August 2019 • happiful.com • 85For Barbara and all those
involved in Hospice Biographers,
these are the moments that they’re
working towards; they’re found in
the quirks of character that can
become buried under the burden
of terminal illness, but that are
brought back to life through the
recordings.
THE ART OF STORYTELLING
But moments like this couldn’t
be captured without the skill
and sensitivity of the people
who volunteer for Hospice
Biographers, and it isn’t an easy
thing to do. Volunteers have to
resolve themselves to the gravity
of what they are doing, and – as
Barbara explains – be comfortable
working in a unique environment.
“I’ve been a journalist forever,
and I’ve seen all sorts of wars- and God knows what – in the
world, but entering into a hospice
for the first time was a hell of
a shock,” says Barbara. “The
sensibilities, rules, and regulations
are just very, very different.”
In anticipation of this, Hospice
Biographers pass on a job
description to hospices, which
is then shared among those
already volunteering there, and
all candidates are required to take
part in a two-day training course
prior to starting the interviews.
“We do things on the art
of listening, chronological
interviewing techniques, use of
audio equipment, downloading
on USB, and safeguarding,”
Barbara explains. “It can be quite
emotionally draining; it’s very
challenging.”
Together, the volunteers and the
people they are working with craft
a recording that will be treasured
for generations to come.
But Barbara doesn’t want to stop
at hospices. Identifying that there
are those on the fringes of society
who miss out on hospice care,
she plans to expand the service to
include people in prisons, those
who are homeless, and people
in the travelling community. The
vision being to offer everyone in
our society the same opportunity
to build a legacy.
Reflecting on this choice,
Barbara’s reasoning is simple: “We
just think it’s the right thing to do.”THE FINAL CHAPTERS
In the end, our lives become
a series of stories, broken into
chapters as we grow. From the
school stories that remind us of
our budding hopes and dreams,
through the thrilling highs of
adulthood – and the quiet lulls too- each experience makes us who
we are, and who we are touches
the people around us in ways that
trickle down the generations.
What Barbara and everyone else
involved in the charity are doing
with Hospice Biographers is giving
us the chance to capture these
stories in a physical way, to hold
on to the voices and the memories
of the people that we love, and to
keep them alive in a way that only
storytelling can do.
I’ve been a journalist forever, and I’ve seen
all sorts of wars – and God knows what – in
the world, but entering into a hospice, as I
did for the first time, was a hell of a shock
Find out more about Hospice
Biographers by visiting
thehospicebiographers.com