Caring  where it matters – helping people with life-limiting illness

Hospice At Home Volunteers (HHV) has provided 20 years of friendship and support to people and their carers with life-limiting illness. Volunteers visit clients at home, spending time doing a variety of activities depending on the clients’ needs and interests. Volunteers aren’t expected to provide any medical care or do housework; the role is as a supportive ‘friend’, so might include spending time reading aloud, chatting or just being there. The visits provide support to carers too, allowing them time away from what can be a stressful and emotionally demanding role.

HHV are running a volunteer training course later this month, so if you are interested in becoming a volunteer now is the perfect time to get in touch. Karen Head, Volunteer Organiser for Hospice at Home, explains what sorts of people make good visitors, ‘We are looking for people who are able to share some time with clients, can show support, empathy and trust and offer a little fun”. It can be helpful if you have had some experience of bereavement but due to the nature of role, it isn’t appropriate for those who are recently bereaved.

The training will enable you to gain new skills in listening, communication, feelings and self expression and will give you the chance to find out how rewarding the role is from other volunteers and guest speakers. The course, to be held in central Leighton Buzzard, starts on Tuesday 23 May at 7.30pm for approximately two hours and will run every Tuesday for 6 weeks.

Karen says, ‘If you are interested in finding out more, don’t be frightened to pick up the phone, it doesn’t commit you to anything and we are more than happy to talk through the role in more detail. Alternatively why not take the opportunity to meet and chat with representatives at Leighton Buzzard library the week before the course starts’.

For further information on this opportunity please contact Georgina Sorrell, Volunteer Adviser at the Volunteer Centre on 01525 850559 or email volunteer@action-southbeds.org.uk  If you would like to explore other volunteering opportunities that are available in South Bedfordshire please contact Georgina for a Volunteering Directory or to arrange an informal chat.