Welcome to our second blog for thebestof Colchester.

We have a lot going on here at St Helena Hospice in the run up to Christmas, and we’re pleased to be able to share our news with you.

Firstly, we’d like to tell you about the expansion of our bereavement service in Colchester and the North East Essex area. We are now offering support to all newly bereaved families or individuals within Colchester and North East Essex, not just those bereaved through illness. This includes individuals, families and children.

The service deals with all new bereavements and offers a friendly, independent and experienced ear to talk to. Referrals can be made by the individual themselves, their family or friends or via health and social care professionals. Depending on each person’s individual needs, the service can provide telephone support and advice, written information, counselling and face to face individual and group support.

If someone has been recently bereaved, they can call the service on 01255 258240 between Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 5.00pm, for an informal conversation to see if it is suitable for them.

More information can be found on the St Helena Hospice website.

Books & Coffee opens

Our other really exciting news is that we have opened a new shop ‘Books & Coffee’ in Colchester. The shop opened for business on Wednesday 11th December and is proving very popular already!

Located at 1 Centurion House, St Johns Street (opposite QD) in Colchester, it’s the perfect place to come along for a browse round our extensive book selection, and stop for a chat and cuppa in our comfortable coffee shop. There will also be takeaway drinks available for those on the go.

The shop is open Mondays to Saturdays, 9.00am to 5.00pm. We’re still looking for volunteers to assist in the running of both the book and coffee areas and would also love to make contact with local book and reading groups. For anyone who is interested, please call the shop on 01206 563245 and ask to speak to Paul Connell, Shop Manager.

So that’s just some of the things coming up for us. Just remember, our Inpatient Unit is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year; our staff and volunteers don’t stop because it’s Christmas.

You can help us continue to care by supporting us in many different ways, go to our website for some suggestions.

If you want regular news from us, you can sign up to our bi-monthly enewsletter by clicking here.

Have a wonderful Christmas and a very happy New Year.

Claire
PR & Marketing Assistant

St Helena Hospice, Colchester