From the friendly faces of the Penguin Patrol who cared for the sculptures, to the welcoming team at Waddle HQ who sold merchandise, every volunteer played a vital role in bringing the trail to life and raising awareness of the charity’s work in the local community.

In total, 89 volunteers supported Waddle-on-Sea, completing 362 shifts across Southend and Leigh-on-Sea. Together, they gifted an incredible 2,508 hours of their time, saving the charity over £30,000 in staff costs.

To celebrate their hard work, a special thank-you event was held earlier this month at Fair Havens Hospice in Southend. Volunteers enjoyed tea and cake while Dawn Hathaway, Head of Organisational Development and People and Interim CEO Louise Bryan expressed their gratitude for their commitment and enthusiasm.

Louise says, “We simply couldn’t have achieved the success of Waddle-on-Sea without our incredible volunteers. Their commitment, positivity and teamwork brought the trail to life, and we’re deeply grateful for the time they so generously gave to the charity.”

Volunteers play a vital role in supporting Havens Hospices throughout the year across a wide range of services. From helping in the charity’s shops and at fundraising events to spending time with patients and assisting behind the scenes, their dedication and generosity of time make a real difference, enabling Havens Hospices to continue providing their specialist care and support to local families when they need it most.

Volunteer Quotes

Julie from Southend and Beth from Westcliff said, “We volunteered for Herd In The City and loved it so much we wanted to volunteer again for Waddle-on-Sea. The art trails bring so much creativity to the city and lifts the surrounding area. It’s such a nice community project too, especially with all the schools and volunteers involved. It brings people together and raises awareness for a good cause – it’s an amazing experience for everyone.”

Lynne from Shoeburyness said, “I previously volunteered for Hares About Town and Herd In The City, so I was keen to get involved with Waddle-on-Sea too, as I love to support local charities. It was a very happy eight weeks! My favourite part was seeing all the families enjoying the trail – the children got so much out of it. Everyone was so supportive of the art trail; it was a great experience for the whole community.”

Julie from Great Wakering said, “I decided to volunteer because I wanted to support a local charity. It was really enjoyable to see people get so much pleasure from Waddle-on-Sea,  especially the children, who loved it. I felt proud walking around and talking to people from all over the country, even some visitors from Belgium who did the trail while visiting family.”

Janet Sutton from Leigh-on-Sea said, “I volunteered in the Waddle HQ shop, and it was a lovely experience. I enjoyed it immensely, especially interacting with all the customers, they were all so positive about the art trail.”

To learn more about the volunteering roles on offer at the charity and how you can get involved, please visit www.havenshospices.org.uk/volunteering.

Published on 29th October 2025