This year’s Volunteers Week is taking place between 1st – 7th June and celebrates the difference volunteers make to organisations and thanking them for all their time and dedication. The charity has more than 900 volunteers who help in a diverse range of roles, from fundraising, cooking, gardening to working in their charity shops.
The charity’s Volunteer Coordinators know first-hand the difference volunteers make to the charity as they are responsible for supporting volunteers during their time at the charity.
Nikki Bayford, Shop Manager and Volunteer Coordinator at the charity’s Witham shop explains how integral volunteers are to the charity – if it was not for the generous volunteers, she would not be able to operate the shop. She said: “The time volunteers give us for free makes such a big difference to the service we can provide. I would never be able to run the shop the way I do, rotate the stock and have everything prepared and ready for sale if it wasn’t for the wonderful volunteers.
“It is very fulfilling when someone says to you how much they enjoy not only the role they are playing within the shop but also being part of such a worthwhile charity. The volunteers enjoy seeing the sales and Gift Aid figures as it makes them realise how big a part they play, especially when you explain that those figures help to pay a nurse’s salary for the year for example.
“Anyone thinking of volunteering I would say come in and talk to us, were very friendly and love to welcome new people. If you have a couple of hours to spare a week your time is invaluable to us.”
Faye Kadesh, Volunteer Services Manager at Havens Hospices says, “Our hospice care can only exist because of the support and generosity of our volunteers. All our volunteers play an important role to keep the hospice running, whether that is assisting with housekeeping, working on reception, or cooking meals for our patients – each role whatever it is, makes a huge difference to our patients, families and staff. Not only are you making a difference to a local cause, but you also get to meet new people, learn new skills and improve your employment prospects with one more thing to add to your C.V.
“During the pandemic many of our volunteering roles had to be put on hold to keep our volunteers safe and we are so grateful to all those volunteers who have been able to return to their roles and continue to help the charity.”
The volunteers at Havens Hospices come from all walks of life and ages and achieve extraordinary things. The charity is currently recruiting volunteers to assist in their charity shops at various locations across Essex including those who can help within its E-commerce team. The charity is also looking for volunteers to help in the upcoming Hares About Town public art trail coming to Southend over the summer.
To apply for these volunteer vacancies and to find out more about how to play a vital role in helping ‘Making every day count’ for the people the hospice cares for, visit www.havenshospices.org.uk/volunteering
Published 2nd June 2021
