National award win for St Catherine’s volunteer
St Catherine’s Hospice is thrilled that one of its hospice volunteers, Graham Ellis, from Haywards Heath, has won a national Volunteer of the Year award at the Hospice UK awards.
Graham, a highly dedicated volunteer, who is at St Catherine’s at least three times a week, was recognised for the voluntary meditation sessions he offers to patients, relatives and staff. As well as the contribution he makes to the hospice’s fundraising work, and his dedication in donning his Santa suit to deliver Christmas gifts to people staying on the hospice’s wards or visiting its Day Hospice.
Renowned for his helpful nature, Graham has a hugely positive impact on everyone he meets at St Catherine’s and his meditation skills have greatly enhanced the expert care that the local hospice can offer to terminally ill local people.
Hospice UK’s Volunteer of the Year award acknowledges the significant contribution an individual has made to hospice care. This year, the judging panel received a tremendous response with a number of very high calibre individuals being nominated, making judging a difficult task. Selecting Graham as the award winner, judges said “Graham’s work at St Catherine’s truly embodies the mind, body and spirit ethos of modern hospice care. His meditation sessions are greatly appreciated by patients and their families. With Graham’s support people are able to find a sense of calm during a time of distress and make every moment count.”
Peter Nesbitt, Volunteering Development Manager at St Catherine’s, said “This is a fantastic accolade for Graham and we’re elated that his outstanding volunteering efforts have been recognised by Hospice UK. Graham’s win is a testament, not only to him, but to the quality of all our amazing volunteers who help provide vital care and support services at a time when they’re needed most. At St Catherine’s, we’re lucky to be supported by more than 900 volunteers in 42 different roles and we couldn’t run without them. Our volunteers bring a wealth of expertise and skills to the hospice and make a truly invaluable contribution. We’re so grateful for the time they freely give to support us, and on behalf of everyone at St Catherine’s, I’d like to congratulate Graham and thank all our other volunteers for their continued efforts.”
If you’re inspired by Graham and would like to join him as a volunteer, please visit here, or to make a donation so St Catherine’s can care for even more local people when life comes full circle please click here
