As part of national Volunteers’ Week we wanted to say a huge thank you to each and everyone of our volunteers for the vital contribution they make to our hospice.
Without their unwavering support we simply would not be able to care for the thousands of people from across Shropshire and Mid Wales who need our help. From providing bereavement support to helping out in one of shops, our volunteers do so much for which we are truly grateful for.
We’d like to introduce you to some of our many volunteers.
Our award-winning gardens are really appreciated by the families we’re caring for. And it’s only thanks to our mini-army of volunteers that we’re able to keep them looking so lovely. All weathers, all year round, our gardening volunteers are weeding, pruning, chopping, digging, planting, you name it, they’ll be doing it when required. Here are just a few of them. The oldest in this group is 87, the youngest 31. Some have been volunteering for years, some for only weeks. All are valued and all are part of the care we’re able to offer families in Shropshire and Mid Wales who need it.
Our volunteer drivers literally go the extra mile in helping the families we care for. The transport team make sure everyone can get to and from our day hospice services, clocking up thousands of miles a year between them on the roads around Shropshire and Mid Wales as they provide their door-to-door personal service. This is John who’s been making all the difference for hundreds of people for more than 20 years. He says he still loves it and there’s never a day he isn’t glad to be offering his help. Our volunteers are amazing every day, not just this week. If you want to be in the driving seat with your spare time, you could join us.
Flowers brighten up everyone’s day and we are so lucky to have a whole team of volunteers whose special contribution is to arrange all the flowers that adorn our wards and corridors. Using cut flowers kindly donated by Sainsbury’s each week, they creatively and skilfully add little pockets of beauty and joy with their wonderful displays. For team leader Margaret it is a real labour of love every time she transforms an empty vase into something very special. On behalf of all the families and friends who visit us or stay with us, we thank our flower volunteers for adding that finishing touch that means so much.
Across our network of 25 shops we have over 700 volunteers who give their time each week to help sort donations, dress windows and generally help with all aspects of running a busy shop. One of our longest serving shop volunteers is Audrey from Shrewsbury who has been helping out since before we actually opened our hospice in Bicton Heath. Audrey first became a volunteer because she wanted to give something back to her local community but she has enjoyed it that much she’s still donating her time over 30 years later. Our shops play a vital role in raising the money needed to fund our services across Shropshire and Mid Wales. During national Volunteers’ Week we’d like to thank Audrey and all her fellow retail volunteers for all they do for our hospice.
If you would like to know more about volunteering for the hospice or find out more about our currently volunteer vacancies please click here.
