Hospice of the Valleys

04/05/2026

Talking about death won’t make it happen — but not talking about it can make things harder.

This Dying Matters Week, our Hospice of the Valleys team is opening up honest conversations about death, dying and bereavement.

Lets keep the conversation going 💛

02/05/2026

Kimberley Mason and Nicola Kearney have just returned from the 37th Global Conference of Alzheimer's Disease International Lyon 2026, where they proudly represented Hospice of the Valleys on an international stage.

Their presentation focused on supporting people living with dementia, and those closest to them, through person centred palliative care. From community based multidisciplinary support through the CARIAD service, to specialist Clinical nurse support in our local care homes, their work aims to support and help people live as well as possible for as long as possible.

Dementia is more than memory loss. It affects identity, relationships, and everyday life. That’s why this work goes beyond symptoms, it focuses on emotional support, spiritual wellbeing, and truly seeing the person behind the diagnosis.

The conference brought together voices from across the world, all united by one goal, improving the lives of people living with dementia. It was a powerful reminder that while care may look different globally, compassion is universal.
Back home in Blaenau Gwent, that same compassion is reflected in the strength of our local community. Supporting people living with dementia takes a team of professionals, carers, volunteers, families, and neighbours, working together so no one faces this journey alone.
This experience has only strengthened our commitment to continue this vital work.

Our CARIAD team making a real impact on those with a dementia diagnosis in our local community with the help of funding 💛

30/04/2026

Georgia Ryan is taking to the skies this May ✈️ in loving memory of her beautiful mum, Julie ❤️ .
This incredible and courageous challenge 💪 is Georgia’s way of honouring her mum, while also raising funds 🎗️ as a heartfelt thank you to the charity that provided such compassionate support to Julie and her family 🤍 during a very difficult time.
Please take a moment to read Georgia’s story 📖, and if you’re able to make a donation 💝, we would be deeply grateful. Every contribution truly means so much 🌟.
Thank you, Georgia, for sharing your journey with us, and wishing you the very best of luck 🍀 with this truly epic and meaningful challenge 💛✈️
https://www.justgiving.com/page/georgiachristina

February 2025, our mum unexpectedly became unwell and began showing worrying symptoms. After spending several weeks as an inpatient at Prince Charles Hospital and The Heath, she was formally diagnosed in March with cholangiocarcinoma — a rare and aggressive cancer of the bile ducts.
Despite the devastating diagnosis, Mam showed incredible strength and courage. She remained hopeful and was preparing to begin chemotherapy on 21st April. Tragically, her condition deteriorated far more quickly than anyone could have anticipated, and she passed away on 24th April 2025, before she was able to start her fight.
During this unimaginably difficult time, the Hospice of the Valleys provided invaluable support — not only to our mam, but to our dad, myself, and my sister. They guided us with compassion and care, helping us navigate the painful reality of supporting our children while grieving ourselves.
The Hospice — and especially Kim — are truly worth their weight in gold. We simply could not have got through that period of our lives without them. This is my way of giving something back, in gratitude for everything they did for our family.

28/04/2026

💛 Supporting Children Through Grief 💛
No child is ever too young to feel the absence of someone important in their life. Even when they struggle to express their feelings, children sense when something has changed — especially through the emotions and behaviour of the adults around them.

During bereavement, children need:
✨ Clear, simple explanations about what has happened
✨ Reassurance that they are safe, loved, and cared for
✨ Consistency and routine to help them feel secure
✨ Permission to feel their emotions — it’s OK to cry, and it’s OK to have fun too
At Hospice of the Valleys, our Family Support Team is here to help children and young people navigate these big feelings with understanding, compassion and guidance.

If you’re supporting a child through the loss of a loved one and would like help, please contact us on:📞 01495 717277
We also provide bereavement awareness programmes for schools, businesses and organisations across Blaenau Gwent — helping staff feel confident and informed when supporting children and young people through grief.

You don’t have to navigate this alone. We’re here to support you. 💛

27/04/2026

26/04/2026

🌟 Meet Gareth – 6 Years of Incredible Volunteering! 🌟
Say hello to Gareth, one of our much‑loved and longest‑serving Retail Assistants at our Ebbw Vale shop!

Gareth has been volunteering with Hospice of the Valleys for 6 years, bringing dedication, positivity and brilliant retail skills to the team.
He first joined us through our partner organisation Bridges Into Work — and he’s never looked back! Gareth is now one of our most experienced retail volunteers, always ready to help customers, support staff and keep the shop running smoothly.
We’re so grateful for everything he brings to the Hospice community. 💛

👉 Read Gareth’s full story here:https://www.hospiceofthevalleys.org.uk/meet-gareth/

26/04/2026

Good luck today, Rhys! 🏃‍♂️💙
Running the London Marathon in loving memory of your dear mam, Elaine, and raising funds for Hospice of the Valleys is truly inspiring. ❤️✨
We’re all so incredibly proud of you — every mile you run carries so much love, strength, and meaning. 💪🌟
You’ve got this all the way to the finish line! 🙌🏅

23/04/2026

Not long now until Rhys takes on the iconic 🏃‍♂️ London Marathon in loving memory of his wonderful mam 💙 The personalised t shirt looks amazing and such a fitting tribute to have your mam close with you every step of the way, cheering you on, one step at a time. A huge thank you, Rhys 🙌 Your dedication and heart mean so much, and we just know you’re going to smash it on the day! 💪🏅
You can show your support by clicking here https://2026tcslondonmarathon.enthuse.com/pf/rhys-hewings

My mam bravely battled cancer for five years, showing incredible strength, resilience, and grace every step of the way. Throughout her illness, she was supported by Hospice of the Valleys, who provided not only expert care but also genuine compassion and humanity. Their team became a source of comfort and reassurance, helping us navigate some of the most painful and uncertain moments of our lives. They treated my mam with dignity and kindness, always going above and beyond to make sure she felt safe, cared for, and never alone.

For our family, the hospice wasn’t just a service it was a lifeline. Their support extended to all of us, offering emotional guidance and comfort at a time when we needed it most. Sadly, my mam passed away, but the memory of how she was cared for, and the respect and love she received, has stayed with us.

Running this marathon is deeply personal for me. It’s not just a race It’s a tribute to my mam’s strength and the people who stood beside her. It’s my way of saying thank you, of giving something back to the hospice that gave us so much when we needed it most. Every mile will be run in her memory, and in support of the incredible work Hospice of the Valleys continues to do for families like mine.

22/04/2026

Gold Sponsor Thank You to Synergy Plastics

A huge thank you to our Go Yellow Day Sponsors who have shown such dedication and commitment to supporting the Hospice. Sponsorship from businesses such as this really means so much and helps us deliver events and campaigns that raise vital funds for our patients and their loved ones.

Synergy Plastics based in Crumlin is a company specialising in plastic injection mouldings and was established more than 25 years ago. Many of their team are aware of the great work of the Hospice or through their families who have been directly touched by the Hospice. Synergy is delighted to support Go Yellow 2026 once again which is such a worthy campaign to raise awareness of our excellent work and need for vital funding to enable us to continue to deliver such quality care and support for FREE in the community. The Synergy Team will also be supporting on Friday 1st May and wearing yellow with pride.

Thank you Synergy Plastics and we appreciate your kindness and generosity; we hope to continue to work in partnership for some time to come.