Would you like to gain work experience, meet people and develop new skills?
LOROS needs you! LOROS Hospice relies on volunteers to support its work. From working on its snack bar to volunteering in its shops, people who give up their time help LOROS to support patients and their families as well as improving their own CV.
You can find out more about a whole host of different volunteering opportunities at the LOROS Volunteers Fair on Saturday 26th January from 10am-2pm.
“Our 1,700 volunteers work in almost every area of LOROS,” said Minaxi Patel, Volunteering Manager at LOROS. “They are the absolute lifeblood of our work and we are very lucky to have a wide variety of different volunteers all with different motivations for helping us. Older volunteers often have great experience and skills whilst younger volunteers want to take the next step in their careers.
“Volunteering can give you so many opportunities – for example working in our shops will provide experience of handling money and knowledge about retail whilst helping in our snack bar will help you gain a level 2 food hygiene certificate which you can take on to a future job. There’s something for everyone.”
Alice Jenkyn, 18, from Quorn, volunteers at LOROS Hospice as a ward companion. “My role involves supporting the patients and their families. I walk around the ward, see if anyone needs a chat, wants to talk or needs a bit of a break”, said Alice.
“I really feel like I have an impact on patients. The nurses are busy and whilst they always stop to talk to patients, I can give them lots of time, so they don’t feel like they are bothering the nurses.
“I would definitely recommend volunteering here. It’s rewarding, very rewarding. All the patients want to have a chat with you and they mostly have a smile on their faces so it’s lovely.”
Alice’s volunteering is also helping her towards her career of choice. “I’m studying at Loughborough College on a health and social care course. I have to do 120 hours on a placement as part of my course, so I’ve chosen to do that here. I want to go on to do an apprenticeship in nursing, which will help me become a qualified nurse.”
Rebecca Jennings, 29, from Leicester, has been volunteering on the snack bar in LOROS Hospice for nearly ten years. She said: “I wanted to give something back so I decided to help out. I work full time too so needed the flexibility of volunteering on a Saturday and LOROS could offer that.”
“The role has definitely helped me to grow as a person. Communication is really key. It’s not just serving coffee and tea to patients and their families, it’s much more than that. After ten years I know when to have a chat and when to let them talk and just be a friendly face.”
Hugo Vera, 19, is in the first year of a graphic design degree at Loughborough University and volunteers in the Loughborough shop three days a week for a couple of hours. “I had never worked before but wanted to get some first-hand job experience. I used to come into this shop to browse so I knew it looked like a great place to work. Now I’m picking up loads of skills, working on the till, sorting the clothes and I really love it.
“Longer term I plan to look for a job using the skills I’ve picked up here, but for the time being I’m really comfortable volunteering here.”
Helen Kavanagh, 17, from Loughborough, has been volunteering in Day Therapy for over a year. “I started at LOROS because I needed to do 40 hours volunteering as part of my course, but I’ve kept coming after completing that as it’s so lovely.
“I look out for some of the patients I know really well and it’s lovely to have a catch up with them. I used to be really quiet but volunteering has boosted my confidence and I can have a chat with anyone now.”
Serena Patel, 26, from Thorpe Astley, works full time and volunteers once a month in the Hospice cafe. “It’s really satisfying volunteering for LOROS. At first I wasn’t sure how to talk to patients and their families, sometimes people are a bit emotional. Now I’m really relaxed and find it much easier.
“I’d definitely recommend volunteering here. I get lots of support and the other volunteers are so friendly. I’ll be continuing for a good while.”
Have you got a few hours to spare? Thinking of volunteering? Find out more about the LOROS Volunteers Fair at loros.co.uk/volunteer
