Skanda Vale Hospice

15/06/2026

Kiera Jones, our lead nurse, has been awarded an MBE! 🎉

We heard the news this week, and there was really only one way to celebrate: we took four of our respite patients to Poppit Sands. A wheelchair on balloon tyres got everyone right down into the water for a paddle and a splash around.

Kiera said: "I didn't really believe it at first — it felt quite surreal, and I had to ask my husband to read the letter to check I'd understood! The messages of support have been amazing."

"Palliative care and Soul Midwifery are about making the most of life and finding joy in it, while supporting someone as they face the end of their life. That joy is exactly why we do what we do."

Kiera has been a nurse for twenty-four years, and has cared for people here at Skanda Vale Hospice for the last ten. She is the lead nurse at the hospice, and also works as a Soul Midwife who sits with people at the end of their lives.

It's a King's Birthday Honour, for services to nursing. If anyone has ever earned this, it's Kiera. 💙

Llongyfarchiadau, Kiera — we could not be happier for you!

11/06/2026

Good moving and handling is one of those things you only notice when it's missing. Done well, a transfer feels easy and unhurried — and that takes proper training.

We're looking for someone with a Train the Trainer qualification in moving and handling to help our care team feel steady and sure in what they do. A day or two a month, volunteering in one of the loveliest hospice settings in Wales.

Know someone who'd be right for this? Please pass it on.

Find out more and apply → www.skandavalehospice.org/hospice-volunteers/volunteer-moving-and-handling-trainer/

07/06/2026

What a day. More than 500 of you came through the gates on Saturday, and between the music, the food and the gardens in full swing, it turned into one of our best yet.

So – the thank-yous, and there are a lot, because a day like this takes a small army:

To local farmer Carmelo Gale – who generously lent his field for the day - we're very grateful indeed. To Carrot and the crew at 24 Carrot Events, back again to keep us sheltered and the music loud.

To the performers who carried the day from morning to evening: Llandysul Community Gospel Choir, Debdatta Mallik, Samba DOC, Cor Meibion Cwmann a'r Cylch and Tootin ska moon, who saw us into the night.

To Newcastle Emlyn Country Market and stallholders Ali Pearson, Erin Mcdonald, Ross Parsons, Jason & Jane Wilkins, Nicola Harding, Nigel and Aleanna Mason, Jill Spiteri and Tamra Wyse for bringing your wonderful creations to share with our visitors.

To the cake bakers, pizza makers, the BBQ duo, the Indian snack team and the ice cream and cream tea servers – who prepped for days and very nearly sold out. To the bar team, who kept things flowing right through to the evening and the kitchen team, who just didn't stop. To Nat and Glyn for the reflexology, and John Freter for finding so many books new homes.

To the McIlvenna and Jones clan on face painting, raffle and – of course – the chess board. To the gardeners, who make the place what it is, and the stewards, who kept everyone pointed the right way.

And to our hospice volunteers – many of you back in uniform with patients this week. A fitting note to end National Volunteers' Week on. We couldn't do any of it without you.

Thank you, all of you. See you next year.

04/06/2026

Can you paint faces? We need you on Saturday!

We're after a volunteer face painter for our Summer Fete this Saturday (6th June) – a few hours from late morning onwards.

You'd be accepting donations for the hospice as you go, so it's a lovely way to be part of the day, enjoy the music, and help out all at once. Bring your own kit and your best octopus.

Drop us a message if you can help – Nicky will get back to you tomorrow (Friday).

At Skanda Vale Hospice, Saron, Llandysul, SA44 5DY.
Find out more: https://www.skandavalehospice.org/events/summer-fete/

02/06/2026

This year's Summer Fete line-up takes you from Bharatanatyam classical dance to Brazilian samba drumming, by way of a Welsh male voice choir, a rousing community gospel choir, and a party festival ska band to close the night.

🎤 11:30 – Llandysul Community Gospel Choir
💃 1:00 – Debdatta Mallik (Indian classical dance)
🥁 3:00 – Samba DOC (Brazilian drumming from Pembrokeshire)
🎵 4:15 – Cor Meibion Cwmann a'r Cylch (Welsh male voice choir)
🎺 6:00 – Tootin ska moon (festival favourite ska)

Saturday 6th June | 11am – 8pm | Skanda Vale Hospice, Saron £3.50 entry, under 7s free.

Full details: https://www.skandavalehospice.org/events/summer-fete/

27/05/2026

Coffee morning tomorrow — 10.30 to 12.30. Good coffee, proper cake, gentle company. We'll have parasols and chairs out in the garden too, so plenty of space inside and out.

Just turn up — everything's free, and there's always far too much cake. See you tomorrow ☕

26/05/2026

Yesterday, a team of us strapped in and zipped down a Welsh mountain for the hospice. Our youngest was 8, and our oldest was 86. They both came back grinning.

Zip World Tower's Phoenix is the world's fastest seated zip line — up to 70mph, four parallel lines, with the Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) stretched out in front of you and a small red parachute behind to remind you that yes, you are slowing down, eventually.

There were nerves at the top, and a lot of laughter at the bottom. Afterwards, a picnic, and a fair bit of quiet disbelief that we'd actually done it.

If you'd like to sponsor the team — even a fiver helps — our JustGiving page is here: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/zipwiresvh2026

Massive thank you to everyone who flew, everyone who watched, and everyone who's already chipped in. 💛

25/05/2026

Skanda Hafan Farmhouse is now open for bookings — and all profits support the hospice.

The Farmhouse is a four-bedroom holiday let in the Carmarthenshire countryside, sleeping up to eight. It suits a family gathering, a group of friends, or anyone wanting more space than a single room offers — somewhere to cook together, eat together, and have a bit of room to yourselves.

Read more and book at www.skanda-hafan.com/rooms/farmhouse

We look forward to welcoming you soon 😀

21/05/2026

Our Lead Nurse, Kiera Jones, at RCN Congress this week: "We only have one opportunity to get it right when it comes to end of life care." Speaking in support of a resolution for fair access to specialist palliative and end-of-life care across the UK.

Proud of you, Kiera. 😍

"I'd like to call for greater recognition of and collaboration with the independent sector. Together we can reduce unnecessary hospital admissions at the end of life and we can get it right for our patients."

Kiera Jones, Lead Nurse at Skanda Vale Hospice in west Wales, takes to the stand as Congress calls on RCN Council to lobby UK governments to ensure everyone has access to specialist palliative and end-of-life care.

In our latest member news story, Kiera talks about how there's only one opportunity to get it right when it comes to end of life care.

🔗 Read the article: https://bit.ly/3PSy1VZ

19/05/2026

Once a nurse, always a nurse...

The certificate in the bottom drawer is a formality; the feeling in your heart that wakes up when someone is struggling is not.

So the question was never really, "Can I still nurse?" — it's "How do I do it in a way that suits the person I am now?"

Three of our team found their answer. Cate requalified at 58 to come back to nursing. Cathy stayed registered and works alongside her volunteering. Jane never re-registered, and is now our Lead Carer.

If, despite the freedom of retirement, you still find yourself missing your vocation, there may well be a route that suits the person you are now — even if you're not local. We keep Skanda Hafan, our volunteer guesthouse, free of charge for nurses and carers who travel in.

If someone comes to mind as you read it, please pass it on.

Read about three routes into hospice nursing: https://www.skandavalehospice.org/news/volunteering-retired-nurse-welsh-hospice/