Pendleside Hospice

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Helping Pendleside as a Volunteer

Why do we need volunteers?
Ever since the Hospice began in the late 1980s, it has been a community project. It could not have happened without volunteers taking part in all the wide range of activities.

The need for hospice care in Burnley and Pendle is increasing and Pendleside Hospice relies on the generosity of the community to continue its vital work for the terminally ill.  We are indebted to our supporters who help us in a variety of ways, including making donations towards our considerable running costs, as well as in practical ways as volunteers

Volunteers are a vital and important part of the Hospice team. They can be employed, unemployed or retired, homemakers or business people. But all are caring, concerned people who have chosen to become part of a growing family of Hospice workers. Their own skills are supplemented by training from the professional staff.

The following are just a few examples of where volunteers can make a big difference, where interests and skills can be put to good use:

Patient care

Support work

Our shops

How are volunteers trained? Hospice volunteers receive both in-house and external training. For all hospice-based volunteers (located in patient areas) there is a general induction course and annual fire awareness training, which they must attend prior to commencement as a volunteer.

Most importantly, these sessions enable a number of like-minded people to come together, to share the experience, learn together and potentially answer questions that they may not have thought of prior to the course. 

These courses usually run over 4 sessions every six months or sooner, depending upon demand and staff availability.
Some of the comments received from attendees include:

“interesting”               “thought-provoking”              “clear”           “practical”                   “enjoyable”

Having completed the induction course, volunteers are given your own copy of our Volunteer Handbook, together with a Volunteer Agreement, which provide a lot of background information about volunteering at the Hospice.

There is other key training learnt on-the-job, specific to the area a volunteer is placed and will involve shadowing existing experienced volunteers. Staff will also be on hand to help with training and support generally, together with role-specific handbooks to provide further guidance.

Placements
Each volunteer applying to work in the Hospice comes to discuss volunteering and placement opportunities.  Every attempt will be made to assign a volunteer to their area of particular interest. However, at certain times this may not be possible as certain areas can become ‘saturated’ with volunteers and alternative placements are offered in areas where the Hospice most needs assistance at that time.

Volunteers may undertake to help us on a weekly, bi-weekly, monthly or on an as needed / ad hoc basis.

Commitment of time
While volunteers are not required to give a predetermined number of hours per year, we do expect you to complete any placements you accept. We’re also aware that there may be times when you are not able to volunteer and ask for as much notice as possible to get cover.

Hospice volunteer’s qualities

What the Hospice can offer in return
At the same time, we hope to give in return, whether it is:
Life experience
Socialisation
Career prospects
Friendship circle
Self-worth / self esteem
Professional and personal skills

You CAN do it and you WILL be VALUABLE, do not doubt it!!


Volunteer meetings / open events

We like to involve and support volunteers in all that we do at the Hospice. Pendleside Hospice welcomes all new volunteers to our team

Please contact Christine Ainsworth on 01282 440100 or e-mail christine.ainsworth@pendleside.org.uk