“I saw that the hospice couldn’t run without volunteers”
At St Catherine’s Hospice, over 1000 volunteers are at the heart of everything we do. Last year alone they generously gave 124,800 hours to support our vital work – from sorting donations in our charity shops to washing dishes in our hospice kitchen.
This Volunteers’ Week (1-7 June 2026) we’re sharing stories from the Jarvis family: Bob, Brenda, Lisa and Ellie – four of our incredible volunteers spanning three generations, all from the same family.
The family’s connection to St Catherine’s began with Lisa. She said:
“I first became involved with St Catherine’s after my Mum passed away at the hospice on Malthouse Road and then last year my stepdad passed away at the current hospice in Pease Pottage.
“After Mum died just over 10 years ago, I started volunteering in different capacities, including at the Midnight Walk. But after qualifying as a Yoga Instructor about three years ago, I wanted to do something with my training that wouldn’t be about earning money, it would be about giving back. Since then, I’ve been teaching yoga to the St Catherine’s staff once a week.
“A couple of years ago, I won an award at the St Catherine’s Volunteer Awards, and my husband Andy came with me to the ceremony. He was really moved by the speech from Giles – the Chief Executive – about the hospice needing more volunteers. So, he went to his parents, Bob and Brenda, and said, “I think you’d really enjoy this, Mum and Dad.””
Brenda says: “I’ve been here for nearly two years, and I sweep the hospice car park.
“I worked in a school for 20 years, so I was asked to support a couple of lads who have special needs. They volunteered at Malthouse Road too, but the grounds are bigger here. I keep an eye on them, and we keep the car park tidy together. I love working with them and they really enjoy it.”
Brenda’s husband, Bob, and their granddaughter Ellie both volunteer in the hospice kitchen.
Bob tells us: “I’m really glad Lisa got me involved. I work with a great team of people and I love doing it. I view it as a privilege. And yes, it can be sad at times, but it’s also a place of hope. I work on that basis and I love it.”
Ellie agrees:
“It’s a positive place. When my granddad was on the Ward last August, I was coming in every day. I saw that the hospice really couldn’t run without volunteers, so I decided I wanted to be part of it and started volunteering in the kitchen in November.”
At different stages in your lives, what do you each get out of volunteering?
Ellie shares, “I volunteer at the hospice on Tuesday evenings. During the day I work in a coffee shop and it’s just me there, but when I come to the hospice I really like being around people. It feels like I’m part of a little team. Being around positive, like-minded people is great. The Kitchen Team are such a laugh. Sometimes I get a free bowl of chips, which also helps!
“You get to know some of the patients and their families too. It’s nice to go home and think I might have put a smile on someone’s face.”
Lisa said, “When I qualified, I don’t know that I would’ve had the confidence to go out and teach yoga commercially. So, it was great for me to put my training into practice in a safe environment. And if I hadn’t done that by teaching the staff first, I would never have had the confidence to run a public class to raise money for the hospice.”
Brenda says,
“I love the social interaction. People are always walking through the car park and eight out of 10 of them stop and speak. I was walking up with the brooms, buckets and litter pickers the other day and a passerby asked what I was doing. I told them I was going to sweep the hospice car park. She said, “Well I hope you get paid well for that!””
Bob said, “It’s something worthwhile to do. You’re giving something back. In the kitchen it can be busy, but that’s part and parcel of it. The team always support me and make me feel welcome, so I shall carry on volunteering as long as I can.”
Lisa agrees, “The hospice really supports all their volunteers. When my stepdad became an inpatient here, everyone was checking in and encouraging me to take time off. That’s important.”
How have you found the care you’ve received and the care you’ve witnessed through volunteering?
Brenda said, “The reception area is lovely. Before I came, I thought that everybody would be talking quite quietly and it would be calm. People are as loud or as funny as they want to be, aren’t they? It’s a really lovely, friendly, chatty area.”
Lisa agrees, “There’s always a smile from reception. You don’t feel like you have to come in and be sad.”
She goes on to share, “My Mum was only in the hospice for three days before she passed away. So, I saw snapshot of it. But my stepdad was on the Ward for over two weeks, so I saw the care for sustained period, and I realised that’s what it’s like all the time.”
Ellie said, “The team make such an effort to get to know you and take great care of you. You’re not just another patient and or another patient’s family. They know you by name and go out of their way to make it as pleasant as it can be because they’re aware that things are difficult.
“Volunteers come in and play their instruments, and a patient even got married here the other week. All his family were there, and he had the time of his life; that’s what it’s all about. I was so excited when I got to help clear it away because I got to look at all the flowers and decorations.
“The Kitchen Team put in such an effort to make even the little moments nice, like the trays on Valentine’s Day. We know that because we’ve experienced it.”
What surprises you most about the hospice?
Bob said: “The lack of support from the government. When I first got here, you’d just had to lay off 40 roles. Something really needs to change.
“A few weeks back when I came in for my shift, I couldn’t believe how many patients we had. It’s great that it’s being used more, but it would be nice to see the Ward full.”
Ellie said: “From a family member’s perspective it breaks your heart, doesn’t it? Because we’ve seen how much it helps and how amazing the team are. And if we didn’t have St Catherine’s when Nan and Granddad were both here, we don’t know what things would have looked like.”
What would you all say to someone who is thinking about volunteering?
Bob says: “Even if you can only do an hour or so, that could be of huge benefit to the hospice.”
Ellie continues, “Do it! This planet needs a sense of community. So, like Grandad said, even if you just have a spare hour, please give something back. Because the likelihood we’re all going to end up somewhere like this is fairly high. You have absolutely nothing to lose. It can only have a positive effect on you and everyone around you.”
Lisa reflects: “I love teaching. You get back more than you put in, but you probably won’t realise that until you start.”
We’re so grateful to Bob, Brenda, Lisa and Ellie for the difference they make to our staff, their fellow volunteers, and those we care for.
If you’re interested in joining them and becoming a volunteer for St Catherine’s, view our current volunteering opportunities, email our Volunteering Team on volunteering@stch.org.uk or give them a call on 01293 447351.
