Karen and Judith’s Volunteer Story

While volunteering is undoubtedly a huge support to our hospice services and operations, it can also provide a huge boost to the volunteer themselves. From gaining work experience and building useful skills to making new friends and connections, our volunteers have seen a range of benefits from giving their time.

For Karen and Judith volunteering as part of our reception and admin teams led to new careers within Teesside Hospice.

Here, Karen and Judith both share why they came to volunteer with us in the first place and how the skills they achieved in doing so helped with their current roles:

Karen, Inpatient Unit Administrator, said: “I had been a stay at home mum for a few years and my son had reached an age where he no longer needed me at home every day. I decided it was time to do something for me but wanted to volunteer somewhere that I felt I was giving something back. My Auntie had been a patient in the Butterwick, so hospice care was close to my heart, Teesside Hospice is literally on my doorstep so I felt I would be giving my time to a local charity.

Once I started to volunteer at the hospice I realised what a special place it is, everyone who works here is so passionate about the service and care we provide, I was made to feel welcome by all the staff and looked forward to coming each week.

I volunteered for about 12 months then a role was advertised on the Inpatient Unit (IPU) as administrator and I was encouraged by some of the staff on IPU to apply. I was offered the job and have never looked back. It has allowed me to grow in confidence and develop the role to become part of the IPU team. A major part of my role is ensuring the Inpatient Unit is staffed accordingly by completing the rotas and covering sickness. I am here to support staff in their holiday and day off requests, shift swaps and helping to organise their training. I organise student placements and support the IPU management team with any tasks as required.

I am very proud to tell people I work for the hospice, and when I see the stories from patients and relatives I feel honoured and humble to be part of Teesside Hospice.”

Judith, Clinical Administrator, added: “I retired and volunteered simply to fill in a few hours of spare time.

In all honesty, I didn’t want to work again, but seeing the worthwhile work that’s carried out in the hospice made me think differently.

Once I settled in, I found that helping the families of patients and showing empathy and being a shoulder to cry on and someone to talk to, I was good at it. And it’s the patients and families that keep me here.”

If you’d like to find out more about volunteering and how it could benefit you, visit our Volunteering page for more information.