The Wobble Room

Demelza’s ‘wobble room’ was created at the height of lockdown in April last year. Back then, little was still known about COVID-19 and while the majority of the country was plunged in to a life surrounded by their own four walls to stop the spread of the virus, staff at the hospice in Sittingbourne were coming in as usual, although dressed head to toe in full PPE, to work with our children and families.

Helen Rolls, Lead Nurse in Sittingbourne, says: “staff were scared, apprehensive and the pressure on an individual’s mental health was extreme – I wanted to create a safe space where the team could get away from what was going on in the world. empty their minds and just ‘be’”. And so the 'wobble room' was born – a safe space in a quiet spot in the hospice where staff could relax on mats, cushions, comfy chairs, snuggle in cosy blankets, dim the lights, play music and inhale aromatherapy oils, escaping the pressure of the pandemic for a short while and recharging batteries.

The ‘wobble room’ has been such a success that it will remain in place for staff to unwind in. Helen says “being able to get away, even for a short while, helps with your mental health armour – spending time in the wobble room soothes the soul – it’s like putting on psychological PPE”.