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.
To find out more, visit the Being Human Festival website – https://www.beinghumanfestival.org/
To book your free spot for ‘Obituaries – Landmarks for Life and Living,’ visit – https://www.beinghumanfestival.org/events/obituaries-landmarks-life-and-living
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!
For more info, go to https://stcolumbashospice.org.uk/…/christmas-pop-up-shop
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.
Find out more and book online today: https://bit.ly/SCHCwellbeing
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.
Find out more and book online today https://bit.ly/SCHCwellbeing
If you’ve enjoyed learning about St Columba’s Compassionate Gardeners this month, and would like to get involved and make a real difference to someone through this service, download the volunteer pack, or apply today at:
https://stcolumbashospice.org.uk/…/compassionate-gardener
If you’re looking to escape the hubbub of the Edinburgh Festivals, then why not join us in The Hub, on Friday 23rd August for a free, relaxed live music session..
From 2-3pm our friends, Jenny Baxley Lee, Katey Warren and Astro & Stella will be performing a variety of Americana, Country and Folk songs for your listening pleasure.
All are welcome – booking recommended. Please register by emailing arts@stcolumbashospice.org.uk.
A new nursing graduate from Queen Margaret University (QMU) has gained recognition for her sensitive and compassionate care of people near end of life with an award from St Columba’s Hospice Care.
Ailsa Timoney, who graduated with Master of Nursing from QMU in July this year, was presented with the St Columba’s Hospice Care Palliative Care Nursing Award.
Twenty-six-year-old Ailsa from Edinburgh undertook a 10-week placement at St Columba’s Hospice in Edinburgh, as part of her QMU degree course.
She was surprised how much she enjoyed the placement at the hospice, as she anticipated that it would be a really sad experience. However, she found the work really rewarding, so much so that she would consider moving into a palliative care position at some point during her career.
Ailsa said: “Working at St Columba’s wasn’t what I had expected. It was really fulfilling to be able to provide a good level of person centred care to each individual patient, and I know this really helped the individual, as well as their families, in the journey towards end of life.”
Discussing her university experience, she said: “I really enjoyed being a student at QMU – everyone is so supportive and friendly, and it’s such a welcoming community. The four-year undergraduate master’s course was both challenging and very worthwhile, and the academics and the degree prepared me well for entering the nursing workforce. I received great support from staff. There was always someone available to help and guide me through the course.
“I’m thrilled to have received the award from St Columba’s Hospice Care – it’s such a special place and I learned so much on my placement with the team there. I’m now excited to be coming into the nursing profession and starting my role as a community nurse.”
Georgios Tsigkas, Programme Leader for the Master of Nursing course at Queen Margaret University, said: “This award recognises the dedication, commitment, enthusiasm and professionalism that Ailsa demonstrated throughout the full four years on the course.
“She is a great ambassador for our nursing programme, and through her work and attitude she epitomises the values of QMU in wanting to make a difference to the lives of others.”
Ruth Magowan, Head of The Division of Nursing at QMU, said: “We have a long-standing relationship with St Columba’s Hospice Care, which is the first University Hospice in the east of Scotland.
“Our partnership aims to enhance the delivery of person-centred palliative care through integrated research, teaching and clinical practice, and we are delighted that Ailsa has been able to benefit from her time with Hospice, and proud that her attitude and hard work have been recognised by the team there.
“Ailsa has proved to be an exceptional student and we know that she will go out into the nursing workforce and make a very positive contribution to person-centred care. The Hospice award is the icing on the cake for Ailsa, and gets her career off to a flying start!”
Big News from St. Ninian’s Parish Church, Corstorphine!
St. Ninian’s Parish Church has been recognised in the House of Commons for their outstanding fundraising efforts benefiting St Columba’s Hospice Care.
Since the start of their annual coffee morning back in 2000, their incredible community has rallied together to raise over £50,000!
This year alone, their event raised an impressive £3,703.98! 
A heartfelt THANK YOU goes out to everyone who contributed, volunteered, and supported this event.
Special recognition goes to Margaret and Jim for their tireless efforts in making this event such a success year after year. Your commitment is truly inspiring!
Calling all hairdressers and barbers!
We know that you hear people’s life stories, their triumphs, trials and tribulations pretty much all day every day, and that some of those conversations can be pretty tough.
Well, to help you navigate these chats, and to help you help those who might be experiencing grief, change or bereavement, we’d like to invite you to a FREE event!
As well as providing a delicious buffet, we will provide you with resources and opportunities to learn more about how to help those who are in need.
To sign up- call our Wellbeing team on 0131 551 1381.
*** Please note, this event is reserved for hairdressers & barbers only. ***
