Starting Wednesday 22nd January, join us at Story Circle to share, create, and explore stories together. Whether you bring a moment from your life, a story you’ve written, or simply want to work with a prompt or story provided, there’s a place for you here.
No need for perfect words—just bring your curiosity. You’ll be supported and guided as we see where our stories take us!
This group is open to all Hospice patients, including those from the community, as well as to families and carers. Sessions are facilitated by our Dramatherapist, Sally, and will take place in our Art Studio from 11.00am-12.30pm.
We are so excited to be welcoming Hanneke Laarhoven to the Hospice next Friday to deliver what promises to be an unmissable talk ‘In search of stories’, examining how patients interact with the arts to make sense of, and help them to tell their story.
Tickets for this event are free, but registration is required!
To celebrate 75 years of the iconic event, the Tattoo donates 75p from every Show ticket sold for 2025
The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo is proud to announce that St Columba’s Hospice Care has been selected to receive a special one-off charity donation of up to £162,000 in celebration of its 75th Anniversary in 2025.
This donation marks a milestone in Tattoo history and aligns with the ‘Performance with a Purpose’ ethos, underscoring the commitment to giving back to the community by supporting essential projects. With over 50,000 votes cast, the public chose from a selection of non-military charities that all provide vital services across communities in the UK.
This donation, equating to 75p from each ticket sold for the 2025 Show, is in addition to the Tattoo’s usual charitable giving, supporting both military and arts charities in the UK with annual donations from surplus profit. The Tattoo’s annual charitable giving will continue alongside this new initiative, as it aims to build up to pre-Covid donations of £1M a year which is thanks to those who attend the Show each year.
St Columba’s Hospice Care has been a beacon of support for individuals and families for nearly 50 years, providing compassionate care to those facing the profound challenges of palliative and end-of-life care, and leaving a lasting, meaningful impact on countless lives.
The values and community spirit of The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo closely align with those of St Columba’s Hospice Care. The funds donated will enable the team to continue their vital work both in the Hospice, and in the community, and ensure that the services remain free and accessible to everyone in need across Edinburgh and the Lothians.
With the theme for next year’s Tattoo, The Heroes Who Made Us, spotlighting the individuals who have shaped and supported the iconic performances over the past 75 years, this additional donation gives the charity the means to pay tribute to their own heroes and continue their essential work.
Jason Barrett, Chief Executive, The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo said: “Our 75th Anniversary is a momentous occasion, and we are delighted to celebrate it by supporting local Edinburgh charity, St Columba’s Hospice Care and their team of loyal volunteers, dedicated staff and patients.
“Their dedication to providing comfort, dignity and peace to patients at end of life as well as support for their loved ones is truly inspiring.
“This donation is a testament to our ongoing commitment to giving back to our communities and we are honoured to contribute to the heroic efforts of St Columba’s Hospice Care.”
Jackie Stone, CEO at St Columba’s Hospice Care, said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to have been chosen to receive this special 75th Anniversary donation from The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.
“This incredible support comes at a critical time for hospice care, as we continue to navigate significant funding pressures, with rising costs and growing demand for our services.
“It’s a wonderful start to the new year, and we’re so grateful to everyone who voted and to the Tattoo for their generosity. This donation will make a real difference in helping us provide vital care and support to patients and families across Edinburgh and the Lothians.”
Tickets for The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo’s 75th anniversary Show are now on sale and can be purchased at edintattoo.co.uk/tickets or on the phone, 0131 225 1188. The Show will run from 1-23 August 2025
We couldn’t be more excited to celebrate David Waughman, who was awarded the ‘Anne, Duchess of Norfolk Award for Volunteer Gardener of the Year’ at the recent Hospice UK Annual Conference!
David has been a dedicated part of our team from the very start, serving as one of our original Compassionate Gardeners. Before that David helped maintain the grounds of St Columba’s Hospice Care, showing his passion for both gardening and volunteering.
Our Compassionate Gardeners are a special group. We’re one of the only UK hospices offering a little TLC to the gardens of people living at home with an end-of-life diagnosis, and helping restore them to what they once were.
Sharing the joy of the garden through the seasons, our Compassionate gardeners add so much to the wellbeing of the garden owners in the most precious of times.
It was truly heart-warming to see David recognised by his colleagues and peers from across the hospice sector. Thank you, David, for your dedication and for the incredible impact you make to those you support. Congratulations on this well-deserved award!
Are you a keen gardener? Find out how you can put your skills to good use by becoming a Compassionate Gardener https://bit.ly/3OH1Wwb.
The arts spectacular is calling on fans to choose a charity to receive a special 75p donation from every ticket sold for the 2025 performance
In celebration of the upcoming 75th anniversary, The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo launches its new initiative to donate 75p of every 2025 Show ticket sold to a new charity.
Tattoo fans are being asked to vote from selected charities to receive this one-off donation which could equate to £162,000 in line with expected ticket sales.
The theme for next year’s Tattoo, The Heroes Who Made Us, will spotlight the individuals who have shaped and supported the iconic performances over the past 75 years. This theme aligns with the Tattoo’s ethos of ‘Performance with a Purpose’ and its commitment to honour people across the country and support the heroes who are making a difference in their communities.
In line with this ethos and in addition to the brand’s annual charitable donations, five charities have been shortlisted to win the share of the 75p per ticket charity donation for one year only.
The shortlisted five charities have been nominated by Tattoo staff who put a case forward for them to be on the list, these are all non-military charities that are close to the hearts of those who put on the iconic spectacle.
They are: the British Heart Foundation, Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity, Parkinsons UK, Rock Trust and St Columba’s Hospice Care.
The Tattoo’s annual charitable giving continues alongside this new initiative, as it aims to build up to pre-Covid donations of £1M a year which is thanks to those who attend the Show each year. Charities that are continuing to benefit include The Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity, the Army Benevolent Fund, the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund, and the Scottish Schools Pipe and Drums Trust.
Fans of the Tattoo across the UK are invited to cast their vote to determine which charity will receive the 75th anniversary donation.
Voting closes at midnight on Sunday 5 January 2025. Stay updated by following Tattoo social media channels, where the winning charity will be announced in January 2025.
Jason Barrett, Chief Executive Officer at The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, said: “In celebrating 75 years of The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, we honour the heroes who have made the Tattoo so great throughout the years. Additionally, we honour the local heroes within our communities in Edinburgh, throughout Scotland, and around the world.
“Charitable giving is at the heart of everything the Tattoo does. Being able to contribute to our longstanding charitable partners as well as selecting a specific charity chosen by the Tattoo fans is a special benefit this year.
“We are committed to continuing our legacy of making a meaningful impact to those who continue to make a difference in our communities every day.
“I encourage everyone to join us in this celebration by casting their vote to support a worthy cause.”
Tickets for The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo’s 75th anniversary Show are now on sale and can be purchased at edintattoo.co.uk/tickets or on the phone, 0131 225 1188. The Show will run from 1-23 August 2025.
It’s not long to go now until our Christmas Pop-Up shops! This weekend, No.17 will be transformed into a veritable Santa’s Grotto, stocked with all your Christmas must haves!
Open on Friday, Saturday & Sunday from 10 until 4.30pm, this is a great way to help your local Hospice and make this festive season that little bit more special!
Audiences will have the unique and unusual opportunity to write their own obituaries in a new thought-provoking workshop at this year’s national festival of humanities – Being Human Festival.
This year, the festival celebrates its 10th anniversary, and ‘Obituaries – Landmarks for Life and Living’ is just one of 230 free events taking place in November across the UK in 58 towns and cities.
Experts from Queen Margaret University (QMU), Edinburgh will host a creative and interactive workshop that aims to challenge participants to explore their own experiences and celebrate their lives in a new way.
Dr Michelle Elliot, Senior Lecturer in Occupational Therapy, Dr Giorgos Tsiris, Senior Lecturer in Music Therapy, and Dr Anthony Schrag, Reader in Arts Management and Cultural Policy, will facilitate ‘Obituaries – Landmarks for Life and Living,’ which will invite audiences to think about their life and how they want to be remembered.
Michelle Elliot said: “In an age where social media enables real-time documenting and curating images of everyday life, we invite participants to question what might be the ‘sum’ rather than the ‘parts’ of their lives.
“In most circumstances, obituaries are written after someone’s death, by someone else who is possibly going through their own experience of bereavement. What if we were to change the narrative and ask you to write your own obituary, in life, in this present moment?
“We consider this narrative exercise to be a celebration of, and reflection on, life. It allows you to look back at activities, events, and roles – do they represent what you would want to be remembered for? As you consider your life’s journey to this point, you may find the experience reflective and revealing.
“In this interactive workshop, we will look at examples of obituaries and share in conversations about what everyday life says about who we are and how we live. In this reflective space, we will explore the influences on the stories we live by, live with and perhaps aspire towards.”
2024 marks a landmark anniversary year for the Being Human Festival. Every November over the past decade, the festival invites researchers at universities and affiliated organisations to collaborate with local communities and cultural partners to present hundreds of free public engagement events.
The aim is to celebrate and demonstrate the ways in which the humanities inspire and enrich our everyday lives, help us to understand ourselves, our relationships with others, and the challenges we face in a changing world.
To date, the Being Human Festival has featured more than 2,600 free events and activities, reaching over 260,000 people across the UK.
To tie in with its 10th anniversary, the theme of the festival this year is ‘Landmarks’ and will feature free events across the UK between 7-16th November.
‘Obituaries – Landmarks for Life and Living,’ will take place on 16 November 2024 at St Columba’s Hospice Care, Edinburgh from 1pm to 4pm.
We know it’s still far too early to talk about the C-word, buuuuut … our CHRISTMAS Pop-Up Shop is just a few weeks away!
It’s going to be stocked with all of your seasonal essentials, including cards, gifts & decorations. There will also be mulled juice and mince pies, so this is definitely one not to be missed!
Learn to self-manage symptoms and improve your physical and emotional wellbeing at the same time.
Our Wellbeing Team is now running over 20 sessions, from techniques to help you manage your breathing to ‘A Wee Blether and Brew’, we can help you build confidence and take back control of your life.
Support is also available to family, friends, carers and those who are recently bereaved.
Join us for an exciting new Dramatherapy group starting next Wednesday 18 September. Block one explores the theme of ‘origins’ over 6 weeks and provides a safe space for you to explore what this theme means to you, using a range of creative techniques.
wellbeing@stcolumbashospice.org.uk
0131 551 1381 (option 4)
