Make a difference with St Catherine’s
Did you start this year promising yourself you’d do more to help others? Or perhaps you want to make a difference locally? If the answer’s yes, St Catherine’s Hospice could have the perfect volunteer role for you.
St Catherine’s Patient and Family Support Team is looking for volunteers to join them to give emotional support to terminally ill people and their families. This could be anything from providing companionship to a patient, to helping a family after a bereavement.
Working alongside the hospice’s Patient and Family Support Team, you’ll be at the heart of the hospice, helping a wide range of people who are receiving St Catherine’s expert end of life care. By joining us as a support visitor volunteer, you’ll meet new people, develop your skills and make a genuine difference in your local community.
Ann Pearson volunteers with St Catherine’s as a Support Visitor. She said: “I’m there to offer a listening ear and shoulder to cry on, if it’s needed. Sometimes speaking to a stranger is easier than sharing with family or friends, people speak more honestly when they don’t have to put on a brave face. I find it very rewarding to be part of the team and I love talking to different people. It’s nice to know you’ve helped someone, even in a small way. One lady, who sadly lost her husband of many years, felt very alone, struggled with self-confidence, and found it difficult to go out. I encouraged her to join one of our bereavement groups once our one to one sessions ended. There she made friends and even planned holidays with them. It was wonderful to see her grow in confidence.”
To get you confidently started in your new, voluntary role, St Catherine’s will provide you with full support and training but you’ll need to show emotional resilience and that you can work within clear boundaries.
If you’re interested in finding out more about this unique opportunity to support local people as life comes full circle, St Catherine’s is holding drop-in sessions across the local area. Your nearest session is on Wednesday 8 February 2017 at St Catherine’s Hospice, Malthouse Road, between 5pm and 7pm. You can also click here or call the Volunteering Team for an application form on 01293 447351. If you’re interested, please get in touch by Tuesday 28 February.
Do something amazing today – Give a little of your time to someone whose time is limited.
