As part of this year’s Volunteers’ Week celebrations, we were thrilled to welcome students to Pendleside Hospice from the Steps to Success programme at Nelson and Colne College Group (NCCG).
Over three days, students rolled up their sleeves and made a real impact to our outdoor space. The Steps to Success programme is a dedicated initiative that supports learners with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). It’s designed to help students develop essential life and employability skills, encouraging confidence, communication, teamwork, and the ability to follow instructions in real-world environments.
This project was part of our wider efforts to recognise and celebrate the incredible role that volunteers play in the day-to-day running of Pendleside. Volunteers’ Week, held nationally in early June, is a key moment in our calendar—an opportunity to shine a spotlight on the generous individuals who help make everything we do possible.
At Pendleside Hospice, we’re incredibly fortunate to be supported by more than 450 dedicated volunteers who generously give their time, compassion, and energy to help us provide the highest standard of care for the people of Burnley and Pendle.
Among them is our passionate team of volunteer gardeners, who work tirelessly throughout the year to keep our Hospice grounds looking beautiful. Their efforts ensure our gardens remain a peaceful and welcoming space, which is full of life and colour in spring and summer, and calm and leafy through autumn and winter. These tranquil spaces are enjoyed by patients, families, and staff, often visited by birds, squirrels, and even the occasional deer.
Maintaining such vast and beautiful grounds can be a challenge—especially in harder-to-reach areas like the one near our donation centre. Thankfully, with the support of students from NCCG, we were able to focus on this space. Their efforts in clearing pathways and overgrown foliage have significantly improved accessibility, and we’re now able to make much better use of the area.
Ian Halstead, Choices Lecturer at NCCG, praised the students’ efforts and said, “The students are amazing! They absolutely have the skills and qualities they need to get into employment and hopefully this week will help give them that belief as well and strengthen the employability skills they’ll need when they finish college. It’s all about developing communication, teamwork, respecting each other and knowing what is expected following instruction to go into employment.”
Our Volunteer Coordinator, Lisa Clarke, also shared her appreciation, “It’s important for us to build strong links with our local community, including our schools and colleges. The students are our future generation, and by involving them in hands-on projects, we’re not only providing them with valuable experience, but we’re also raising awareness about our services among younger people.”
In fact, we’ve been lucky to have many Nelson and Colne College Group students volunteer with us in a variety of roles over the years, from placements in our clinical departments to positions in fundraising, retail, and administration. Watching these young people grow in confidence and develop new skills while supporting their local community has been one of the most rewarding aspects of our work with the College.
Looking ahead, we hope to continue building our relationship with NCCG. Plans are already in place for the students to return and sow wildflower seeds in the area they helped clear, creating a colourful and welcoming garden that they can take pride in nurturing over time.
As we celebrate Volunteers’ Week, we want to take a moment to thank every single person who has ever given their time to Pendleside Hospice. From teenagers on their first work placement to retirees offering decades of experience, volunteers remain at the very heart of who we are.
If you’d like to join our incredible team of volunteers, read more about our volunteering opportunities or email us at: [email protected].