Material Memories
Losing someone special can be such a difficult part of our lives, and our Material Memories are more than just a stuffed animal, offering a beautiful personalised keepsake to be treasured forever.
 
Create a keepsake to remind you of your special person

By using a favourite item of clothing, or one that reminds you of your special person, our wonderful sewing volunteers at the hospice will create a special keepsake to keep your loved one close, which you can treasure for years to come.

All our Material Memories will be designed and handmade by one of our dedicated team of sewing volunteers at Wakefield Hospice using materials provided by yourself. We do our best to incorporate special features such as logos, a piece of lace or an emblem from a tie. If you’d like to provide several different garments we can combine the fabrics that work best for your chosen product.
 

Our Material Memories

Our Material Memories now have three different options to choose from including:

- Material Memories Bear (our traditional decorative bear)

- Soft Bear (perfect for children, squishy and can be cuddled)

- Decorative cushion

 
  Please ensure your garments are freshly washed
  and ready for our volunteers to sew.

Purchase your Material Memory here 

When your bear is ready:
Once your bear is ready we will contact you by phone, or email, and ask you to collect it from the hospice, if you’re able to do so. Alternatively, if you live within the postcode WF1-WF6 we may be able to deliver your Material Memory by hand, or we can post to you via our Royal Mail’s tracked service.

Please note all our products can take up to eight weeks to make depending on the volume of orders and capacity of volunteers.

Caring for your Material Memory

Once you have collected your Material Memory there are a few things you should do to ensure it is kept in its best condition.
Because they are made from clothing, it’s classed as a “vintage item”. Please don’t get your bear wet, or wash it.

If you have any questions about our Material Memories, please contact our Legacies and In-Memory Fundraiser Maggie Keane on 01924 331400 or email Maggie.Keane@wakefieldhospice.co.uk
 
Meet our Material Memories Volunteers

By using a favourite item of clothing, or one that reminds you of your special person, our wonderful sewing volunteers at the hospice will create a special keepsake to keep your loved one close, which you can treasure for years to come.

Our Material Memory Volunteers are some of the ‘hidden heroes’ of our hospice, giving up their time for free and using their talents to create the most amazing keepsakes whilst raising funds for Wakefield Hospice.
Collectively the group have created over 200(!) Material Memory Bears and Cushions – unique keepsakes which are truly the most beautiful and treasured possessions for so many families.
 

Nat, Material Memories Volunteer

Nat, Material Memories Volunteer: “I had never made a bear or anything like it until I started volunteering for Wakefield Hospice in the summer of 2022. I love creating and crafting and this role just fit me perfectly (even my kids love watching me make the bears!) – it feels really special and it has been great developing friendships with the other amazing ladies in the group.”

Interested in becoming a volunteer or want to find out more? Email Maggie.keane@wakefieldhospice.co.uk or call 01924 331400 for an informal no-obligation chat.