VOLUNTEER WEEK: ‘St Catherine’s isn’t a scary place; you really feel part of the team.’

When 18-year-old Lauren Bolton started volunteering in the inpatient unit at the hospice, her main aim was to gain work experience in a medical environment.

But she soon developed a more personal connection to the charity after her grandma was cared for at the hospice in September 2015.

“That became a bigger reason to volunteer and give something back,” she explains. “I also enjoy meeting all the different people, from nurses to patients, and having meaningful conversations with them. I really love it.”

Lauren, from Clayton-le-Woods, is studying chemistry, biology and maths at college, and also works part-time with another charity which supports young people with disabilities – another role which she finds rewarding.

She volunteers at St Catherine’s every other week, fitting volunteering around her other responsibilities.

“I carry out general ward duties while I’m at the hospice, such as the drinks and meal trays,” she adds. “It’s good to get a different perspective from working in a hospital or a GP surgery. St Catherine’s aims to be really patient-centred, focusing on making people feel at home and more comfortable, so it’s a nice feeling to be able to contribute to that.”

– To find out more about volunteering with St Catherine’s, click here, email volunteerdepartment@stcatherines.co.uk or call 01772 629171.

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