This week (June 3 - 9, 2024) is Volunteers Week – an annual celebration of volunteers and the difference they make every day.
Rennie Grove Peace Hospice Care has a 1,600-strong volunteer workforce and couldn’t deliver many of its services and functions without the local people who volunteer their time in more than 100 different roles.
The hospice care charity is using the week as an opportunity to say a huge thank you to each and every one of its volunteers, as well as turning the spotlight on the volunteers and focusing on what they get out of giving their time and energy.
Caroline, from St Albans, found volunteering to be a great stepping stone back in to work after some time out of the workplace.
She said: "Volunteering as a web support volunteer with Rennie Grove Peace was a key step in returning to work as I was able to get used to structure and routine again while getting my teeth into work I enjoyed, but without pressure."
When a role became vacant in the charity’s digital marketing team Caroline had the confidence and skills needed to successfully apply for the role and now works part time supporting the charity’s fundraising activity.
Richard volunteers as a counsellor at the charity’s Grove House site and has done since he was training as a counsellor – something he embarked on at the age of 75.
He says: "I absolutely love what I do. I’m not getting any younger and I just want to spend my time doing something that I enjoy and other people benefit from.
"My counselling role is exactly that. I get a lot of satisfaction from helping people."
As well as boosting their wellbeing or supporting their career ambitions, many volunteers enjoy meeting new people and making friends through their volunteering.
Kathy and Anne volunteer in the Rennie Grove Peace Inpatient Unit in Watford and have become firm friends since being assigned to the same shift around five years ago.
Kathy says: "It’s nice to see the same staff and volunteers each time we’re in. There’s a volunteer nurse on the unit on Thursday mornings and we really enjoy working with her, too. We’ve all become good friends."
To find out what you could gain from volunteering, visit the charity’s website today, email volunteers@renniegrovepeace.org or call the volunteering team on 01727 731020 to discuss the right role for you.
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