A SPIRITUAL leader has been taught to live her ‘life to the full each day’ by the patients of a Dorset charity.

The Rev Sally Bedborough ‘changed her life’ by leaving the church building to be ‘where the people are.’ Working as chaplain for the Weldmar Hospicecare Trust for the past two years, Sally has not only made a difference to the lives of staff and patients under the charity’s care but also to her own attitude.

Sally said: “I love my job because I can talk about really important things with people – about their life, what they hope to achieve.

“Working for Weldmar has changed my life. I ask myself ‘Why am I saying I’ll do things ‘one day’ when I should do it pretty soon?’ “I’ve taken up the flute this year after years of wanting to and I’m loving it.”

She added: “I would say that every patient changes my life.

“My main job is listening to people, chatting and finding out where they are.

“Often people find their own answers just by talking about what preoccupies them.

“Working here teaches you to be forgiving, to live in the day and to make the most of things.”

Sally, 55, worked at the microbiology laboratory in Poole Hospital and a Christian retreat centre before being ordained as a minister in 2003.

At her church in Poole, she encouraged an ‘open doors’ policy and invited community groups to use the building for courses and social groups.

Sally said: “One of my emphases in the church was that you should go out more in the community, you shouldn’t be tethered to a building.

“Church isn’t a building – it’s the people.”

Sally works 30 hours a week for Weldmar, conducting services and communion, running spirituality courses for professionals, giving talks and helping patients and staff at Dorchester’s Joseph Weld Hospice, the Trimar Day Hospice in Weymouth and out in the community.

Her office is based within the Family Support Team, near to the inpatient hospice’s little chapel where people can take communion, go for a quiet chat or to pray.

The chapel welcomes all faiths and non-believers and features a Tibetan singing bowl and a little Buddha.

Sally loves the variety of her work which has a stronger emphasis on spirituality than religion. She said: “A lot of people say to me ‘I’m not religious’ or ‘I don’t go to church’ but I say it doesn’t matter – spirituality is more to do with values, beliefs and the stuff of life.”

Supporting Weldmar’s staff is an important role for Sally because ‘all of our staff work really hard and do a great job’.

Recently two dozen members of staff attended a sky lantern event at Maiden Castle ‘to mark our memories of the people who have touched our lives’.

Show them you care

KIND-HEARTED Echo readers have helped the Show Them You Care campaign raise £5,052.20 since the appeal was launched.

But there is a long way to go.

Donate online at www.justgiving.com/weldmarnurse or send cheques payable to ‘The Weldmar Hospicecare Trust’ to the Dorset Echo offices at Fleet House, Hampshire Road, Weymouth, DT4 9XD.

We would also like to hear your stories of how Weldmar has helped you.

Call Laura Kitching on 01305 830984.