We are on the third day of National Volunteers Week 2020 and we are celebrating the contribution that people make by volunteering for Hospice at Home West Cumbria. We would like to say heartfelt thanks to each and every one of our amazing volunteers.

 

This is Ruth Schofield. We asked her to give us some feedback on her experience as a volunteer and this is what she told us:

 

My name is Ruth Schofield and I started volunteering for Hospice at Home West Cumbria in 2001. I am part of a small fundraising team based in Gosforth and Seascale.

 

Why do you volunteer for Hospice at Home West Cumbria?

 When I retired, I wanted to do some charity work and knew there was a local group supporting a charity I thought was doing great work. I had heard about Dame Cicely Saunders (the founder of the modern Hospice movement) and thought highly of what she had established.

 

What are the best things about volunteering for Hospice at Home West Cumbria?

 The friendships and team spirit within the local group and knowing that we are contributing to enable people with a terminal illness to be nursed at home.

 

Do you have a memorable experience of volunteering for Hospice at Home West Cumbria that you would like to share?

 No single memorable experience, but having spent several hours over the years sitting at the Hospice collecting table at various store collections between Cockermouth and Millom, I have been impressed by the wide variety of people who have been keen to donate easily to a charity which is local and also how many of them comment that Hospice has helped a member of their family. Many teenagers will pass us and then having realised who we are, turn back donate and say “you helped my Gran”. That makes volunteering really worthwhile.

 

If someone asked you about volunteering for Hospice at Home West Cumbria, what would you say?

 Do get involved. The amount of money which has to be raised locally is huge but it is such a good cause. There are several roles for volunteers, choose one which makes good use of your skills or one which you can do conveniently for you. It doesn’t have to be one of the big events.   In my case, I decided I could use my skills best by fundraising; I joined a local group, some of whom had been volunteering since the start of Hospice at Home West Cumbria. We run several relatively small events each year, usually at least 5 coffee mornings and one slightly larger event such as providing stalls and refreshments at an open garden day. There is a group of about 16, some of whom work at each event and because we do things together regularly we have developed a really good team spirit and enjoy ourselves in the process. We meet socially for lunch about once a month. Recently it’s been at Seascale Golf Club, and this helps to keep us up to date with Hospice matters and our future plans as well as giving us a good time together.  Some of us will also volunteer at other Hospice events, collecting in stores, selling raffle tickets etc. On the whole we keep to the South of Copeland (Whitehaven to Millom), although we do venture as far as Cockermouth. We usually raise between £2,500 and £5,000 per year. For instance, in 2018 we raised £3,045.24. Over the years this must have amounted to a very large sum.  So, if there isn’t such a group in your area, why don’t you and your friends form one and start fund raising?

 

Thank you to Ruth for sharing her story. We really value the contribution from all our fundraising volunteers, and are eternally grateful for all their hard work and dedication to our cause.

If you would like more information about becoming a fundraising volunteer, please contact Teresa McCall our Volunteer Coordinator on info@hhwc.org.uk to register your interest and she will get back to you