大象传媒

Gethin Jones is a versatile broadcaster and TV personality. Gethin can turn his hand to most things, whether it鈥檚 presenting the longest running children鈥檚 show in the world, 大象传媒鈥檚 鈥楤lue Peter,鈥� lighting up the dance floor on Strictly Come Dancing, or hosting 大象传媒1鈥檚 鈥楻emembrance Week鈥�.

Over the years, Gethin has spent quite a bit of time in hospices. He regularly visited one in Cardiff last year, and he has also visited several children鈥檚 hospices.

While filming this Lifeline appeal, Gethin got to spend some time at Royal Trinity Hospice in London, where he saw first hand the huge difference hospice volunteers make to people鈥檚 lives.

Gethin says:

鈥淔or places that are home to such deep sadness, I鈥檓 always struck by how inspiring they can be.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 why I want to show you the very special work hospices do to give people the best possible end of life care.鈥�

Hospice care transforms lives.

Each year, hospices care for 200,000 people throughout the UK, providing compassionate care that is tailored to their specific needs. From managing someone鈥檚 pain, to looking after their emotional, spiritual and social needs, hospice care supports the whole person, as well as their family, helping them to live their life to the full.

But they couldn鈥檛 do this without the help of over 125,000 volunteers, who give up their precious time to support hospices in a range of different roles. Amazing volunteers like Phil and Eddie in our appeal film help to make sure that more people receive the care they need in the place of their choice. In doing so, they also free up hospice staff to concentrate on crucial clinical work.

As the national charity for hospice care, Hospice UK works hard to make sure everyone facing the end of their life gets the best care possible. We champion and support more than 200 hospices for adults and children, making sure their staff and volunteers have the training, funding and resources they need to care for people living with a life-shortening or terminal condition.

The 大象传媒 Lifeline appeal will enable us to support more volunteers providing care in hospices and visiting people at home, which would make a big difference. So please donate what you can and help us give more people the chance to do what really matters while they still can.

Feargus is nearly two and loves drumming. In the film he鈥檚 with Phil who鈥檚 been volunteering at Robin House, a children鈥檚 hospice, for three years.聽

Feargus spent his first 14 months in hospital, undergoing surgery for a complex life-limiting condition.聽Now, the family come here for regular respite visits.

At first, his family struggled to see how Robin House could be for them.

Emma, Feargus鈥� mum, says:

鈥淵ou never want to go to a children鈥檚 hospice. It鈥檚 not something you want to do. It took us a while to get our head around everything鈥�

鈥淚 never expected what it actually is and it鈥檚 about living, it鈥檚 not about end of life all the time. It鈥檚 about making the best of what you have.鈥�

The beauty of Robin House is that the whole family can come and enjoy some precious moments together.聽

And thanks to the volunteers, parents can have some much needed relaxation too.聽

鈥淭he first time I came here I got a massage, one of the volunteers, she鈥檚 a massage therapist and that was a nice surprise for me,鈥� says Emma.

鈥淚 would never have known about this place had I not been in the position I鈥檓 in, the situation I鈥檓 in. So for other people to go out of their way to come and help is amazing.鈥�

London鈥檚 Royal Trinity Hospice has about 450 volunteers who are trained to keep an eye on patients鈥� welfare, which includes training in first aid, and in sensitive ways to talk to people with serious illness. They help the specialist staff make what鈥檚 left of life worth living.

28-year-old marketing consultant Eddie gives up several hours a week to volunteer.

Trinity matched him with Ken who is 84 and has Parkinson鈥檚. Ken lives with his wife Kirsten in South London.

Eddie鈥檚 visits give Ken the confidence to get some exercise.

Ken says:

鈥淓ddie comes along once a week and we go out for a walk. And by the time we get back I must say I鈥檓 shattered. And it鈥檚 getting more difficult, but I鈥檓 determined to keep it going because otherwise I鈥檇 be completely immobile.

鈥淚鈥檓 very lucky. And we hope it will last a very long time.鈥�