EACH is keen to hear from anyone willing to join its Help at Home team. Volunteers have the chance to make an “invaluable, life-changing” contribution by helping families receiving support from a leading children’s hospice.
Volunteers are matched with the family of a child receiving care. They then have an opportunity to provide vital practical support with things like gardening, shopping, cooking, vacuuming, dog walking, washing and ironing.
“The service is so important because it gives families much-needed support with everyday tasks – things they may otherwise struggle to get done amid their busy lives,” said EACH Help at Home Volunteer Co-ordinator Anne Rayner.
“It takes the pressure off and, from a volunteering perspective, it gives people the opportunity to forge relationships and directly help. It’s hugely rewarding and something people enjoy doing.”
Volunteers do not need to commit to a regular time slot, any time offered by volunteers is enough to make a real difference. Training and support is provided, with training dates throughout the year.
“Our training days are very informal and take place within a friendly, welcoming atmosphere,” said Anne.
“Our volunteers enjoy meeting and chatting and we always stop to enjoy lunch together, as well as having a hospice tour. We cover various topics and the idea is to prepare people, so they don’t have unanswered questions by the time they go into a family’s home.”
For more information about the service, email: volunteerservices@each.org.uk
or call 01223 800800 (select option four).
