Community invited to celebrate 10 years of care at The Longhouse

A North Devon Hospice centre at Holsworthy that has been a vital lifeline for people going through the most difficult time in their lives is marking its 10th birthday this month and the whole community is invited to join the celebrations.

The Longhouse opened its doors in September 2015, offering vital support to local people facing the impact of life-limiting illnesses such as cancer.

To mark this milestone, a special open evening is being held on Tuesday, September 30, with anyone welcome to drop in between 5pm and 7pm.

As well as free refreshments and an opportunity to see inside the building, people can gain a better understanding of how much support is provided from The Longhouse. 

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The outreach centre opened to provide more North Devon Hospice support for those who live a long way from the main hospice in Barnstaple and The Longhouse runs group sessions, craft and activity workshops, therapies, counselling and much more.

Above: The Longhouse. Credit: North Devon Hospice

Charlie Bond, head of supportive care at the hospice, said: “We are delighted to be inviting the community into The Longhouse, to discover what goes on and how many people are supported here. Whether it’s counselling, group support, relaxing therapies or workshops - we offer whatever people need to live well while they’re facing such a difficult time.

“It’s hard to think of a time before The Longhouse, because patients and families from the Holsworthy area would have faced at least a two-hour round trip to access this kind of support, at the hospice’s main site in Barnstaple.

“But we’ve now been providing a vital lifeline to people every week for 10 years. In that time over 12,000 support sessions have been delivered, to hundreds of local people. That includes patients who are themselves dealing with a life-limiting illness, but also family members who are facing the loss of someone they love.”

Above and below: Inside The Longhouse at Holsworthy, which has plenty of spaces for group activities or one-to-one chats. Credit: North Devon Hospice

The Longhouse was built after a fundraising appeal, which was enthusiastically backed by the community. Since then, it has become a sanctuary for hundreds of local people in their hour of need.

But hospice staff say they often hear that people don’t know exactly what goes on inside the building, which is located next to Holsworthy Medical Centre.

Above: A North Devon Hospice patient enjoying a complementary therapy session at The Longhouse. Credit: North Devon Hospice

“There’s something very special about this place,” said Mandy Bateman, who runs many of the sessions at The Longhouse, as part of the supportive care team. 

“We’re providing people with support in the form of counselling and relaxing complementary therapies. But there are some you may not expect like group sessions providing a space to talk with others or be creative. We share so much through our laughter and tears with a welcome cuppa and cake.”

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All are invited to The Longhouse open evening, marking 10 years of care. Drop in any time between 5pm and 7pm on Tuesday, September 30. Plenty of free parking available at the Medical Centre.