National Volunteer Week 2022
Chief Executive, Alison Moorey and Chair of Trustees Soline Jerram share their thanks for our fantastic volunteers…
This National Volunteer Week, St Wilfrid’s Hospice is also celebrating its 35th anniversary. We can honestly say that without volunteers this momentous mile stone could not have been reached.
We can only do what we do as a charity, providing free expert care and compassion to our local community, thanks to all of our volunteers amazing support.
So this National Volunteer Week we thank the 450 volunteers who together, give on average, 889 hours of dedication, care and support to the Hospice each week.
Throughout the pandemic we have seen incredible flexibility from all of our volunteers in so many ways. It has been so amazing to see how many of the volunteer roles have been able to continue, from the volunteers supporting the ward team and patients, the community support team, hospice visitors, gardeners, shop volunteers and so many others.
We would also like to pay tribute to Volunteer Co-Ordinator’s Emma and Lynn for their commitment in ensuring all the volunteers can choose to come back to us in their own way, in their own time.
We know that our local catchment population is growing, and aging. Our expert clinical and medical teams are supporting people who are receiving terminal diagnoses younger, and with more complex cases than ever.
There is no doubt the last two years have tested all of us.
But with the St Wilfrid’s Hospice volunteers we have a group of quietly inspirational people to help us prepare and meet the challenges of the future.
Thank you all, for everything you do.
Alison Moorey, Chief Executive
Soline Jerram, Chair of Trustees
The Donnington and Apuldram Fundraising Supporter Group was started at the same time that the concept of having a hospice built in Donnington (Chichester) was suggested, over 35 years ago.
It is encouraging for new members to know that they can belong to the same group for many years. Volunteers gradually learn to work with each other and appreciate their different strengths. It gives a joint sense of purpose and helps bind the group together.
During Covid it was not possible to run our usual events but one very enterprising local resident grew garden plants, while one of our members made and sold masks on line and sold jigsaw puzzles. And each year we sell the official Hospice Christmas Cards, which are always popular. Now that restrictions have been lifted, we have been able to run a Jumble Sale and held our annual Quiz Night.
We work hard to raise money, have a lot of laughs and a wonderful camaraderie within the Group. All of which gives us immense satisfaction at being able to continue to support the Hospice in its’ vital work of providing care to local people, when they most need it.
The Donnington and Apuldram Fundraising Supporter Group
