The hospice is currently celebrating all its fantastic volunteers as part of national #VolunteersWeek.
As part of our celebrations, we have asked a number of volunteers to tell us why they enjoy giving up their time to help at the hospice.
Here are some of their stories:
Barbara Young, Day Hospice volunteer
As a volunteer, Barbara makes patients cups of tea, escorts patients home in the hospice minibus and delivers hand care treatments including manicures and massage.
She said: “It is nice because it makes them feel good, they go home feeling a million dollars.
“I had always wanted to do something towards St Richard’s Hospice because it is a wonderful institution. I find it very fulfilling.”
Richard Jones, volunteer driver
Richard has been volunteering at St Richard’s for ten years, and has taken on a variety of roles including hospice receptionist. He is now a volunteer driver.
He said he volunteers “to repay the hospice for its wonderful care of my mother-in-law.”
Antony Deaves, hospitality volunteer
Antony helps liaise between patients and kitchen staff taking patients’ orders from the hospice menu and relaying them to the kitchen before delivering their meals at lunch time.
He said: “I enjoy helping all the patients and all the families, because the last thing they want to worry about is getting food for their relatives. It is a good place and everyone is friendly.”
Luke Bessant, Day Hospice volunteer
Luke, who has volunteered in Day Hospice for two years, said he enjoys volunteering: “To help and support others.”
Clive Willcox, fundraising volunteer
Clive volunteers in the fundraising department filling envelopes, collating leaflets, inputting data and much more.
He began volunteering around 18 months ago, after his wife, Val, was cared for by St Richard’s.
He said: “Volunteering, for me personally, is not just giving something back because they looked after my wife but this place gives back to me a sense of need – a sense of being required.”