An eight-hour makeover by determined volunteers has helped transform the day room at Morriston Hospital’s Ty Olwen.
Now people using the hospice can enjoy spending time together in relaxing surroundings after the team updated and revamped the area.
Receptionist Delyth Gough in the day room before the work started.(left)
It has already been given the seal of approval by grateful patients who barely waited for the new paint to dry before putting the new flat screen TV and furniture to the test as they watched Wales play France at rugby.
A delighted receptionist Delyth Gough said: “Every time I come into the room now it just takes my breath away, it is amazing. It is such a homely area now.”
The hard work was carried out by staff at Swansea’s Marks & Spencer store who gave up their time as part of the firm’s nationwide Spark Something Good scheme. They teamed up to help 24 community projects in Swansea in just seven days as part of a nationwide campaign to showcase smaller local charities.
Delyth and consultant Beth Birch applied to the scheme for help to update and improve the room which was in desperate need of some attention.
Besides comfortable new furnishings, the day room now boasts a dedicated area for children – with hand-painted mural, blackboard and new toys – where families can play together with loved ones.
Beth, who joined forces with the volunteers as part of the makeover team, said: “This room is the place where our families and their children come to try to have a bit of peace and quiet and time away from what’s happening on the ward.
“Although when it was first opened in 1990 it looked fantastic, and it is a beautiful room, over the years it has got a little bit more shabby, things have got broken and it has become a bit of a store room.
“But people need to have an area that is a home from home, somewhere that isn’t medical, so that they have a place of safety.
“We are just thrilled that Marks & Spencer picked us and that the staff were happy to donate their time and effort.”
Leading the team of volunteers was Jacqui Vaughan, from Marks & Spencer, said: “The aim of the project was to inspire customers and colleagues to get more involved in the local community.
The team responsible for the transformation including consultant Beth Birth (kneeling, left) with Ty Olwen’s Delyth Gough and lead nurse Rhian Jones.
“That is why we are helping small charities like this and others such as Swansea Community Farm and Llys Nini. We’re really happy to help and I am very proud of our team.”
Teresa Evans, of Hafod, Swansea, knows just how important the family room is. While her husband Gary was a patient at Ty Olwen she and her daughter slept in the room. As a grandmother she welcomed the room being made more family-friendly, especially for younger children.
She said: “The staff here are marvellous and do so much for us all and it is so nice that the volunteers wanted to come in and help improve it.
“This room really is well used and it will be lovely to have a children’s part to it.”
(Below) Volunteers paint the mural in the children’s section of the room and the finished children’s section.
