Watch Barrow AFC on Granada Reports

For most clubs it's a trip that comes about once in a generation. This weekend Barrow make the long but exciting journey south to take on Stevenage Borough in the FA Trophy final. It's 20 years since they last won it, but the team are very much on song...

Watch Barrow AFC on Granada Reports - St Mary's Hospice also gets a special mention

"All together now for Barrow AFC"

Barrow AFC players are the talk of the town, not only because of their impending game against Stevenage Borough at Wembley on Friday May 8th, but because their single “All Together Now for Barrow AFC”. The single is their own version of The Farm’s “All Together Now” and was recorded at Radio Station The Bay on 16th April. Join everyone across Furness as we support The Bluebirds on their way to Wembley and hopefully to return, grasping the FA Trophy! The single is available now and all profits will go to St Mary's Hospice.

Get yours at:
Tesco Extra, Hindpool Road, Barrow (customer service desk) 24 hours a day
North West Evening Mail Offices in Ulverston, Barrow and Millom
Furness Building Society Branches in Ulverston, Barrow x 2, Millom and Dalton
Furness Heating Components, Abbey Road, Barrow
Barrow AFC Club shop, Holker Street
The Bay, St George’s Quay, Lancaster
Barrow’s Tourist Information Centre at Forum 28
St Mary’s Hospice Shops (84 Dalton Road Barrow, 73 Market Street Dalton and 5 New Market Street Ulverston)

The full press release for "All together now - For Barrow AFC" can be found here: http://www.stmaryshospice.org/fundraising/barrowafc.php

St Mary's Schools Project, in partnership with Penny Bridge School

We recently completed a pilot project, following a model devised by St Christopher’s hospice in London, which sets out to work with local schools: over a period of four weeks, year 5 pupils from Penny Bridge came to the hospice to meet and work with daycare and out–patients on a collaborative art project.

During the first session pupils and patients met and got to know each other, and the following two sessions were spent on an art project, based on ideas contributed by everyone and worked on together. Our patients were delighted with the contact with youngsters and enjoyed their company and enthusiasm.

The 4th session consisted of a presentation/celebration to which relatives, friends, staff and others were invited – they were able to see the colourful backdrop and painted eggs produced by the participants and listen to the children reading out their thoughts and messages, as well as impressions of the hospice. The children also sang a beautiful song. This was followed by tea and cakes in the orangery.

There were many positive comments and everyone seemed delighted to be involved. The children were respectful and a credit to the school and their parents and many thanks to their teacher, Jane Thedham without whose enthusiasm and hard work the project would not have been possible.

It was a true communal effort with contributions from staff, volunteers and others and will hopefully contribute to hospice efforts to widen our profile in the local community and help others to a better understanding of our work and what a hospice is all about. It certainly dispelled a lot of misconceptions the children had.

Jane, one of the teachers said, “they learned that just because people are ill, they can still lead relatively normal lives and enjoy things... From a teacher’s perspective, the project was one of the best things I’ve been involved in. I am sure the project has had an enormous effect on the children (not just their learning)and it will be something that they will always remember.”

There is a short CD available which gives a flavour of the project. For further information please contact Jaini Hadley on 01229 580305 or email info@stmaryshospice.org.uk

We are hoping this will be the first of many such projects with many local schools taking part.