Volunteers’ Week 2024 – meet our volunteers!

We could not operate without the incredible volunteers who support us across all departments of the Hospice. Throughout the last financial year (April 2023 – March 2024) we welcomed 276 new volunteers, bringing our total number up to an amazing 1,130.

The relationship between Dorothy House and our volunteers is reciprocal – they generously donate their time and energy to us, and in return we offer them purpose, friendship, routine and community.

This Volunteers’ Week, hear from some of our amazing team about why they love volunteering for the Hospice.

37% of volunteers we surveyed do it ‘to give something back’

Andy and Karen – Warehouse Volunteers – “It keeps us very active, gives us something to get up for in the morning and we know what we are doing is a great benefit to Dorothy House. It gives us something to do together and we now have more in common with each other.”

Eddie – Coffee Connections Volunteer–  “The people are great. I tend to be working alone, but when you all get together, everybody is helping other and that really spurs me on.”

Ainslie – Shop Volunteer –  “I wanted to do something that would add more structure to my week. So, I applied to be a volunteer in one of the shops and here I am 9 years later! It’s really lovely to be part of it.”

Patsy – Volunteer Gardener – “It’s a lovely group to work with and I thoroughly enjoy working outside. I find people really friendly and easy to talk to and I just enjoy coming here!”

Jane – Volunteer Companion Assessor – “I wanted to get out and meet more people, and people who are maybe not as fortunate as I am. I find people really interesting and if we can add a little bit of quality to their lives and give them something to look forward to each week, that’s great.”

Paul – Volunteer Driver – “I decided when I retired that I wanted to give something back and be a little more useful. Meeting the different patients is really really nice. You sometimes meet people who haven’t seen anyone for 2 or 3 days and it’s great to just chat to them and see what’s going on in their life.”

Anthea – Compassionate Companion – “Sometimes we read to patients, play music, talk to them. It’s about being with them, accompanying them as they are dying. When my time comes die, I would be blessed if I could be supported by Dorothy House.”

If Volunteers’ Week 2024 has got you thinking about volunteering, you can view our current vacancies here for more information.