Hospiscare Together Magazine Autumn 2020

Volunteering spotlight:
How we are welcoming our volunteers back safely
From mid-March, almost all volunteering at
Hospiscare ceased in line with government
guidance. Our shops went silent and our buildings
became much quieter with visiting and volunteering
restricted. Safety for our volunteers is paramount
as we look to find new ways to continue our
services; ensuring a COVID-19 secure environment
is essential.
Already our valued volunteers are finding ways
to keep involved during this crisis. Roles that
don’t involve entering the hospice were easier
to reinstate, such as maintaining the gardens at
Searle House, Pine Lodge and Kings House for
patients and families to enjoy and find a place
of solace and comfort. Our volunteers know that
for patients and visitors, being out in beautiful
spaces is crucial for physical and emotional
wellbeing. Our trained volunteers continue to offer
supportive phone calls to patients and carers at
home or comfort for those who have suffered a
bereavement.
Fundraising is vital for the continuation of our
services and our volunteers have found creative
ways to continue with fundraising activities. They
have embraced technology by going online to do
plant sales and encouraging friends to support
virtual Open Gardens or bake and collect fresh
home-made cakes.
Importantly too our shops have started to re-open
safely and are managing the volume of donations.
This would not be possible without the support
of our retail volunteers, like Jan Summers who
volunteers in the Crediton Shop. Jan says:
“I returned to volunteering on 10 July; I was keen
to go back but also a bit concerned. I needn’t have
worried – everything was so well organised - face
shields, hand sanitisers, a limit on customers in
the shop – all systems were in place and worked
really well. I am so pleased to be back, seeing
fellow volunteers again and enjoying chatting to
our customers.”
For the time being, the volunteering support offered
directly to patients is still under review as we look
to find safe alternatives, knowing that face-to-face
and physical contact is the cornerstone of patient
care. Our patients are particularly vulnerable, as
are some of our volunteers. We are not limiting
returns to volunteering by age; instead we are
sharing all of the information about our COVID-19
secure measures and risk-assessments and asking
volunteers to self-assess their ability to return.
There are still many roles to which volunteers
cannot yet return, but gradually and in-line with
government advice, we hope to welcome back our
amazing volunteer force, who make such a critical
difference.
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