Recognising, celebrating and thanking our wonderful volunteers
Monday 3 June marks the start of Volunteers’ Week, a week dedicated to recognising, celebrating and thanking volunteers across the UK for their amazing contribution. Each year, Rowcroft relies on around 350 regular volunteers who donate their time, skills and experience to support the hospice.
Volunteers’ Week offers the perfect opportunity to highlight the impact that they make in so many ways, from volunteering in their local shops and cafés, offering vital support to patients and their families, lending a hand in the hospice gardens and offices, helping at fundraising events, and even looking after the Rowcroft bees!
Clare Tanner, Volunteering Manager at Rowcroft said
“This week is about celebrating our volunteers and the difference they make every day. We are so incredibly lucky to have such a talented and well-established group of volunteers who are always enthusiastic and keen to help us do more for the people we look after. I want to say a huge thank you to all of our volunteers for being amazing ambassadors for our organisation and contributing to our community, we absolutely couldn’t do what we do without you.”
Embracing nature through volunteering at Rowcroft 
Volunteer beekeeper, Alan, said: “We’re surrounded by wonderful nature at the hospice and it’s lovely to work amongst it. Working as a voluntary beekeeper is a really interesting role. Once the honey is extracted, we package it into labelled jars, which are then sold in the Rowcroft shops. The proceeds go towards supporting the hospice, and we’ve been told that our honey sells very quickly!”
Providing support in a time of need
Nick Coffey is a trained bereavement volunteer who provides advice and support to the bereaved relatives of those who were cared for by Rowcroft. Nick said: “My role involves listening to and supporting bereaved relatives in the Torbay and South Devon area. It’s very rewarding work and it’s wonderful to see people making progress by starting to talk about their future and being more positive. I’m pleased that I can help them on that journey.”
Learning new skills and making a difference in the community 
Retail volunteer, Elaine, has been volunteering for Rowcroft for 12 years in their boutique shop in Wellswood and explained: “I wanted to support a local charity supporting local people and wanted to challenge myself to do something different with the spare time I had. I have benefitted from volunteering by learning new skills and feeling as though I am doing something worthwhile. I would recommend to anyone to consider volunteering for Rowcroft if they can spare some time to help their local community.”
The heart of care
Volunteers play a vital role in ensuring the seamless operation of the hospice, which extends its support to over 2,500 patients with life-limiting illnesses across South Devon annually, offering specialist care and support to help patients and their families make every day the best day possible.
How to become a volunteer at Rowcroft
Volunteering is open to anyone over 16 (14 in shops) and offers a host of benefits, including making new friends, learning new skills and boosting your CV.
If you would like to find out more about volunteering and to explore current opportunities at Rowcroft, please visit rowcrofthospice.org.uk/volunteers or call 01803 210852.