A little while since I have posted, but things have been going on with this project and all the others, regardless! Tim and Sasha have been working at the day hospice and I have just been sent this rather lovely email from Tracy Grinell who is the centre manager.

Goscote Monumental Art Project

The work on the Goscote Monumental Art Project involving Little Bloxwich Day Hospice patients got off to a fantastic start. The patients seemed a little apprehensive to begin with but were soon totally engrossed in what they were doing. The patients sat with staff and artists and discussed what ‘Celebrating Life ’ meant to them. During this discussion patients identified certain colours and what that colour reminded them of.

Patient comment “The session was great fun .Sascha was lovely to talk to and very enthusiastic. She inspired me and helped get my creative juices going”

The therapeutic side of this session was evident as the patients involved talked about their lives and what things influenced them. It was fascinating to listen to.One Jamaican lady described the colours of a banana as it ripens and how it reminded her of her happy childhood.The patients were obviously enjoying themselves and therefore forgetting their troubles for a while.

Staff comment “the artists were very open to everyone’s thoughts and ideas”

“The artists encouraged an eruption of thoughts from all those involved.”

The two workshops we have been involved in have really left us wanting more. The staff and patients are very excited about this project and are thoroughly enjoying the process.

Patient comment “ I have really enjoyed today’s session. Tim is very enthusiastic and made me feel involved right from the start.

Well done to the team and many thanks to the people involved It was a pleasure to watch our patients working as a group and feeling so positive about it.

Tracey Grinell and the staff at Little Bloxwich Day Hospice.

We haven’t had any pictures in from Ming about the Little Bloxwich Day Hospice workshops just yet, but we do have some pictures from the workshops that took place earlier in the week at the youth centre, The Electric Palace in Bloxwich.  An important part of the Goscote Monumental Art Project is to raise awareness of the issues around a hospice with young people in the area.

Rachel and I have met with Alison Coles who heads the Anglican Chaplaincy Team at the Manor Hospital in Walsall.  She introduced us to Jeet Sohal of the Sikh faith, Manu Vias of the Hindu Forum and Mr. Mahmood Sacha of the Union of Moslem Organisations, known as UMO.  We spent an hour taliking about the multi faith aspect of the Sacred Space which will house one of Sasha’s glass pieces. It was a lively chat with much useful insight gained and I was able to get in my favorite Father Ted line ‘Well,now, that would be an eccumenical matter’.

This project is getting emotionally moving. Everyone we talk to is interested in it.  Everyone has a story to tell highlighting the importance of excellent quality end of life care for everyone.  In particular, and this will stay with me, I saw a group of people last Friday at the Day Hospice support each other through the pain of the death of their friend. Still they were able to take part in the workshop, in fact they contributed so many ideas and ways forward that Tim and I came away tired but happy.  Their quiet determination to continue until continuing is no longer an option is a testament to all that is good about being a human being.