Celebrating our Golden Heartbeats this Volunteers’ Week

This week (1-7June) is national Volunteers’ Week and we have been using this time to thank our army of Golden Heartbeat volunteers. At Saint Francis Hospice we have almost 700 volunteers and they are amazing.

The time, commitment and energy they give to our organisation is incredible and we thank and value every single volunteer – whatever their role and however much time they give to us.

This week we put together a range of workshops, activities and events to say thank you and let our volunteers know how much we value them.  From a relaxing sound bath session to a special opportunity for community and retail volunteers to visit the hospice to see our work first-hand, there has been something for everyone to enjoy.  We provided learning sessions on getting started with social media and making personalised greeting cards for friends and family, and there was also a “bring a friend” session for any existing volunteer to come along with a friend to spend time volunteering in our beautiful gardens.

The Saint Francis Hospice approach is holistic in the way in which we care for people, and we could not deliver our services without the amazing dedication of our volunteers. From receptionists to drivers to ward volunteers, they help us deliver outstanding care and treatment to individuals requiring palliative and end-of-life care.  They also help deliver services to the loved ones of individuals receiving care and treatment.

And as a charity, funding is not sufficient or guaranteed, so raising our own funds is an essential part of what we do.  Every one of our 14 retail shops is resourced by volunteers who sort and price donations, set up the shops and work to provide a high-quality retail experience.

Our focus is to provide our volunteers with an enjoyable, meaningful role, where they feel supported and valued.  Looking after our volunteers is a key part of this and we understand people have varying needs and reasons for volunteering.  We provide opportunities for volunteers to gain experience and build life and employment skills but we also understand that many people volunteer to give something back to their community or for the social aspects that volunteering brings.  We hold a range of events throughout the year to bring our volunteers together and to celebrate and thank them.

 If you are interested in volunteering roles available at the Hospice or in our retail stores, please see our website at SFH.org.uk or contact the volunteering team at volunteering@sfh.org.uk