Poignant poems will help raise Accord cash

Book of ballads aims to bring comfort in times of grief

A charity worker has penned a book of poems to raise vital funds for Accord Hospice.

Roberta Young, bereavement support worker at the Paisley facility, has created and compiled ‘Words of Remembering’.

The work — which looks to bring comfort and guidance to those who need help coping with the loss of a loved one — will be sold to the public and monies raised will help the hospice continue to fund its palliative care service.

The hospice’s patient and family support team leader, Joy Elliot, said the beautifully written book is the result of many years work.

She explained: “The hospice holds an annual service of remembering at Paisley Town Hall and Roberta has written a poem and recited it at the event for the last 11 years.

“She is a keen writer and her words are beautiful, always written from the heart.

“I said to her we should pull them all together and that’s how the idea for the book came around.”

Roberta got together with some artist friends — Joyce Wallace, Belle Montgomery, Anne MacLeod and Betty Brown — to create the beautiful illustrations for the book.

Roberta’s son Derek owns HDC printers and he kindly assisted in binding and printing Words of Remembering at no cost, before donating 500 copies to Accord.

The hospice provides end of life care to people living with or affected by a life-limiting illness in Renfrewshire and parts of East Renfrewshire.

As it costs a bumper £25,000 a week to keep the hospice going, Joy said the funds raised by Roberta’s book are invaluable.

She added: “Donations are vital in order to continue patient and family support services in the hospice and within the wider community — every penny is important.

“Part of our job is to help people understand more about loss and grief, offering help and guidance to families for as long as they need until they can learn to adjust and re-build their lives.

“Hopefully, people will find comfort in Roberta’s book of poems too.”

Roberta’s book of poems costs £10 and is available to buy at www. accordhospice.org.uk/product/ words- of- remembering- byroberta-young/

You can also pick up copies at Accord’s reception or the Gleniffer Outreach

Roberta’s words are beautiful, always written from the heart Joy Elliot

Vital contribution Roberta and her team of illustrators — Joyce Wallace, Belle Montgomery, Anne MacLeod and Betty Brown Beautiful words L-R Joy Elliot, hospice chairman Professor Phil Hanlon, Roberta Young and Helen Simpson, hospice chief executive

Charity champion Roberta, seated, with husband Robert and L-R Carly Young, Gaynor Young, Sheila Hood, Derek Young, Iris Mitchell, Lois Hood and Libby Young