Caring  Where it Matters –
Helping People with Life-limiting Illness

Hospice At Home Volunteers (HHV) has provided 20 years of care 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. HHV are looking for friendly, caring people who are interested in developing their skills and meeting new people, to become Volunteer Visitors.

As a volunteer, you could be asked to sit with a client, take a client shopping or accompany them to other local places of interest.  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.  In short, you will become part of the support network available to people coping with life-limiting illness. Val, a HHV volunteer for the past 12 years, explains the benefits of volunteering as a visitor, ‘I find my involvement with HHV very rewarding. I meet some lovely people and feel privileged to be allowed into their homes at such a difficult time.’

All potential volunteers will receive two days training in palliative care. Further training is offered in Child Protection Awareness, Protection Of Vulnerable Adults and Moving and Handling Awareness. The personal development of volunteers is addressed through speakers at meetings and support from the volunteer co-ordinators and peer group.

HHV are running a volunteer training course this month, so if you are interested in becoming a volunteer now is the perfect time to get in touch.

Miriam Prewer, Volunteer Coordinator for Hospice at Home, explains what sorts of people make good visitors, ‘We are looking for caring people who would like to be involved in giving emotional and practical support to people experiencing a life-limiting illness.’ 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 existing volunteers and guest speakers. The two-day course, to be held at the Disability Resource Centre, Dunstable, will run on Thursday 22nd and Tuesday 27th of March.

Miriam says, ‘If you are interested in finding out more, just give us a call - it won’t commit you to anything. We are more than happy to talk through the role in more detail either over the phone or in person at our offices at the Disability Resource Centre.’

For further information on this opportunity please contact Lucy or Rebecca 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 the Volunteer Centre for a Volunteering Directory or to arrange an informal chat.

- Ends

About Voluntary and Community Action South Bedfordshire
Voluntary and Community Action is committed to strengthening the effectiveness of the voluntary and community sector in South Bedfordshire by developing, enabling, promoting and supporting voluntary and community action. It seeks to achieve this through advocacy; capacity building activities; enhancing the provision of volunteering opportunities; the exchange of information; the provision of training; advice and consultancy; and by working in partnership with others.

Contact:           Georgina Sorrell, Volunteering Adviser
Address:          Bossard House
                       West Street
                       Leighton Buzzard
                       Bedfordshire LU7 1DA
Telephone:       01525 850559                                        Email:              volunteer@action-southbeds.org.uk