Volunteers provide practical help to the nursing and kitchen staff, but will also have contact  with patients, families and visitors.
Our volunteers need to be good listeners and sensitive to the ever-changing Hospice  environment. The duties include answering the door, making teas/coffees and serving meals etc. There is some light ironing in the afternoon, while the evening volunteers help to prepare and then serve suppers.
Volunteers work shifts of 4 hours during the day, or 2 hours in the evening, on a rota basis, normally once a fortnight on weekdays or monthly at weekends.

This team of volunteers carries out maintenance of the Hospice garden every Tuesday  morning (except in the middle of Winter!)

Volunteers support the managers by selling good quality clothing, bric-a-brac etc., all of which has been donated. Volunteers use the till, sort and present goods, normally working  on a weekly or fortnightly rota. [shops home]

Volunteers act as Ambassadors of the Hospice at coffee mornings, fetes and other small events organised externally with proceeds being given to the Hospice.
Volunteers are able to talk for about two minutes about the work of the Hospice to people attending these functions and be prepared to thank organisers publicly for their efforts.

Required to access eBay on the Internet and place for sale and administer various donated items that may realise more money on eBay than by sale in the Hospice shops.
To assist in setting up eBay Shop and selling formats.
To prepare and photograph items for sale in accordance with Hospice procedures.
To access internet to monitor and manage items on sale, communicating to buyers as required.
To provide after sales service.
To assist in management of credit shop.
Ideally 1 day per week.  Essential to be computer literate and ideally have a knowledge of collectables. Require a number of volunteers to work as a team covering auction duration.

Volunteers assist in the transport of retail goods, display boards and promotional leaflets to public events organised internally (e.g. Thanksgiving Service, AGM, Garden Party, Christmas Bazaar and Light up a Life).
To become part of a team to help community fundraisers in the setting up and taking down of stalls, gazebos and sound systems at internal and external events.

Volunteers assist in the preparation of signs and posters for events.
Volunteers ensure signs and posters are distributed and placed on street furniture, side of road or poster outlets.

To produce a variety of handmade craft items as advised by the Retail Co-ordinator. eg. woodwork, sewing, cooking, knitting, etc.
To assist in the provision of items for sale in the Hospice shops, stalls and at the Annual Christmas Bazaar.
To help host craft stalls at internal and external events.
To assist in packaging and presentation of items to sell.
Location - home, Hospice, fundraising event venues.

To help produce creative publicity for Hospice events.
To work with our Publications Assistant
Ideally 1 day per week
Location - Ideally at the Hospice (or at home if the software is available)

Volunteers deal with all opportunities for having a Hospice stall at an event.
Booking stalls, arranging volunteers and arranging for the delivery of gazebos, tables, Hospice publications, display boards, retail goods and floats.
Setting up stall at event.
Taking down stall and arranging items to be returned to Hospice premises.
To liaise with Internal and External Event volunteers.
Ensuring income paid into Fundraising Office and paperwork completed.

Volunteers recruit more box holders and collectors using contacts, door to door techniques, telephone and publicity.
To contact collectors/co-coordinators to enlist their support for more personal details of box holders and Gift Aid Declarations.
To assist in the computerisation of manual records.

To promote the sale of single tickets in nearby Residential Care Homes, local businesses and local clubs and groups.
To encourage the sale of retail goods and draw tickets at these outlets.
To promote the sale of single lottery tickets in the Hospice shops and increase subscription membership and train volunteers in the techniques used.
To promote Hospice events with poster distribution.
Ideally ½ - 1 day per week and would ideally be a current volunteer in each shop.
Location - external organisations and shops.

Volunteers fulfil orders for retail goods from Hospice departments, shops, other outlets and appropriate fundraising events.
To forward plan all order requirements to ensure dispatched on time.
To collate unsold stock and deal with income in accordance with Hospice procedures.
To liaise with retail team and Retail Coordinator to ensure stocks are maintained at appropriate levels.

Volunteers help to provide a day out for some of our patients who are normally cared for  at home. Their duties include serving coffees, lunches, listening and joining in activities.
Day Hospice is on Tuesdays and Thursdays, volunteers normally work once a fortnight  between 9.30am and 3.30pm.

These volunteers transport patients to or from the Day Hospice (Tuesdays and Thursdays) and do occasional errands.

Complementary Therapists qualified in aromatherapy, reflexology and massage are currently involved and highly valued in our inpatient unit, in day hospice as well as with our Specialist Nurse Home Care Team. Generally they commit themselves to a session of approximately 1- 2 hours per week. Our Complementary Therapy Service is dependent on this team of dedicated therapists and we are always seeking more qualified practitioners in order to extend the availability of therapies to our patients.

If you would like to know more about the role, you can download ‘Profile for Complementary Practitioners’.
For more information or queries, please contact Freda Magee on 01442-869550 or email:

These valuable people are willing to be called on from time to time for  "one-off" jobs like mailing newsletters, shredding, etc.

A team of volunteers is trained to offer a sitting/befriending service and light practical help for patients and families in their own home. It's a challenging, but much needed  service. It is envisaged that volunteers will work between 2 and 3 hours approximately once a fortnight.

These volunteers help to answer our busy telephone lines on a rota basis throughout the  day on weekdays. They also help out with clerical tasks, photocopying, shredding etc.

Based in the Administration & Fundraising Office our Volunteers usually act as cashiers by dealing with donations. General office assistance is required from time to time.

Carefully recruited volunteers undergo a ten session preparation course before joining the  Family Support Team. They then offer support and a listening ear to bereaved families by joining the Telephone Helpline, Support Group or Family Visiting.
Volunteers offer this kind of support on a rota, normally once a month on Mondays.