I have been volunteering in the Orangery cafe on a Wednesday since September since I started sixth form college. I applied as I thought this would be a great opportunity to develop my skills of working as part of a team. I was particularly interested in working for the hospice as I am interested in a medical career and I have had experience of the work the hospice does in supporting families.
In the cafe I work alongside other staff and volunteers, taking orders and preparing drinks as well as making sure the customers have a good experience and enjoy the cafe. My favourite part about volunteering is being able to work with a really supportive team who have helped me gain opportunities outside of the volunteering, but most of all, created a really friendly environment where I enjoy giving up some of my time.
St Mary’s Hospice is special to me because I have personal experience of my Nanna being cared for in the hospice at the end of her life. From this experience I was able to understand more about all of the hard work that goes on at the hospice and appreciate the importance of volunteers and support which is crucial for the hospice to continue to help other families.
If you are thinking about volunteering my advice would be to look for an opportunity which you will enjoy and can help you develop. It is a really valuable way to be able to give up a little bit of your time to places that need it most whilst learning new skills which could help you for the future.