Blog: Your Year to Volunteer – And Why It Makes You “Part of the Family”

“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” – Mahatma Gandhi 

Where do we even begin when explaining how important our volunteers are to the work of St Catherine’s Hospice? 

We could start with the numbers, but that only scratches the surface. 

More than 600 incredible people generously give their time, skills, energy, patience and compassion to support our services, completely free of charge. Estimating that each volunteer gives an average of 3 hours a week, together, they contribute the equivalent of over £1.2 million in labour each year.  

It’s remarkable — but it still doesn’t fully capture the true value of what our volunteers bring. 

What Does Volunteering Look Like at St Catherine’s? 

It’s impossible to qualify or quantify the value of the kindness and support that volunteers show to our patients, their families but also to our staff. 

Volunteers are the backbone of our shops but also help out in The Mill café and across the wider Hospice services.  

In addition, they are found in the team who keep St Catherine’s Park stunningly beautiful. The latter includes short-term corporate volunteers, whose hard work and dedication enable us to keep 23 acres of ecologically important parkland in good form. 

Local people also volunteer their time in many other aspects of our service, including In-Patient care, our Befriending service, counselling the bereaved, greeting at reception and across our professional services. 

That’s all priceless. 

Days at the Hospice can be filled with joy but can also be deeply challenging. Having volunteers as extra support is an immeasurable boost for employees. 

Why Do People Volunteer? 

The reasons people choose to volunteer with us are as varied as the roles themselves. 

For many, it’s a deeply personal decision — a way to give back in memory of a loved one who received care at St Catherine’s. 

For others, volunteering brings a renewed sense of purpose. It provides meaning in retirement or a fulfilling way to spend spare time. 

Another reason is often that being part of a team, and helping people at their most vulnerable time, provides an important sense of belonging and adds purpose and inclusion into their life. 

One of the advantages of being a volunteer is that you can learn skills and gain on the job experience. The latter is why some young people use volunteering as a stepping stone into a new job or career. 

Sometimes, people don’t want their skills to go ‘waste’ at the end of their career, or they are keen to keep their body and mind active in retirement. 

The benefits of volunteering also include the opportunity to make new friends of course. Giving up time each week to help in a busy community charity shop or at The Mill café can open up a lot of human interaction and socialising. 

Becoming Part of the Family 

Whatever brings someone to volunteer with us, we hope they gain something truly special in return — a sense of belonging. 

At St Catherine’s, we work hard to create a safe, inclusive and supportive environment where everyone feels valued, recognised and heard. Our volunteers are not just helping hands — they are part of our family. A diverse, welcoming community united by compassion. 

And while we strive to show our appreciation all year round, moments like National Volunteer Week give us an extra opportunity to say a big THANK YOU to you all. 

“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” —Helen Keller 

Is this your year to volunteer? 

To explore the opportunities at St Catherine’s Hospice, please visit our Volunteering page  to discover the latest volunteering opportunities. https://www.stcatherines.co.uk/support-us/volunteering/ 

It’s important to be aware that a Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check may be required for some volunteering roles. 

Volunteer counsellor Shima said the most meaningful part of her day is simple: being there for someone who needs it. 

“People often tell me how grateful they are that I took the time to listen,” she says. “I don’t do it for the thanks — but it reminds me that what I’m doing matters.” 

Corporate volunteers from EE helping our park to thrive, for the good of the whole community. If your place of work offers the opportunity for corporate volunteering and you or your wider team would like to see what opportunities are available, please contact corporate.volunteering@stcatherines.co.uk

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