We all need friends and the Louise Hamilton Centre at the
James Paget Hospital has just launched a Friends organisation to give local
people a chance to feel even more involved in the work and fund raising for the
centre which has seen over six and a half thousand people come through its
doors since opening in March.
A gold badge has been designed for the new Friends which is
in the distinctive butterfly shape, the now familiar symbol of the Louise
Hamilton Centre.
The distinctive yellow £1.5 million eco-friendly building at
the corner of the JPH was completed on time and on budget in December 2012 and
was officially opened by the Princess Royal at the end of April, just over a month
after it started welcoming those needing its services.
The building – the result of an architectural competition
and fund raising from the community – is
intended as a place of peace and calm where those with cancer and other life
threatening conditions, together with their carers and others who may be
affected, can receive help and support. A team of over 50 volunteers helps to
staff the centre which is open seven days a week and into the evenings. They
work closely with the professionals, including the Macmillan nurses, who are
based there.
As well as a whole range of advice
and support other regular groups include two choirs, one for carers and the
other for people with respiratory problems; a dementia cafe, bereavement group,
art and complimentary therapies and benefits help. ‘The list is growing.’ says
Palliative Care East Appeal Co-ordinator Maxine Taylor. PCE is the independent
group which spearheaded the project and now maintains it.
‘There are so many ways that people
need help, it may be specific advice or an activity or it may just be the
chance to have a chat and cup of tea. Often people don’t realise they are
carers, and they too need support to look after a loved one. We can provide all
of this and more,’ she said.
‘The Centre was built thanks to the
fantastic efforts of the community of Great Yarmouth and Waveney and it
continues thanks to people’s fund raising and support. We are well on course to
meet the annual running cost target of around £130,000.’ said Maxine,
explaining that this money was entirely for the centre, not any other JPH
facilities.
Major fund raising includes the annual themed
autumn ball, a moveable feast in June and regular auctions. The annual Embrace
sponsored walk will this year be part of the Gorleston Clifftop Gala in July.
Alongside that are the constant fund raisers organised by other individuals and
organisations, including the Yarmouth Rotary Club Town Quiz which takes place
at the end of February.
‘People are hugely supportive of
what is being done here, and we’d like to give them the chance to feel even
more closely associated by becoming Friends of the Louise Hamilton Centre. The
idea is for people to feel they have an even more personal involvement and are
part of what we do.
‘Friends membership will include the
gold butterfly lapel badge,a car sticker, regular newsletters, information and
events. It’s another way to support the work,’ said Maxine, explaining that the
cost is £10 a year for individuals or £25 for a family of four.
‘It is estimated that something
like 2,700 people in our area receive a diagnosis of cancer or similar life
threatening conditions each year. We are here to try and help them in whatever
way we can and launching a Friends organisation is another strong way of
supporting what we can do for those who need us’ said Maxine.
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To find out more about becoming a Friend of Louise call in or contact
Maxine Taylor at the Louise Hamilton Centre on 01493 453100 . The Centre is open
seven days a week from 8.30 am to 19:30 pm weekdays; Saturdays and Sundays from 10:30 am to 15:30 pm.
