. I know it sounds cliché but it’s exactly like that. I couldn’t believe how welcomed we were; everyone was smiling and we were greeted warmly. We were made to feel part of the team straight away – it was like they were just as excited for us to be there.

On the Friday we filmed people picking up t-shirts for the Moon Light walk that they’re doing in late May to raise money for the hospice. We met with two volunteers who were so friendly and up for a laugh. They were very accommodating too – when we asked them to rearrange some of the furniture while we were filming, they were more than happy to do anything we asked.

One of the volunteers, Barry, gave us a short interview and told us personal accounts of when his wife was at the hospice. I found this quite hard at first because this was the first time I’d heard anyone at the hospice talk about their, however most of the memories he spoke about were up-beat and he was such a friendly character that it made you feel at ease.

I’ve just got back from filming there again today, Thursday, and today was even better. I met more people around the hospice and actually spoke to one of the day therapy patients. It was daunting at first, going up to the other parts of the building and it almost felt like I was in someone else’s space, yet once we were settled and spoke to a few people everyone was offering us drinks and saying hello, asking what we were up to and when we would be back.

The whole hospice has a warm homely feel to it. I’ve not once felt down and today I’ve left feeling invigorated and excited to go and meet more of the patients and members of staff next week.

Filming Plan of Action

A couple of weeks ago, we had another meeting with the Hospice. Initially the general thought was that we would have to volunteer in order to gain trust with both staff and patients at the Hospice. However, during this meeting it was felt that because we couldn’t commit to that longer than a couple of months – now that we’re almost at the end of the academic year – that just coming in and filming would be acceptable. The fact that this is something we will be producing for the hospice to use, has meant that they are happy for us to speak to the various departments around St Catherine’s.

This is the break down of what was spoken about, who was spoken to as well as the different aspects we can include in the documentary.

The angle of what we’re actually doing has slightly changed due to lack of time and the struggle to actually try and work with the hospice. So, the main focus is now just the documentary rather than the FB page and PR side. Having said that there are other areas that we can contribute towards, such as leaflets. The Lymphoedema department that arrange ‘Lebed sessions’, have an informational leaflet that could be tweaked and have fresh photos taken.

OUR PURPOSE

The main thing that we’ve learnt is that the hospice needs more support, it needs to connect with a younger audience and it wants to get rid of the idea that it’s a gloomy place to go to, and thus encouraging more people to get involved. So, the point of this documentary is to;

1. Explain what goes into running the hospice

2. The different aspects (it’s not just about the elderly dying)

3. How fun and rewarding it can be

4. Appeal to younger audiences by making something that would engage a younger audience – show the serious and sad side of the hospice but mainly the positive sides.

The different departments that we can film are;

The Shops

* A new shop is being opened in Leyland on April 30th. The mayor’s making an appearance to cut the ribbon and everything! This would be great to film and we can speak to volunteers that will be helping out in the shop.

The Lymphoedema Department

* They organise sessions that include feather boas and bubbles and they’re designed to help stop swelling (that’s layman’s terms of explaining it but would be good if we get more info on it). They’re very happy for us to film a session and after Easter they’re holding a discussion group – not entirely sure what this will entail – but I know that there will be people voicing opinions regarding these sessions and probably a demo we can film. We could film both the people getting involved and the people that run it.

The Moonlight Walk T-Shirt Collection

* The moonlight walk is not until the end of May, which I think is past our deadline? However on the 13th and 14th of April they are having two days where people will be coming in to pick up their t-shirts for the day. This would provide a wealth of people to interview (personal stories etc) and good cut aways aka story telling shots.

Family support Carers Drop In

* Spoke directly with these guys as well today and they’re very keen. This would be an opportunity to interview the carers and find out about their lives and how St. Catherine’s has helped them as well as speaking to the staff about their stories and their job roles in this area.

Day Care Patients

* This has many different areas, from the arts and crafts room, to the hair salon, to special bathing rooms, to sitting in the lounge having a cup of tea. So this is a department we could look at over several days. This would also be a prime opportunity to interview and get personal accounts from patients (because these are the ones that are still going home at the end of the day and not terminally ill). There are also several different staff to speak to due to the separate areas.

In-patients

* This is where the terminally ill patients are looked after and where relatives are most involved. Surprisingly they’re very happy for us to film here but it will be more a case of speaking to relatives due to condition of the patients. And we would be able to speak to families that have already lost their relatives but had them at St Catherine’s. I spoke to the lady who’s in charge of this department and she’s got some brilliant stories so would be a great interviewee but a problem we have to consider that if she’s talking about certain patients, even if she doesn’t use their name – they’re still going to be identifiable, so parental consent is needed (which they’re happy to gain), so it just means a bit more forward planning.

* Another point she put forward was about younger patients they’ve had at the hospice – another angle to take throughout the production (it’s not just the elderly at the end of their days going there to die – it could be our mates…).

* Also, speaking to work experience people would be great (they’ve got one particular girl in mind) because they are young people going into this environment that are actually quite surprised what it’s like when they get there.

The interpretation of the project so far is that we’re looking at making an informing documentary that covers the serious aspect of the work at the hospice but also looks at every cog that goes into making the hospice run, including the positive things. So maybe around 30min to 45 min in length. This would mean in depth interviews (not just 5/10 mins, more like 30min for important people).

Obviously the interviewees, and how interesting they are, massively determine the structure of the piece but we could do with at least considering a beginning, middle and end.

This is a short film we’ve put together to demonstrate our technological abilities and the kind of work we can produce for the hospice. Hopefully this film highlights our ability to ‘tell a story’ which is a key part of being a benefit to St. Catherine’s Hospice.

Our Meeting With Lynn From St. Catherine’s

We had our meeting with Lynn which we filmed. The following video highlights the key points that we gained from the meeting and gives an insight into the way we can be a benefit to the hospice.

Light up a Life

Tonight we attended our first event hosted by St. Catherine’s. It was called ‘Light up a Life’ and the purpose of the event was to turn on the hospice’s Christmas lights alongside remembering all the patients and families that had been helped by St. Catherine’s.

The grounds were lit up brilliantly and the walk upto the hospice held visable anticipation as the unlit lights swung in the wind through the trees. There was a good group of people assembled outside the front of the building, all wrapped up against the cold and singing hyms following the speeches.

At the bottom of the lawn there were people lighting up lanterns that had messages for their loved ones on. As the candles inside were lit, the lanterns floated up and into the sky – taking the messages with them. It was a very special sight.

Still waiting to get going…

After being directed towards Lynne to arrange our involvement within the hospice, we wrote a letter to the director of St Catherine’s explaining our project and outlining our intentions. We’ve stated how we think we can benefit to the charity and made it clear that the purpose of our involvement is for us to get involved as much as we can to help them. The letter reads as follow;

“We are writing to you in order to outline our intentions regarding working with St. Catherine’s Hospice as part of our university assignment.

“The reason we have chosen to work St. Catherine’s Hospice, as opposed to Preston’s other hospice – Derian House Children’s hospice – is because from what we have seen through things like Facebook, Derian House has a lot more volunteer help regarding fund raising which we feel is due to the fact the charity is set up for children.

“We’ve come up with several ideas such as maintaining the Facebook page – with our technical ability we could highly enhance the page by making the posts more interesting, setting up links to other pages, posting videos or even just making fundraising events more eye catching to users of the page. Another idea was based around all of the comments left on the Facebook page from relatives, thanking the staff at the hospice for their efforts and sharing their personal experiences. These comments, with permission from the authors could be used in promotional material or could even lead to ideas such as a ‘comment diary’ where we get in touch with the people leaving the comments and actually film them summing up their experience on camera.

“We thought that it might be an idea to develop a video explaining what the hospice was about; an informational video for families that might have a relative looking at going into the hospice as a patient. Footage of fundraising events, such as the ‘Zumbathalon’ and the Santa Dash could be incorporated into a video like this.

“Our main angle of how we can be beneficial to this community is a PR angle – the more we can help to promote the charity, the wider the awareness and hopefully the greater the support for fundraising. For these reasons we intend to volunteer in as many different ways as possible in order to meet the different staff that help to keep St Catherine’s running as well as to gain a greater understanding. Being part of a filming project might be a constructive and positive way for patients and relatives to spend some of their time – possibly even a help to cope with their situation, which is where the video blogging idea comes in.

“We want to try and show all the above to the wider general public by portraying the patient’s experiences on a more personal level.  Also interviewing family members about their experience with the hospice and what this charity means to them and their relatives. Our assignment is based around community journalism and the way in which investigative journalism can benefit communities.”