Hospice at Home West Cumbria

Volunteer Roles at West Cumbria Hospice at Home

Becoming a volunteer for Hospice at Home West Cumbria widens your horizons, gives you the opportunity to make new friends and to have a whole new social life. Hospice at Home West Cumbria could not survive without its team of volunteers, to whom we extend our grateful thanks for all their support.  Volunteers are valued members of the Hospice team.

Allison Jackson is Hospice at Home West Cumbria's Volunteer
Co-Ordinator.  Allison recruits new volunteers, and supports
those already working for the organisation.  If you'd like to discuss
any aspect of volunteering for Hospice at Home West Cumbria
please ring Allison on 01900 705200.

Service Volunteer Roles

The following volunteering opportunities are currently available
with the service side of Hospice at Home West Cumbria:

• Day Care Assistant
  
  This is a varied role that includes encouraging social activities and providing support and a listening ear for all those guests attending a day centre. Volunteers also make and serve cold and hot drinks throughout the day, serve the lunches and encourage guests to participate to ensure that their day has been fulfilling and enjoyable. Day Centres are held weekly in Whitehaven and Maryport at present.
  
  
• Drivers
  
  This is an important role.  We need careful drivers with their own vehicle to transport guests to Day Centres. The drivers collect the guests from their homes in the morning and take them to the Day Centres and pick them up in the afternoon and return them home again.  We pay volunteers travel expenses at 40p per mile.

• Befriender

• This is an important service for patients, and for their carers and family.  It aims to provide companionship and support, and can give people a vital link to the community.  Befrienders visit a patient for a few hours each week, perhaps taking them out socially or for shopping, or possibly reading, chatting or just watching TV together.  Befrienders are not expected to do any nursing, and the service does not include any personal care, domestic help or looking after pets.  People wishing to become befrienders have to attend an induction programme before they can start work. 

• 
  Support Group Assistant
  
  Another varied role helping at support group meetings, again supporting the paid staff who run these groups and providing a listening ear when necessary.  Volunteers make and serve drinks and generally help with the running of the group.  We run support groups in Cockermouth, Millom, and Whitehaven.
  
  
  

Training

All our service volunteers attend induction training, where they learn about the work of the various departments within Hospice at Home. On the job training is then delivered in most areas but specific training is given for Day Care Assistants.

• Fundraising:
  
  Volunteer fundraisers are vital to Hospice at Home West Cumbria.  We are extremely grateful that so many dedicated friends already volunteer their time and talents but we urgently need more people to join us to help achieve our fundraising goals. Ring Gillian in the Fundraising Office on  01900 873173 or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
  
  
• Charity Shops:
  
  Hospice at Home West Cumbria has charity shops in Cleator Moor, Cockermouth and Workington. Sales assistants are always needed to work in the shops, helping to sort goods and serve customers.  If you are interested in working in one of the shops either give the fundraising office a ring on 01900 873173 or call in at the shop for a chat.
  
  
• Membership:
  
  For a small annual subscription (minimum £5) you can join the Hospice at Home West Cumbria Members Association. As a member you will receive regular newsletters to keep you in touch with everything that is going on and you will be entitled to vote at the General Meetings of the Association.

How Do I Become A Volunteer For Hospice At Home West Cumbria?

You can either ring Allison on 01900 705200 or complete the form below.