Christmas presents and activities, Trustwide
Every Christmas, SHINE provides inpatient wards with funding for presents and acitivies for all patients in hospital on Christmas Day.
In 2023, SHINE provided funds of £8800 across the Trust’s inpatient wards in the North East and Cumbria to purchase festive activities and presents to help patients feel more comfortable during their stay in hospital on Christmas. The money was raised thanks to the generosity of supporters who fundraise and donate for the charity and its impact was seen across the Trust’s footprint.
Assistant practitioner Rebecca works on Harthope, a secure care ward in Morpeth. She said: “The patients were happy and grateful to have something to open on Christmas Day, especially those who did not receive gifts from others. Some patients do not have family that can bring them things from home or the money to purchase a lot of essential items, so this allowed them to have these things.”
Patients were very surprised and appreciative of the presents. Many were unable to see their relatives, so this made a real difference. It gave a sense of family within the ward at what can be a difficult time for some.
Terri CravenOccupational Therapist, Gibside ward
Young patients at specialist adolescent mental health services at Ferndene in Prudhoe were given a range of gifts including footballs, toiletries, art supplies and sweets. Specialist nurse Helen Benfield said: “The young people were thrilled with their gifts. Staff on the ward were able to use the money to purchase them, so the young people received presents that were individual to them from staff who know them.”
On Ruskin, a dementia assessment and treatment unit in Carlisle, patients received blankets, toiletries sets, socks, chocolate and festive snacks. Patients also took part in Christmas-themed activities including decorating the ward, baking a Christmas cake, and making arts and crafts gifts for loved ones. Patients said the activities made them feel valued and appreciated.
Patients on Hadrian 2, a men’s psychiatric ward in Carlisle, thanked staff for their gifts. Janine Lucock, an activities facilitator on the ward, said: “We really value the SHINE Fund and what it brings for the patients.”