Volunteering at Ashgate Hospicecare

Our Mission Our mission is to provide specialist, palliative care and support to patients, and their families, across the whole of North Derbyshire, in a setting which best meets individual needs. This may include the patients’ own homes, hospitals or other care environments, such as nursing and residential homes or the hospice building itself.

Goals and Funding

Our Volunteers & Staff

What do our Volunteers do? IPU & Day Hospice Spending time with patients and families Helping at meal times Carrying out activities e.g. singing, arts and crafts Events Supporting events Registration of participants Meeting and greeting Fundraising Holding a fundraising event Collecting and distributing collection tins Become a Fundraising Champion!

And more..... Retail Reception & Administration Gardening & Estates Serving customers, sorting stock for re-sale Visual merchandising On-line Sales Reception & Administration Answering the telephone Meeting and greeting visitors General office administration Gardening & Estates Planting out Mowing the lawn(s) Maintaining the gardens

John’s Story "Margaret was given the greatest care possible from everyone during her time there, so I want to give something back to show my Appreciation.” John Thompson from Clay Cross has been a well-loved volunteer at Ashgate Hospicecare since May 2014. He works within a small team who take care of the hospice’s picturesque gardens 365 days a year – come rain or shine. John says, “My wife Margaret spent the last five weeks of her life at Ashgate Hospice. She had bowel cancer. Sadly, she died at the hospice at the age of 66 on 9th November 2011 and I still miss her every day.” Margaret was admitted to the hospice’s Inpatient Unit to help manage her symptoms and to keep her pain under control. To this day, John is still grateful for the level of care Margaret received during her time on the ward. “Four years later, I still remember the care and kindness given by the doctors and nurses. It was exemplary. Other members of staff and the volunteers on the ward were very considerate as well. She enjoyed a tipple every so often and it was never a problem – they would get her whatever she wanted. “I have been a gardening volunteer for over a year now and it’s my way of saying thank you to the hospice. Margaret was given the greatest care possible from everyone during her time there, so I want to give something back to show my appreciation.” To pay tribute to his wife, John has dedicated a rose and plaque to Margaret in the hospice’s garden that he can visit when he’s working. John says, “Margaret used to collect teddy bears – she loved them! So of course the plaque had to have a teddy bear on it! The memorial is very special to me and I’m lucky that I get to see it every time I’m out volunteering in the garden.”

Why? Learn a new skill Try something new Meet people Keep busy! Help make ‘career choices’ Gain experience Help a great cause! Make a difference

9 Steps to Becoming a Volunteer Decide what do you want to do? Read the Role Description Complete the Application Form Post or email application to Volunteering Come along for a short informal interview References DBS check (some roles) Start Induction & training

Where to find out more Jane Briggs www.ashgatehospicecare.org.uk Volunteer Support Officer Telephone 01256 568801 Volunteering@ashgatehospice.org.uk www.ashgatehospicecare.org.uk Get involved Volunteer with us Click on the [apply] button and read more!