We have selected the following resources to help you connect with the people around you. Connecting with other people and building social relationships is known to have an enormously positive impact on wellbeing. Think of your family, friends and neighbours as the cornerstones of your life and invest time in developing them. Building these connections will support and enrich you every day.

Connect through Living Well

Come and join us for a Living Well Get Together online! 

The Living Well team is offering an opportunity for patients, carers and family members, as well as volunteers and members of the wider KHH community, to meet online once a fortnight. It is a time to catch up, chat, share experiences, find out how everyone is getting on, join in a quiz - and simply enjoy being in one another’s company. This can be a sociable event for those who are not able to get out and about and gives the opportunity to have contact with other people.

The meetings  take place on the second Wednesday of each month  at 3.30pm for just over an hour – although people are free to drop in for as long or as short as they like.  

If you would like to join us, please email us at [email protected] or ring the hospice on 01295 228500 and ask for a member of the Living Well team. We can then send you the link, or telephone number if you would prefer to join us on the phone. 

Meeting with others at Katharine House

Connecting with other people and building social relationships is known to have an enormously positive impact on wellbeing. This has been shown to be the case for all people, across all ages. We will therefore ensure there is plenty of time for this when you attend Living Well, both within the sessions and while you enjoy a cup of tea or coffee in the refreshment break.

Carers group

A fortnightly carers group, which provides an opportunity for you to chat with other carers and share experiences and enjoy some time out. 

Arts and crafts

Making art can help many people express themselves, without having to use words.

Explore your creativity and create your own art work with the support of our experienced volunteer artists. A range of materials are available, including silk painting, card making, drawing, painting and craft work. You don't need to be an artist, just enjoy being creative!

Other activities available at Katharine House

• Mindfulness
• Reflections
• Relaxation
• Strength and balance

Bereavement café

The bereavement café provides an opportunity to talk, share and explore experiences with others in a confidential and respectful environment.

How to book your sessions

All our classes are accessible to anyone who is book on one of our programmes. Please get in touch if you would like to join any of our groups.

Companionship service

Providing valuable support and companionship to our patients in the community, on the wards, or virtually.

What can a Companion do?

• Provide respite for a carer, allowing them to ‘take a break’.
• Have patient-led conversations. For example, talk about hobbies, interests or everyday topics.
• Help patients to access craft activities.
• A volunteer companion will be allocated following an assessment.
• Patients are offered support of 10 calls over the course of 3–4 months. This is reviewed after 8 calls and can be extended.

For more information, please email [email protected].

Chaplaincy 

The Chaplaincy team are available as needed and are offering telephone calls, appointments and Chapel services to patients of Katharine House, supporting them pastorally and spiritually. If you would like to request contact from one of the Chaplains, please get in touch with us via [email protected].

Other ways to connect

Virtual games and quizzes 

Online book club: former This Morning hosts and couple Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan have their own online book club. With more than 28,741 members, it is a thriving community where book lovers and enthusiasts can join in on discussions about every genre that is out there.

The Virtual Pub Quiz: the original virtual pub quiz to be born out of the UK lockdown, this quiz goes live on Facebook or YouTube every Thursday at 7.50pm.

Online connections

Connect with family and friends: How about trying to connect with family and friends via an online platform? Many people are using programmes such as Zoom, Skype, WhatsApp and Facetime to see each other and spend time together via video call. 

If you need some help navigating these online ways of communicating, the Royal Voluntary Service offers a range of technology skills workshops.

Connect offline

Daily Hope: a free phoneline of hymns, reflections and prayers. Available 24 hours a day on 0800 804 8044, this has been set up particularly with those unable to join online church services during the period of restrictions in mind.

Other Five Ways to Wellbeing resources

• Take Notice
• Be Active
• Keep Learning
• Give

Find out more about Katharine House Hospice

• To find out more about the work we do, read What we do or explore our For Patients and Families pages.
• To explore fundraising events, visit Fundraising events, Challenge events and Supporter events.
• To receive regular news about development at the hospice and fundraising events, please sign up to our digital newsletter.