Become a Volunteer

Being a volunteer is very rewarding. I have done everything from spending time with a client to shopping and trips out. We share some tears but many more smiles and I would recommend it to anyone

Our Volunteers offer a free service that provides strength and encouragement at a difficult time. We offer practical help where it is needed during the illness and beyond.

The support provided is flexible depending upon the individual client’s needs, but could include…

* spending time with clients, enabling their carers to have two or three hours break
* accompanying clients on trips to the shops or a favourite venue
* offering companionship providing
information for further help

As volunteers we do not replace or take over the care or the support provided by the statutory services, nor do we provide direct personal nursing care or domestic services.

All our volunteers are fully trained and are DBS checked before visiting the patient.

You can also help with our many fundraising events. These range from local Fayres and Festivals, Social Occasions, Community Activities to Bucket-shaking.

We also hold support meetings once a month, as a great opportunity to share stories and advice from volunteer to volunteer.

Liz’s story

I learnt about the ‘Hospice at Home’ charity when I visited the volunteering centre in Leighton Buzzard last year. Providing some kind of support to an individual, in their home, who was facing a life restricting condition appealed to me. I went on two training modules to equip me with the knowledge/skills to succeed in the role and shortly was contacted about a potential client. His circumstances were explained to me and I firstly visited him with my co-ordinator. This ensures that volunteer and client are happy to proceed; I then began visiting my client on a weekly basis. The role is completely different to my previous volunteering role as an external trustee. I really looked forward to visiting my client; he truly enriched my week. We shared a common love of books and the support I provided him with centred around conversation (he had led an extremely interesting life), helping to organise some of his files and reading to him. Unfortunately my client passed away (you have to be prepared for this) but I like to think that I did make his final weeks more enjoyable.
You are not alone in the role. My co-ordinator has been there to advise me where necessary and there are monthly meetings of volunteers at which, in confidence, we can share our experiences. I would thoroughly recommend the role and would say that I get as much out of the role as I put in.