AFTER providing more than 2,500 sessions of care, North Devon Hospice’s outreach centre in Holsworthy marked its second birthday on Saturday, September 23.

In the last year even more services have been added, increasing the amount of hospice support local people can access.

Since opening in September 2015, The Long House has offered care and support to people in the Holsworthy area who are facing a life-limiting illness such as cancer, Motor Neurone Disease, heart failure and COPD. It has meant that patients and family members no longer face a two-hour round trip to the hospice’s main site in Barnstaple.

Miranda Broadhead is one of the hospice’s counsellors based at The Long House. She said it was wonderful to see local people using the building even more and taking up the many new sessions and services that have been offered over the last 12 months.

She said: “It seems like only yesterday that The Long House had its first birthday, because so much had happened in this last year. The pleasure for me leading up to this second birthday has been welcoming so many new people and working with them in new ways. It’s always good when people realise what a warm place it is and how reassuring it can be to share experiences and realise you’re not alone.”

As well as specialist nurse consultations, one-to-one counselling and complementary therapies, Miranda said there are a range of sessions available each week.

She said: “New for this year have been mindfulness sessions, storytelling workshops and a wonderful group called ‘Mapping Memories’. This is where patients use drawings, writing, memorabilia and photographs to help tell their life story. Not only is it a very therapeutic exercise for people who may be facing the final months of their life, but it also produces a wonderful keepsake for the whole family.”

Patricia, from Holsworthy, is living with Motor Neurone Disease and comes to The Long House for regular support.

She said: “The illness came as a shock to both me and my family, but staff at The Long House have been fantastic. I really enjoy the relaxation days. It makes such a positive difference to me.”

Anne and Doug, from Torrington, also benefit from the support offered by the hospice following Anne’s diagnosis of ovarian cancer.

Doug said: “I was very sceptical about it at first and didn’t really want to go. I thought it was going to be all ‘namby pamby’.

“It was incredible though. I got to meet other people who were going through an identical journey to the one we were going through and a world of support just opened up to us.”

Miranda expressed The Long House team’s thanks to all those who have supported the work they do over the last year. She said that without local people’s generosity the hospice wouldn’t be where it is today and gave thanks on behalf of all the people they care for.

For more information on how to support North Devon Hospice and the work of The Long House visit www.northdevonhospice.org.uk or call Claire Sherwood on 01271 347206.

Those who wish to receive support from the hospice should speak to their GP and ask for a referral.