Help the Hospices: the changing face of volunteering

Volunteer Anne Baker (right) helped with fundraising and hairdressing at LOROS hospice, Leicestershire, in the mid 1980s. "These two ladies, I remember, wanted their hair doing. And I did it with much trepidation because I didn't like hospitals really, never have done. But I know what it's like when I want my hair doing and there's nobody there to do it – you feel awful don't you? I did it from that day on, every week… Many, many happy times.” Photograph: Eyes Wide Open/PR

Hospice volunteers line up to meet the Queen during a visit to St Christopher’s hospice in August 1988 led by volunteer service co-ordinator Marilyn Sumner (left) and Dame Cicely Saunders (middle). Today, more than 125,000 volunteers give their free time to support patients in hospices throughout the UK, making a contribution estimated to be more than £112m. If hospices did not have volunteers and had to employ paid staff, their costs would increase by around a quarter. Hospices face considerable challenges in the future as demand for hospice care is expected to increase significantly in the next 10-15 years, driven largely by the UK’s ageing population. The effective use of trained and empowered volunteers will be key how hospices respond to these challenges. Photograph: Eyes Wide Open/PR

In the past, hospice volunteering was generally dominated by middle-aged or older, retired women. They were pivotal in helping hospices raise much needed charitable funds from the local community. Volunteer co-ordinator from St Christopher’s Hospice Marilyn Sumner (left) is pictured with two volunteers running a jumble sale stand to help raise funds for the hospice. Volunteers have also always offered hospitality to patients and visitors, and undertaken practical tasks including driving patients to and from appointments and treatment. Over the years their roles have expanded to include more direct care and support. Volunteering has become more formalised and structured as it has developed over the last four decades, but the central ethos of warmth, compassion and kindness remains the same. Photograph: Eyes Wide Open/PR

Hospices are increasingly aware of the value of the informal friendship and support that volunteers can bring, in addition to professional care. Karene Shuriah (right) said the befriending support she received had helped greatly. “When I first met Pearl (left), my volunteer befriender, she came in and gave me a big hug, it said it all. I felt like I could talk to her, and you know, share anything. I shared a lot with her. She can see the improvement but I have helped myself as well. It’s helped me a great deal, just to be able to offload... I have a lot to say. It helped to talk and talk.” Photograph: Eyes Wide Open/PR

Today hospice volunteers come from a wide variety of backgrounds and ages, often reflecting the diversity of those using their local hospice. They support families and others facing loss, as well as supporting people living with a terminal illness. Arvind Parnar (right), who was married for 54 years recently lost his wife Sharda and receives support from befriender Loosa Lafitte (left). “I never thought I would require this help… but I have had three or four sessions so far after it happened and that helped me a lot. It’s helping me get out of my misery. I would recommend it to anybody now. Loosa is a wonderful person, an angel. This is an excellent service for people.”
Photograph: Claire Donaldson/PR

Hospice volunteers help people who are living with a terminal illness to manage their condition, live independently and stay as well as possible despite the challenges they face. Volunteer Ed Singleton (left) – from the Empowered Living Team (ELT) Project, run by St Joseph’s Hospice in Hackney – supports patient Lily Lock (right). Lily experiences problems with breathlessness, caused by her respiratory condition. She is receiving support and encouragement from the ELT to work towards her goal of being able to walk along her street to reach the GP's surgery – a journey she would otherwise have to make by taxi. Hospices are always looking for more volunteers and particularly young people to help them support more people. Photograph: Eyes Wide Open/PR

In the future specially trained volunteers will have a stronger role in providing direct care and support to people affected by terminal illness or a life-limiting condition – families and carers – offering practical and social support, basic care, advocacy and help accessing information. The overall impact of expanding the volunteer workforce will mean that hospices will have the opportunity to reassess the mix of specialist, generalist and volunteer contributions to care. It will allow hospices to reach more people, in a variety of contexts, in multiple ways that reflect people’s different needs and wants. Photograph: The Cicely Saunders Collection at King’s College London Archive/PR

Volunteering in hospices is a hugely rewarding experience. It offers people the opportunity to use their skills and personality to make a difference to people at a very difficult time of their lives. Volunteers often learn new skills and make new friends at the same time. Anita Brir (left) listens to volunteer Richard Livingstone (right). "I've been volunteering at St Joseph's for eight years now. I am a full-time artist and help out once a week in the Day Centre," says Richard. "Initially, I was very nervous about actually hanging around people who were dying. I go once a week and pamper them, chat to them, make them laugh." Photograph: Eyes Wide Open/PR

Tex Marsh takes part in arts activities at his local hospice. In addition to providing leisure opportunities, these activities are also used as part of bereavement support programmes, particularly for children. “I started coming here last year because my friend Laurie told me about the ‘Doodle Club’ art group. It’s interesting and Eileen (volunteer) puts you in a good frame of mind. She always finds things to do that are good fun and challenging. I also come to the hospice because our Hackney Empire Elders Group also meets there – we’re all people who love the theatre. There’s lots of things happening here that you wouldn’t expect.” Photograph: Eyes Wide Open/PR

Hospice care is about much more than medical and nursing treatment and draws on therapies such as massage or acupuncture to improve the wellbeing of patients, their families and carers. Volunteers are vital in helping deliver this personalised, holistic approach to care. Carer Hilda Mose looks after her husband Joe who had a stroke. “I love meeting people, I am a people person. I normally get a foot massage or a hand massage. It’s lovely. It’s the most relaxing thing I have ever had. I was never worried about coming here. I came in thinking if I like the place and the people I will come back, and we come here all the time.” The exhibition will run at gallery@oxo, Oxo Tower Wharf until Sunday 2 March. It will be open from 11am-6pm. Admission is free. Photograph: Eyes Wide Open/PR