Patients, families and visitors to our hospice are being given added comfort by kind-hearted primary school pupils who have donated specially-written poems for all to read.

Thoughtful

11-year-old pupils from last year’s Class 6KS at St Matthew’s C of E (Aided) Primary School and Nursery Centre in Donnington Wood, Telford sent a selection of hand-written poems to us with the aim of giving comfort and joy to those within our care.

Inspired by the work of poet, writer, lyricist and musician Benjamin Zephaniah, pupils focused on one of their three school values ‘Respect’ and wrote the poems to lift the spirits of residents and patients in local care homes and hospices.

Comforting

Staff at our hospice were extremely touched to receive three poems and as a result we have decided to share these in a special booklet which will be available to our patients, their families and friends and carers at our hospices in Shrewsbury and Telford.

The poems highlight the importance of human connection and how people rely on one another each day.

Warming

Mandy Reynolds, Ward Manager at our Telford hospice said: “It’s incredibly heart-warming to know that we are in the thoughts of our youngest citizens and that they wanted to provide comfort through poetry. I know the poems will provide great warmth to those within our care, and amongst our staff too.”

Each year, we provide care and support to thousands of people living with incurable illness in Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin, and Mid Wales. This support is free of charge but is not without cost. We have to raise £2 of every £3 we spend, and this comes from our lottery, fundraising activities and donations. 

Our care goes beyond wards and provides not only for clinical needs but also gives emotional, spiritual, and therapeutic support. Poetry and mindfulness is part of that approach and we have dedicated a channel to poems on our YouTube platform. Poets were asked to donate words that would lift spirits, aid comfort and help those in time of reflection. The online poems, spoken by the poets themselves, are available on our YouTube channel: Severn Hospice.

If you would like to take comfort and read our special booklet, please click here.