Dorothy House Ambassador Update

We are delighted to announce that Dorothy House is welcoming a new Young Person’s Ambassador in Sebastian (Seb) Chester-Phillips.

Our Ambassadors all have a personal passion for outstanding end of life care and use their unique influence, skills and experience to champion the work of Dorothy House across our 700 square mile patch; stretching over Bath & Keynsham, East Somerset, Chew Valley, North Wiltshire and West Wiltshire.

Why did Seb want to become an Ambassador for Dorothy House?

Seb has a personal connection with Dorothy House, which has led him to become an Ambassador, with the hope of helping other young people experiencing bereavement:

“Dorothy House Hospice Care holds a very special place in my heart, and I have tremendous love for them as a community. Back in December 2015, I unfortunately lost my mum to cancer. To this day, I still can’t comprehend how such a horrible thing happened to such a wonderful woman. Dorothy House was there for my mum, and my family, every step of the way. The nurses were genuine angels; they even put up with my mum politely demanding rounds of toast every 30 minutes!

Based on this, I feel it’s pretty obvious why I want to be an Ambassador, but to be specific, there are three main reasons: to make my mum proud, to express my gratitude for Dorothy house and the members of their community, and finally, because I know how it feels to grow up as a kid with a heart full of pain, anger and confusion. And I also know how it feels when I use the energy from that to thrive, and develop a profound sense of fulfilment.

If my experience can help kids who are in similar situations that I was once in, regain their sense of enthusiasm and fulfilment, I’d be over the moon. I also relish at the idea of discussing ways that schools can best support, comfort and strengthen any pupils that are struggling with grief.”

Dorothy House CEO, Wayne de Leeuw says:

“We are deeply grateful that Seb is giving us his time and using his own experience in such a powerful way to help our work and our communities. We are extremely fortunate to have someone, who through having been through their own painful experience of losing a parent, will be helping us to talk to and engage with young people, some of whom may be experiencing their own grief and loss or who may be supporting someone who is.”

Thank you so much to Seb for offering us his time and experience to raise awareness of what we do at Dorothy House and for reaching out to other young people in their grief.

Goodbye to Jo Muir as Sporting Ambassador

We would also like to thank Jo Muir, who due to a relocation to London, has decided to step down as an Ambassador, after supporting us since 2017. Her efforts have been greatly appreciated by all our staff, volunteers and patients and we wish her well in her future endeavours.

To learn more about our team of Ambassadors, click here.