New Milton Oakhaven 2020

10

Oakhaven Hospice Autumn Supplement 2020

www.oakhavenhospice.co.uk

The Acorn Project: mighty oaks from little acorns grow

The students bring their joyous laughter, curiosity and energy to the hospice with such positivity it’s contagious!

patients and by pairing off they can get to know each other. Many questions are asked, which vary from “why do you use this wheelchair?” to “what is your favourite football team?” Over the next two weeks, everyone gets to know each other in more depth, we talk about feelings and emotions, play games recognising pieces of medical equipment used in the In Patient Unit. Often the students then open up and talk about how they are feeling if they have known a family member who has been very ill or died. There is always a lot of laughter and fun to be enjoyed by everyone! We are visited

regularly by our Acorn PAT (Pets as Therapy) dog, Riley, who comes along to show the children how therapeutic it feels to stroke a dog and how it can calm us down if we become stressed or anxious. The students and the Acorn Team work together to create a piece of artwork that the students can take back to school. It is usually based on a topic the children are currently studying in school. During this time, The Acorn Project has covered many topics, including Florence Nightingale, Mary Seacole, World War 2, Kings and Queens, The World

Around Us and Smugglers and Pirates. We try and link each topic to modern day life, how nursing has changed from Florence Nightingale’s time to the present day and how changes in health, nutrition and hygiene have improved standards. The finale of the project is a presentation led by the students; families are invited to the Day Hospice to watch and meet the Acorn Team. We present our students with a certificate and a goody bag and celebrate our time together with a cup of tea and a piece of cake!

2020 celebrates the 10th year of the Acorn Project at Oakhaven Hospice, benefiting nearly 1000 local students. The Acorn Project is a fantastic scheme that invites school and college students from our local area to spend time with our patients in our Day Hospice. The idea is to gently introduce and educate the students about the hospice and to establish links between the hospice and local schools. We have had tremendous support from our local schools and colleges who have been involved with the Acorn Project over the last 10 years. Many of the students have gone on to become champions of

the hospice and excellent fundraisers. The Day Hospice doors normally open to the students every Tuesday over a period of four weeks. The students bring their joyous laughter, curiosity and energy to the hospice with such positivity it’s contagious! After an initial visit to the school to meet the children and parents we explain how the project works and answer any questions. During the first week the students meet the Acorn Team, explore the Oakhaven gardens, take a tour around the hospice and participate in a quiz. This is great moment for the students to get to know our Day Hospice

If your school would like to participate in the Acorn Project please contact our Acorn co-ordinator Tel 01590 670346

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