Rakesh is inspired to give his time and skills after first visit to St Catherine’s and The Mill

When Rakesh Nayee offered to volunteer for a day at St Catherine’s through his employer, he didn’t expect to be visiting such a ‘vibrant’ and ‘welcoming’ place.

Rakesh, from Preston, works for Lloyds Banking head office in Halifax, and the company encourages its employees to spend a day volunteering for a worthy cause each year.

In December, Rakesh chose to spend his day at The Mill café and community hub.

“I’ve heard so many stories about the great work of St Catherine’s, and a lot of people have personal experiences with the hospice, and with illnesses such as cancer,” he said. “It’s an amazing cause, but I’d never actually visited before until I came to volunteer in the café for the day.

“The Mill is fantastic and it’s a great idea; it’s such a vibrant and friendly place, and the hospice itself is so peaceful, reassuring and welcoming. I love the grounds as well, it’s a lovely atmosphere.”

The 36-year-old added: “It’s really made me want to do more for the charity and consider doing different volunteering roles here because I know how much St Catherine’s depends on volunteers. I’d love to apply more of my skills to help St Catherine’s if I can.”

Stephen Greenhalgh, chief executive of the hospice, said: “It’s really encouraging to hear that Rakesh’s first impressions of St Catherine’s have been so positive.

“The idea behind The Mill, which opened two years ago, was not only to raise vital funds for St Catherine’s, but to raise awareness of the charity too, and provide a gateway into the hospice environment for people who haven’t come into contact with us before. Through The Mill, we are breaking down barriers and changing perceptions of what hospices are all about.”

He added: “It’s thanks to the commitment and generosity of our 700 dedicated volunteers that the charity is able to make such a difference to the lives of thousands of people across Central Lancashire.”

– If you would like to know more about the wide range of corporate and individual volunteering opportunities at St Catherine’s Hospice and The Mill, please click here, email volunteerdepartment@stcatherines.co.uk or call 01772 629171.

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