Jools Holland at Wisdom Hospice: Opening of Molly’s Hub
Jools Holland cutting the ribbon at Molly’s Hub opening
Jools Holland opens Molly’s Hub - our new “dazzling” therapy centre
After two years of planning and a £120,000 fundraising campaign, the Wisdom Hospice Therapy Centre has officially been opened – with world famous musician Jools Holland cutting the ribbon.
Named Molly’s Hub, the centre will offer patients and families holistic hospice care – in addition to their medical treatment.
After a full tour and meeting staff who showed him the therapy room, hairdressing salon, gym and main activity space, Jools described the therapy centre as “dazzling”.
Meeting with both clinical staff and therapists, he found out about how holistic care is so important alongside medical treatment.
Leading the opening was Medway Community Healthcare (MCH) Therapy Team Lead Kelly Chubb, who said: “Molly’s Hub offers so much for our patients and their families to do: music, arts, crafts and exercise, that will be interesting, perhaps something new, or maybe a return to a past interest, and contribute towards improving their quality of life. Groups and activities will be therapeutic, holistic, or educational and we’ll keep evolving, to offer what’s asked for.
"The groups will also provide an opportunity to meet other patients or carers, make friends and share experiences.
“Holistic therapies are proven to support people, and with clinical staff running the activities, those who come, will gain access to extra expert advice to help them as their conditions change and answer any questions.”
Therapy Team Lead Kelly Chubb talking about the Blackbird Project with Dr Rosie Chester and Jools Holland
Keeping memories alive
Jools, who lives in Medway, attended the event in his role as Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Kent, and also found out about our new Blackbird Project. Patients and families will be able to record audio onto a USB, so that the voice of their loved one lives on; they can talk, read, record music, or anything else onto a blackbird-shaped USB.
He also had the chance to meet with patient Neil Sparkes, a fellow musician; the pair chatted away remembering people and music events from the past, laughing many times as they recalled shared memories. Neil has even performed on one of Jools’ TV shows!
Fellow musician patient Neil Sparks meeting with Jools Holland
Jools said:
“When someone is ill, the voice remains – and this Blackbird is a wonderful way to keep that memory and will be very important to families.
“I had a friend here and the thing that struck me then, was the great kindness and sensitivity of all the people that worked here.
“Molly’s Hub is really dazzling and has a positive charge to it.
“I’ve been very impressed with the therapeutic rooms they’ve got here now and seeing all the different work that everybody does is incredible.
“For me, what’s most impressive is the people – and everybody I’ve met here today is so wonderful and committed and that is what I feel should be celebrated so I’m incredibly honoured to come and help with the opening.
“All together, the whole package, for want of a better word, really is a wonderful thing to have here in Medway.
“Part of the care is keeping people pain-free and comfortable but the other part is keeping them entertained – that’s what I think everyone is trying to do here and it hadn’t crossed my mind before, that this was needed too – but it’s one of those things that once someone says it, you think ‘of course’.
“It really is an incredible blessing to have in the middle of Medway and great for people to know that in very difficult circumstances, there is a place here to help.”
A dream becomes a reality
Molly’s Hub was two years in the planning, after the Wisdom Hospice nursing teams asked Wisdom Hospice Charity – the fundraising arm of the hospice, to help create a therapy centre to bring patients and their families out of the clinical side of care and into the holistic one.
Fundraising events, donations and sponsorship made it possible for the therapy centre dream to become a reality.
Funding for the next two years has also been secured.
Wisdom Hospice Charity Chief Executive Martyn Reeves, said: “The opening of Molly’s Hub has been one of the proudest moments of my 15 years here.
“This project has been a shining example of great collaboration between those with the collective goal of supporting and advancing hospice care across Medway and Swale.
“We have all been overwhelmed by the generosity shown from our local community, who support us and believe in what we are trying to achieve – they continue to help when we need them and we are so very grateful.”
Jools Holland viewing the new therapy gym
Molly’s Hub has been named after patient Molly Wisdom, a local palliative care patient, who in 1977, started what would be a six-year fundraising effort to build a much-needed Medway hospice.
Both the Swale and Medway mayors were invited to the opening event – patients in both their areas are cared for by the hospice.
Medway Mayor Trevor Clarke, said: “The Wisdom Hospice has got a very special place in the life of Medway and what touches you most here is the compassion and depth of care – there are seriously enhanced facilities here.
“We will be helping to promote the hospice to let people know that the hospice is here and that there is so much more to it than what they might expect.”
From left to right: The Mayor of Swale’s Consort Allan Watson, The Mayor of Swale Cllr Karen Watson, Deputy Lieutenant of Kent Jools Holland OBE and Mayor of Medway Cllr Trevor Clarke
WHAT'S ON OFFER AT MOLLY’S HUB
Seated exercise
People with limited mobility or physical fitness can enjoy a fun fitness class that will still make you ‘feel the burn’!
On the health side, participants will aim to increase strength, flexibility, mobility, improve posture, stamina, co-ordination, balance, and overall fitness.
Plus, they can do them at home too, once they know how.
Each small movement can add up to a big effect, helping patients to:
Improve confidence
Maintain independence
Reduce fatigue
Release tension
Improve quality of life
Raise mood
Led by Therapy Assistant Toni Martin, patients could see a real difference in their daily lives.
She said: “Improving strength, balance and co-ordination for example, could mean that someone can make their own cup of tea, get on or off the loo independently, shower unassisted, or even feel confident to hold a family baby.
“These exercises also contribute to less medical intervention; if someone is moving more, the risk of pressure sores is less from staying still; if someone is stronger, they reduce the likelihood of a fall – so won’t have an injury or need to spend time in hospital."
Therapy Assistant Toni Martin leading seated exercises with Molly’s Hub Volunteers
Circuit group
This group is for people with a little more mobility, and is an 8-week course, aimed at teaching participants how to do the exercises at home or in a gym. Measurements will be taken at the start and end of the course, so that progress can be seen – which often helps with motivation.
A little friendly competition will also be encouraged. Gym equipment includes gym balls, rebounders, parallel bars, resistance bands, weights, a treadmill and hand bike. Bodyweight exercises are also part of the programme...
Guests will be welcomed into the hospice gym – to gain confidence on equipment.
Living well
This 12-week rolling programme will include physiotherapy sessions, guest therapists giving guidance on various areas of wellbeing, self-care, eating and drinking support, plus of course, the social side meeting other people.
The programme aims to offer new experiences, improve quality of life and mood, whilst offering the chance to build peer support.
Arts & crafts
This creative group will give patients and families the opportunity and space to develop new skills creating artworks and objects, such as hand moulds, that reflect their unique experience and interest that can be given as a lasting memory to a loved one.
The group will be suitable for artists of all abilities, including complete beginners. Our team and volunteers will help develop ideas – come to be creative!
Main room in Molly’s Hub
Carers’ drop-in/café
This informal drop-in support group will offer an opportunity for carers to meet with others who are caring for a relative/friend/loved one with a life-limiting condition.
They’ll be able to meet others to share experiences, swap knowledge of support available and develop friendships and informal peer support.
Breathlessness group
“Please come to this group before breathlessness is really affecting you.” This is the advice of Angela Schoonewagen who has been working in this area of holistic care for many years.
The three-session course will help people to maximise their breath, making daily tasks that little bit more manageable; mobility, eating, drinking and sleeping.
Angela says: “There is so much benefit to be gained from these sessions and I can’t say strongly enough, how much I want people to come in for them! Breath is needed for everything and can affect daily life - shortness of breath can make a meal out with friends hard, conversations a real effort and affect sleep, which can lead to fatigue, mood change and poorer health.
"It causes anxiety and withdrawal in some people – because everything is just so hard to do, but our sessions can help to give people techniques to breathe deeper, strengthen their lungs and muscles and allow them to enjoy things more comfortably.”
Fatigue group
This group will help people to gain tips on how to conserve their energy and reduce the onset of daily fatigue. The group will enjoy slowing down with Tai Chi, chair yoga, and tips on energy conservation, such as sitting to get dressed or using an electric toothbrush - tailored to your lifestyle.
The group will be small and guests will learn tips and advice to take home
Complimentary therapy
Massage, Reiki and Acupuncture will be on offer, totally free of charge, to patients who would benefit from these lovely therapies. The sessions give them the chance to try a holistic therapy - to help with a symptom, side effect or impact of their condition.
Sam Cornick Ward Manager showing Jools Holland the therapy room
Memory matters
This group is for both patients and those close to them, to make memories together. Activities will include memory boxes - making a lovely box and special things to go in it, hand casting, fingerprints, making music, and taking photos. Activities will be based around what a family needs and asks for – with everything being offered where possible.
How to join our groups
If you'd like to find out about taking part in any of our groups, just get in touch with a member of the therapy team:
01634 830456, info@wisdomhospicecharity.org.uk Or send a message to us via the website: wisdomhospicecharity.org.uk/contact
Hospice history
The Wisdom Hospice was born out of need; a need for palliative care in the community. In 1977, a palliative care patient under Medway’s new and innovative ‘Symptom Control Team’, was so impressed by the service that she vowed to raise funds for a hospice. Molly Wisdom set out to raise £50 from two coffee mornings but raised £2,000 in the last seven months of her life. The Friends of The Wisdom Hospice, now the Wisdom Hospice Charity, was set up to build on her vision and inspired an army of determined fundraisers doing beard shaves, jumble sales, market stalls, fruit stalls and bazaars.
By 1983, £700,000 had been raised. The Wisdom Hospice was built and opened in her name, in spring 1984.
Her Majesty the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh officially opened the hospice later that year.
Molly’s Hub Door Plaque
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