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Volunteer Stories

Our Hospice Neighbour volunteers provide neighbourly, at-home support to local patients in the community. Whether they lend a friendly ear over a cup of tea or help out with grocery shopping, our volunteers make a big impact on the lives of patients and their loved ones. 

Rob is a Hospice Neighbour and has been volunteering with us for just over a year. We spoke to him about his motivations for the role. 

Tell us about your role as a Hospice Neighbour and the patients you support. 

"The main service I provide is what I like to call a sitting service. This simply involves going to a patient's house, making them a cup of tea and having a chat. In our time together we talk, share experiences and occasionally discuss the patient's health. There's no typical Hospice Neighbour in the same way there's no typical patient but there's always a common interest you can share. For me it's music. Everyone I speak to likes music and we can usually find a genre that we both like.  

"Patients may have family and friends, but I also feel there's a space for a volunteer to come and listen to things that maybe the patient wouldn't speak to family about. A patient once asked me to take some notes during my visit and I later found out it was for their own obituary. I feel very privileged to be able to give support in this way."

Rob with Patrick, a patient

How easy was it to apply to be a Hospice Neighbour? 

"I applied online and the application process was very easy. I then came to the Hospice for some training and to learn more about the Hospice Neighbour service. After I received my first patient referral, I arranged a call to discuss a good time to meet. The whole process was very comfortable and the initial contact with the patient felt natural. If you ever have any questions, the Hospice are always there to support you." 

How easy is it to fit the role around your other commitments? 

"There's a great deal of flexibility, and because of this I fit it in alongside my work commitments. It's just like meeting a friend so we usually arrange from one session to the next and drop each other a message if we need to rearrange. Patients often have hospital appointments and other commitments, so we work around each other's schedules."

How would your patients describe you and the impact you have on their lives?  

"When a patient says 'thank you for your friendship' or tells you that they look forward to your visits, this means everything to me, and I realise how powerful this role is. Spending time with a patient also has a positive impact on the whole household. When the main caregiver has some time for themselves, they come back a different person as they've had an opportunity to get out and do something for themselves."

Why should other people apply to be a Hospice Neighbour? 

"Ultimately, it's really rewarding. For people to give you their time and allow you to build a relationship with them when they know their time is limited, that's a precious thing. It's a privilege to spend time with people in their own home and the benefit you see within that household is worth everything. You couldn't pay me for that feeling."

Interested in becoming a Hospice Neighbour? 

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