New volunteer appeal for hospice events team

Willing volunteers who can’t give up their time regularly are being encouraged to join the hospice events team.

We hold a range of large and small-scale events throughout the year, including Bubble Rush, It’s a Knockout and Paws in the Park. Events team volunteers are required to man stalls, supervise participants and carry out general organisational work. Anyone aged 18 and over can sign up, and no previous experience is needed.

Barbara Cronin, volunteer co-ordinator at the hospice, said: “Our army of events volunteers are vital – without them, we wouldn’t be able to hold the volume of events we do every year. It’s the best way for people who can’t donate time regularly to get involved with volunteering.

“Once you sign up, you will be on a list of people we can contact if we need help on an ad hoc basis. It’s ideal for people who work full time as many of the events take place on weekends.”

The appeal coincides with Volunteers Week, a national initiative organised by the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO). It takes place every year from 1-7 June and aims to highlight the contribution made by volunteers to charities and voluntary groups across the UK.

One of the themes for this year is to emphasise how much volunteering can benefit a person’s own wellbeing, as well as the people they are helping.

“I’ve always said volunteering has to be a two-way thing; the volunteer has to get what they want out of it too,” Barbara added. “It’s rewarding to see people having fun and becoming part of the team.”

Over 250 volunteers of all ages give up their time for the hospice and contributed over 30,000 hours last year.

Jean Thompson-Banks (pictured), 74, is a volunteer who helps the fundraising team to coordinate the events team volunteers. She said: “I feel really valued as a volunteer and I’ve made some good friends, who I see outside of the hospice too.

“People often ask me how I can volunteer at a hospice, ‘where people are dying’, but they don’t understand what it’s like here. It’s a place of fun and of life.”

To find out more about volunteering for the events team, or other volunteering opportunities, call 01226 323616 or email barbara.cronin@barnsley-hospice.org.

Barbara Cronin will be attending celebration lunches for volunteers at the Barnsley Hospice charity shops between 11am and 1pm on the dates below:

4 June – Penistone
5 June – Hoyland
6 June – Eldon Street, town centre
10 June – Cudworth
12 June – Dodworth donation centre

People who would like to volunteer for the hospice are welcome to attend if they want to find out more about what opportunities are available.