Rowans Living Well Services launches Youth Group
Supporting Young Adults and their Parents, Carers and Key Workers to Navigate the Transition from Children’s to Adult Hospice Services in Portsmouth and South-East Hampshire project at Rowans Living Well Services.
Through our Rowans Living Well Services, we are always looking for new ways to extend the reach of our care.
That’s why in June 2024 the Rowans Living Well Services embarked on an exciting opportunity to work with a local Children’s Hospice and started a Youth Group hosted by the Rowans Living Well Services Team and delivered by Chestnut Tree Hospice staff. This Youth Group provides a safe environment to meet our adult services, and to find out their needs and preferences in relation to care.
This collaborative approach creates a safe, welcoming space for young adults with life-limiting illnesses to meet the Rowans Living Well Services team, explore their care preferences, and ease into adult services. These sessions are held monthly on Friday evenings and cater to young people aged 16 and over who live within Portsmouth and South-East Hampshire.
Why This Initiative Matters
Advances in medical care mean that more children with complex illnesses are reaching adulthood.
However, many families are unsure about the support available when their child outgrows children’s hospice care. There is currently no established transition service to bridge this gap, and many are unaware that Rowans Hospice’s services are available from the age of 16.
This is where our Youth Group steps in, offering engaging activities that foster recreation, creativity, and open conversations about transitioning to adult hospice care. Families can also take advantage of practical support, including assistance with transport to and from the sessions.
The Difference Made So Far
We’ve already seen the difference this initiative is making. One of the children’s nurses from Chestnut Tree House shared their thoughts after a recent session:
You and your colleagues were so kind and welcoming, and it was a wonderful and fun evening for the young people from Chestnut Tree House. Your facilities are fantastic, and the Centre really has such a relaxed, comforting feel about it. Thank you for all your amazing support to enable young people from Chestnut Tree House to share this experience.
This partnership is a vital first step in ensuring that young adults and their families feel supported as they move into a new phase of care. We are excited to continue this journey and look forward to helping more families discover what Rowans Living Well Services can offer.”
This project is proudly funded by The Masonic Charitable Foundation via Hospice UK. We would like to thank them for their support in enabling this project to make a difference.
