Annalie Graham, Patient and Family Support Team Lead

Annalie Graham is the Patient and Family Support Team Lead at Arthur Rank Hospice Charity. Based primarily at Arthur Rank Hospice, she leads a growing and diverse team that also includes colleagues at the Alan Hudson Centre.

The Patient and Family Support Team is made up of a wide range of professionals, volunteers and students, working together to support patients and families in different ways:

“The Patient and Family Support Team include employed staff, volunteers and student counsellors, all with a variety of training from counselling, psychology, art and music therapy, psychotherapy to grief support work and life celebration.

We provide group and 1:1 support options and have bereavement groups that are open to the general public, such as Understanding Grief and Griefkind Space.”

Annalie has been part of the Charity since March 2024, and you’re most likely to find her in the Patient and Family Support Team office or in a clinic room, supporting both patients and colleagues. When asked what she values most about her role, Annalie points to the people she works alongside every day:

“Working with such a supportive and skilled team, and learning. I’m always learning from those I work with and colleagues.”

When asked about a moment that has stayed with her, Annalie points to the Charity’s first bereavement workshop for children:

“Co‑facilitating our first children’s bereavement workshop ‘Sharing what it’s like’ in 2025 with Helen Loth. This was our first pilot bereavement support group, and it felt like a big deal to make a step towards supporting children and young people more. We have a long way to go, but this felt like a step forward.”

She also reflects on the impact of developing new bereavement support sessions:

“Also, establishing Understanding Grief as an information session for those who are newly bereaved – this was a much‑needed step forward for the bereavement support service, and since starting these sessions, we’ve received such lovely feedback. I think it does really help people at a very difficult time.”

At the end of the conversation, Annalie shares a little about her background and what continues to inspire her:

“I am an Art Psychotherapist by background and a creative at heart, although I don’t spend as much time making art anymore. I find real joy in flowers, especially cutting them from my garden and bringing them into my home.

Sometimes doing small things regularly, that bring you joy, can help.”