By Leicester Mercury | Posted 16 October, 2017
The results of a bold project to bring terminally ill patients together with primary school pupils will be on show as part of national Hospice Care Week, which begins today.
A set of letters written by a group of year six pupils from Christ the King Primary School in Glenfield Road will be on show at the Leicestershire hospice, LOROS.
As part of a partnership between the hospice and the school, five pupils spent one day a week with LOROS day therapy patients over the period of a month.
Each student was paired with a patient to give them a chance to get to know each other.
The youngsters then each wrote a letter to their “buddy” which they gave them during the final week of the project.
The letters revealed how much the 11-year-old pupils had gained from visiting the hospice.
Almost all said how nervous they had been at the start but how they had enjoyed meeting their “buddy” and how they had been made to feel so welcome at the hospice.
Abi Wattam, youth engagement officer at LOROS who oversaw the project, said: “We believe it is so important for children to interact with patients at LOROS because we want to show them the hospice is not a scary place.
“As the next generation, it is vital we show these children first-hand about the work we do while raising awareness of the organisation and dispelling some of the myths people have surrounding hospice care.”
She added: “It’s great to bring two different generations together and not only does the project really benefit the children, it is clear our patients love taking part too.
“It’s wonderful to see them smiling and laughing with the children, while they share stories and talk about their hobbies and interests.
“Having a terminal illness can be a very difficult time for our patients and being given the opportunity to get involved with a project like this, can often really brighten up their day.”
Abi said the bond created between the pupils and patients was “remarkable.”
She added: “It was amazing to see how much they learned about one another by the end of the project.”
Here is one letter from Year six pupil Niamh, from Christ the King Catholic Primary School.
Dear World,
I’m not going to lie, when I first walked into LOROS, I was very surprised.
I had been expecting a quiet, strict hospital that had a cake sale every once in a while, but no, LOROS is so much more.
A lot of people think that it’s just a hospital, so when me and my friends first visited, we were nervous and very apprehensive.
We needn't have been, LOROS is an absolutely wonderful place. It not only offers end of life care, but it makes their patients' last days some of their happiest - even if they’re only there for a short period of time.
LOROS offers so many things to their patients: art and sculpting with a creative therapist; complementary therapy to calm nerves; large gardens which are easily accessible, even by bed-bound and wheelchair-using patients, and even the opportunity to get married and pray in the chapel, no matter your religion.
Even simple things like just painting someone’s nails help make LOROS even more special.
As for our buddies, they were some of the most cheerful, untroubled people I had ever met.
I was partnered with Richard and we had loads of fun. The hour flew by in what felt like just 10 minutes!
So yes, LOROS is kind of like a hospital, and it can be sad but LOROS’ aim is to make their patients’ days full of fun, so next time you say: ‘oh LOROS is just a little hospital’ think about this letter.”
From Niamh
