Recognising & Rewarding Your Volunteers

Jenny Burrows has volunteered at Isabel Hospice for five years. She first worked at the hospice helping the volunteer engagement team at head office, creating name badges for volunteers and supporting general office duties. After lockdown she moved to the Isabel Hospice Living Well hub at Hall Grove and has been there ever since. Jenny currently supports the Art group, FAB group and Neurological group and operates the Reception desk at Living Well. Jenny is also a compassionate neighbour, attending regular coffee mornings, connecting with different people and playing games over tea and plenty of cake! Jenny answers some questions about her volunteering journey: Why did you decide to start volunteering? After recovering from a long illness I needed to regain my confidence and a friend recommended applying to Isabel Hospice as a volunteer. I had a bit of experience working in a care home as an activity assistant before this and was looking for a new challenge. How often do you volunteer for Isabel Hospice? This varies throughout the year. Currently, I help out on Tuesdays (compassionate neighbours), Wednesdays (FAB group) and once a month on a Thursday ( Neuro Group). How has volunteering changed you? I feel like I have gained more experience meeting and talking to different people and this has helped me become more confident as a person. What is the best thing about volunteering? I always go home feeling happy that I have made a difference and helped to brighten people’s day with my companionship. What would you say to someone considering volunteering? Go for it, meet new people, learn more skills and make new friendships. It also gives you the chance to make a difference to other people’s lives as well as your own. Finally, would you recommend volunteering to others? Yes I certainly would. Volunteering can be hard at times but also very beneficial. When you are volunteering you get to meet a variety of different people, both young and old. The staff at Isabel Hospice are always there if I need anything and it’s a pleasure being part of a wonderful team and I would not want to volunteer anywhere else. Feeling inspired? Join our Virtual Volunteer Fair on 22nd January, sign up here !

A beautiful story about one volunteer's growth from their first days volunteering, to now, where they offer therapeutic support, fundraising and gardening skills, through her blossoming volunteer journey. Hear Peta's story about volunteering with Growing People . "When I was approaching retirement, I started looking for local opportunities to meet people, learn new skills and hopefully do something positive. I happened to go to a gardening related event in Letchworth and got chatting with a lady from Growing People. I read the leaflet she gave me, and this charity seemed to meet a couple of items on my wish list. I asked if they needed volunteers, and when I heard that they did I decided to get in touch when I had finished working. This was in 2018, and I started volunteering in the summer. I was not confident of being any help, so to begin with I remained with the group who were doing general maintenance tasks while I learned about the site and the charity. I did general weeding, cutting back, planting, tidying and digging. Also I helped with raising and nurturing the herb plants that we sell to the public on site or at local events. Later that year I was offered the chance of training for a Gardener support role, and I began volunteering during one of the Therapy sessions. Here the focus is on the Gardeners we work with. We support their therapeutic goals by helping them to develop their plots; sowing seeds with them and helping them grow their chosen flowers or vegetables to pick or harvest later in the season. We also get to know them and encourage communication and teamwork and sharing plants and harvests. It's great to see how these activities help the Gardeners to gain in confidence. When asked what I get from my volunteering at Growing People I always feel a little selfish as it’s not about me, but in truth I get a vast amount of satisfaction from my time here. I am out in the fresh air come rain or shine, in a wonderfully wild and green space. I get the chance to meet and socialise with other volunteers, the Gardeners and the Horticultural Therapists. I have made good, lasting friendships, and laughed a lot! Oh, and I do some gardening along the way too." If Peta's story has inspired you and you would like to volunteer with Growing People, check out their volunteering opportunities on their GoVolHerts profile

Baldock Young at Heart Club is a small friendly social club for older community members from in and around Baldock. They're looking for musicians, entertainers, or singers to perform for their members for a small fee or donation. The club runs once a month, every second Wednesday, from 2pm - 4pm in the Baldock Community Centre. It is staffed entirely by volunteers and their members pay a small fee to attend, so there are limited funds. They recognise the importance of connection and entertainment can uplift, spirits, bring joy and help overcome feelings of sadness and loneliness which some older people experience. If you are interested in supporting the group and bringing your musical talents to entertain and delight, please contact Karen Ellington on 07814516436 The club is also open to new members. For those living in Baldock with mobility issues, there is a community bus which can pick up and drop home for a small fee. Unfortunately they don’t have any qualified carers so they can only host non-dementia or non-independent community members unless a carer can come with them (they would not charge the fee to carers). They look forward to hearing from anyone interested in joining them either as a member or entertainer.