Latest News from Sobell House

We are continuing to operate as smooth a service as we can here at Sobell House, and we are so proud of our staff for adapting so well to the changes COVID-19 has necessitated. Our inpatient unit remains open, and we are doing all that we can to help our patients continue to stay in touch with their loved ones. We are facilitating video chat conversations and doing our best to be as flexible as we can safely be with visitors.

We have sadly had to temporarily suspend our day service at the hospice, as well as face-to-face therapies, but where possible our staff are now providing support via video/telephone to many of our patients in the community. In this way we hope that we will be able to maintain as many of our core services as we are able to.

We are already seeing a significant drop in our fundraising income as we’ve had to cancel events and close our retail shops. However, we are doing all that we can to continue to raise money to fund our vital services, and we are delighted to be able to announce the first of our virtual fundraising initiatives this month – our ‘Stay Home Challenge’.

We are also very aware of how COVID-19 may be affecting our supporters, and would like to use the resources we have available to offer support. Our monthly newsletters from now on will therefore include advice and ideas from experts on ways to deal with the current climate. We do hope that you find them useful.

As always, we are so grateful to our supporters for all they do in allowing us to continue to provide care for those who need it most. We couldn’t do it without you.

Thank you from us all at Sobell House.

My very best wishes,

Lorraine Pink
Head of Fundraising

Choose your Stay Home Challenge

Choose your own Stay Home Challenge and set yourself a goal that you can safely achieve from home, from learning a language to teaching your pet new tricks. Click below to create a fundraising page for your challenge and share your progress. By staying home you’re making it safer for our staff to continue providing essential care to our patients and their families, and raising vital funds to support our work.
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Set up a fundraising page

COVID-19 Support from Justin Amery

Dr Amery, the Palliative Care Lead for Oxfordshire for COVID-19, has recorded some brilliant videos which answer some of the tough questions many of us have about the coronavirus. Some of the issues Dr Amery covers are: ‘what symptoms will I get with the coronavirus?’, ‘how to plan ahead to get the care you want’ and ‘how to have the hard conversation’.

Watch Dr Amery’s Videos

A Day in the Life of a Music Therapist

Some of you will recognise Tom, our Music Therapist. In his role, Tom helps our patients to explore their thoughts and feelings at an overwhelming time, record songs for their loved ones, and has even helped people to record desert island disc episodes! In his ‘day in the life’ diary, Tom meets with one of our patients, Mike, to continue a piece of legacy work for his two-year-old daughter to remember him by. It’s through the support of our local community that this important service is available – thank you.

Read Tom’s Day in the Life

Music Therapy in Isolation

COVID-19 has not stopped ex-Sobell House music therapy placement student Lizz, who has bridged the barriers in communication through a beautiful musical performance outside her aunt’s care home. In addition, Gareth Malone has taken the opportunity to organise ‘The Great British Home Chorus’ where people are invited to sing and make music together online. It is wonderful to see these creative new ways to connect through music, and they really do make a difference.

Watch Lizz’s Video
Read more about The Great British Home Chorus