St Luke's Hospice Plymouth

18/12/2025

Our patients will be having a cosy Christmas at home this year thanks to the generosity of local business, Maximum Hire LTD

When our care teams are out visiting our patients at home on Christmas Day, we wanted to gift them a present that would be useful in these cold temperatures.

When our Clinical Admin Manager Nikki mentioned this to her sister Emma and partner Ryan at Maximum Hire, they generously donated 30 cosy Christmas blankets to keep them warm over the winter.

They also kindly donated a hamper for our raffle at our Christmas family event last week.

Thank you Emma and Ryan and all at Maximum Hire!

18/12/2025

This Christmas, our nurses are giving patients the gift of their time, just as they always do.

Time to listen, time to reassure, time to help them live well to the end of their lives.

Thank you to all our supporters for making this possible.

If you would like to sponsor a nurse this festive season, remember your donation will go a long way in supporting the care we provide to hundreds of local families across Plymouth and beyond.

https://www.stlukes-hospice.org.uk/nurse/

17/12/2025

Flickering candlelight, moving music and kind companionship created a serene and magical atmosphere at St Luke’s Light Up a Life remembrance services this week.

Hundreds of people of all ages and beliefs came together at The Minister Church of St Andrew in Plymouth, united in grief and hope, joined St Luke’s staff and volunteers to sing carols, listen to readings and hear beautiful choral voices.

Especially poignant moments came when individuals lit their own personal candles, taking time to reflect on the loved ones they will be missing this Christmas.

On display around the church were dozens of commemorative lanterns honouring the family members and friends of those who have donated to this year’s Light Up a Life fundraising campaign.

There is still time to remember your loved ones - and help us to keep shining a beacon of compassionate end of life care in our community - by lighting up the virtual Christmas tree on our website and making your own personal dedication - https://bit.ly/4rZWjeU

Light up a Life kindly supported by Friends Helping at Home - Plymouth

17/12/2025

Feeling flustered that you haven’t picked up all the Christmas presents yet? Are you looking for the perfect NYE frock or still need to buy your Christmas cards?

Don’t worry, our shops will be open on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve until 3pm.

All our shops will be closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day, to allow our shop teams some well-deserved time off.

It will be normal opening hours for the rest of the Christmas period, excluding our North Prospect store which will close from Monday 22 December to Friday 2 January 2026.

To see our full opening times visit https://bit.ly/2I7ClvY

We look forward to welcoming you into one of our shops this festive season.

16/12/2025

Helping families to make happy memories is at the heart of our care at Christmas and last Friday, our amazing team hosted a magical evening at the hospice for patients and their loved ones.

More than 50 children were among the special guests who came along to meet our nurses and join in the festive fun. From crafts, gingerbread decorating, a raffle, a guess the name of the dog game to delicious refreshments, live entertainment, and of course a visit to Santa’s grotto, the night was full of comfort and joy.

A big thank you to the kind local businesses who helped make it such a heartwarming success including Endsleigh Garden Centre, part of The Blue Diamond Group , TEC Construction LLC, ArmadaCon, Burraton Boys, and Tesco.

You can read more on our blog: https://www.stlukes-hospice.org.uk/blog-santa-songs-and-smiles-making-christmas-memories-at-st-lukes/

16/12/2025

Pupils at Pilgrim Primary School have been prancing around the playground for our Rudolph Run.

Pilgrim Primary Academy, in Stonehouse, Plymouth, is one of the fabulous schools who have been taking part in our Rudolph Run this December, to raise money to help fund our hospice care.

Samantha Redmond, Year 6 and PD Lead, said: “St Luke's has been close to our heart for the last couple of years. We have a number of families that are being supported by St Luke’s. We started the Rudolph Run a couple of years ago, and it's grown and grown and grown.”

The school – which has 364 pupils – is one of many local schools who have been taking part in our Rudolph Run, giving children the chance to decorate their own antlers before taking part in a sponsored run, walk or hop around the playground or school hall.

“The children loved decorating their antlers and they loved the activity sets. Each child has made theirs really personalised, and they've really taken the care to make it their own, and they've loved wearing them. I've seen a lot of antlers on at lunchtime as well!”

By taking part in our Rudolph Run, it also gives pupils the chance to understand more about the work we do as a hospice, as well as touching on the often taboo topic of death and dying.

Samantha added: “We introduced the Rudolph Run by having an assembly on it, talking about why St Luke's is a good charity and what it supports. A lot of our children as well, especially up in Year 6, they've had a personal experience with St Luke’s. So, when decorating their antlers they've written little messages on their band relating to St Luke’s. A lot of the ones that are up in the older classes, they recognise it because they've probably got family members that may have been connected to St Luke's.

“We've got a strong PSHE curriculum that looks at difficult conversations like death, because even if it's a pet, it's something that they have to come across and have to understand, while also making sure it is age appropriate and at the right time as well.”
Nationally, one in 29 children will be going through some kind of bereavement, which could be one in every classroom. This shows just how important it is to have these conversations with children.

“As a teacher, we see it, we live it. We see those children, they are real and they are in our classes. It's really important that we recognise this as much as anything else.”

Time is running out for this term, but if your school would be interested in taking part in our Rudolph Run next year, find out more about it here: https://www.stlukes-hospice.org.uk/rudolph-run/

Thank you to all our wonderful schools who have been donning their antlers and taking part so far!

Our Rudolph Run has been kindly sponsored by Delt Shared Services Ltd

15/12/2025

We believe in celebrating the special people who are no longer with us, especially at times like Christmas, which can be particularly difficult.

We invite you to join us tomorrow at our Light Up a Life Remembrance Services to remember and celebrate those we have loved.

Date: Tuesday 16 December
Times: 3.30pm, 5.30pm and 7.30pm.
Location: Minster Church of St. Andrew, Royal Parade, Plymouth PL1 2AD

All are welcome, no tickets are required. ✨

If you cannot make our services this year but would still like to show your support, please feel free to make a donation as part of our Light Up a Life appeal. Your donation will enable us to help make this Christmas a special one for so many local families. Thank you.

Learn more about our Light Up a Life appeal and make a donation here: https://www.stlukes-hospice.org.uk/light/

Our Light Up a Life appeal is kindly supported by Friends Helping at Home - Plymouth

15/12/2025

At this time of year, we spend a lot of time reflecting and remembering our loved ones no longer here.

Plymouth Crematoria at The Park are offering you special ways to honour your loved ones this Christmas.

✉️ Write a card or letter to a loved one and post it in their Letterbox to Heaven, with every message kept completely private.

🎄Hang a tag with a special message on their Remembrance Christmas Trees.

Keep your loved one's memory alive this Christmas time. 💜

✨ Remembering loved ones this Christmas ✨

The festive season can bring both joy and reflection. At Plymouth Crematoria at The Park, their Letterbox to Heaven and Remembrance Christmas Trees offer meaningful ways to honour those we’ve lost.

💌 Letterbox to Heaven
Write a card or letter to a loved one and post it in the special letterbox. No address or stamp needed. Every message is kept completely private and treated with the utmost respect.

🌲 Remembrance Christmas Trees
Hang a tag with a personal message to keep a loved one’s memory close during the festive season.

Take a moment to pause, remember and honour those who are always in our hearts. 💛

15/12/2025

Have you bought your Christmas cards yet?

With the last posting date fast approaching, now is the time to buy yours.

Pop along to one of our shops to view our range, including our exclusive design by celebrated local artist Brian Pollard, whose joyful winter scene captures the magic of Plymouth in the snow.

The design that Brian has picked for this year’s Christmas card is one of his favourite views of Plymouth - a snowy scene looking out across the Hoe, with Smeaton’s Tower, Brittany Ferries, balloons in the sky, and people enjoying a joyful winter’s day.

A pack of 10 cards costs £4.25 and every purchase helps fund the compassionate care we provide to patients and families across the community.

Read more about Brian’s Christmas cards on our blog: https://bit.ly/48KVT3r

Not sending Christmas cards this year? Why not make a donation to St Luke's instead? Your support will enable us to make this festive season a special one for so many local families. https://bit.ly/2AGxHzs

14/12/2025

Our specialist unit at Turnchapel was filled with festive cheer last week as the kind-hearted TEC Construction LLC helped us to light up our beautiful Christmas tree - standing tall enough for our patients to enjoy its sparkle from their windows.

Thanks to TEC Construction and their local subcontractors at LTC Powered Access Ltd and ACD Electrical Services Ltd, the night’s sky was lit up with hundreds of multi-coloured lights and a shining star sitting atop of the impressive tree, watched on by our nurses, patients, family members and members of our community including children from Hooe Primary Academy who graced everyone with a selection of beautifully sung Christmas carols.

Together, they helped create a magical start to the season, bringing light, joy, and a true sense of community to our hospice.

Read more on our blog: https://www.stlukes-hospice.org.uk/blog-lighting-up-the-season-tec-construction-brings-christmas-cheer-to-turnchapel
primary

13/12/2025

Find festive treasures at St Luke’s Barbican!

From festive frocks to vintage finds, if you’re visiting the Barbican in Plymouth over the next week, then make sure to pop by our Barbican store.

It’s a treasure trove of goodies waiting to be discovered, full of sparkles, glitz and collectibles.

It’s the perfect place to find a special present for your loved ones this Christmas or even yourself?

If you can’t treat yourself at Christmas, when can you?

For more information and opening times visit: www.stlukes-hospice.org.uk/shops/

13/12/2025

Don’t look down! A big thank you to Simon Ward and Neal Flinn from The Focus Training Group who took part in a bungee jump in aid of St Luke’s.

The pair have raised more than £1,200 for our care from the extreme jump, along with taking part in slightly gentler fundraising efforts including a bake sale and their upcoming Christmas jumper Day.

Could you reach new heights next year?

Don’t forget that like The Focus Training Group, you too could choose St Luke’s to be your Charity of the Year in 2026. Get in touch to hear more about how we can support you in your fundraising.

https://www.stlukes-hospice.org.uk/charity-of-the-year/