Volunteers brighten up Hospice gardens

Over two days in August 13 volunteers from the Cumberland Building Society carried out a range of maintenance tasks in a local hospice’s gardens.

 

On Tuesday 19 and Wednesday 20 August members of staff undertook a variety of duties in the gardens at Eden Valley Hospice and Jigsaw, Cumbria’s Children’s Hospice. The group of volunteers enjoyed the wonderful sunshine as they sanded down, painted and stained 17 benches situated around the Hospice.

 

Kate Finnerty, Senior Personal and Training Assistant at the Cumberland Building Society said “The Cumberland actively promotes its staff taking part in charity work. Each member of staff is allowed one paid day per year to volunteer their time and we have a history of working with Eden Valley Hospice and Jigsaw we were keen to help in any way we could.

 

“It was hard work but very rewarding to see the finished result at the end of the two days. It’s a great way to support a local charity as well as team building for us. We really loved it and the Hospice made us feel so welcome.”

 

During the year a host of people, community groups and businesses from throughout Cumbria donate their time to help Eden Valley Hospice and Jigsaw, Cumbria’s Children’s Hospice in a variety of different ways. From helping the volunteers and staff to maintain the gardens to collecting donations for the local community, people are able to help make a huge difference to the lives of adults and children with life limiting illnesses.

 

Steve Golding, Voluntary Services Manager, said “Corporate and community volunteering projects just like this are a fantastic way for groups and business to come into the Hospice and make a real difference. As well as being a great team building exercise these projects enable us to work alongside other organisations and raise awareness about the Hospice in a different kind of way.

 

“We always welcome people getting in touch and offer a variety of different activities that you can do, such as helping in our charity shops, fundraising and helping in and around the grounds in the Hospice.”

 

If you or your businesses would like to make a huge difference to Jigsaw, Cumbria’s Children’s Hospice by volunteering your time, skills and experiences by volunteering please contact Steve Golding, Voluntary Services Manager, on 01228 817658 or visit www.evhospice.org.uk/volunteering

 

Pictures: Please find attached two pictures of the Cumberland Building Society staff volunteering at Eden Valley Hospice and Jigsaw, Cumbria’s Children’s Hospice.

 

Volunteers help to make a difference #volunteersweek

Every day members of the local community help to make a huge difference to the care provided at a local hospice by volunteering their time, skills and experiences in a variety of different ways.

 

During National Volunteers Week, Sunday 1 June to Saturday 8 June, Eden Valley Hospice and Jigsaw, Cumbria’s Children’s Hospice are celebrating the wonderful passion, enthusiasm and dedication of their volunteers. From maintaining the Hospice grounds to supporting the nurses and patients in Day Hospice, every volunteer helps to make a difference.

 

Eden Valley Hospice gardening volunteer Nigel, from Culgaith near Penrith, explains “I help out with all sorts of gardening work around the Hospice. This will be very varied depending on the time of year. It could involve mowing the lawns, planting, weeding, digging over beds, tending to the vegetable patch or cleaning leaves in the autumn. You name it and we’ll do it! I work with the other gardening volunteers and Rob the maintenance manager at the Hospice overseas our work.

 

“I enjoy working as a team member or doing something which hopefully can bring joy to those in need. If those staying at the Hospice or attending Day Hospice can enjoy the environment of the place then that makes me happy. That also goes for visitors and staff. This might sound like a cliché, but when I retired I wanted to give a little back and help others less fortunate than myself.”

 

Throughout National Volunteers Week, Eden Valley Hospice and Jigsaw are encouraging the local community to find out how they could volunteer and help to make a difference at Hospice. Whether people would like to assist the nurses on the Adult Unit or use their skills to help the Hospice there is a role for everybody.

 

Many local businesses also donate their time and skills to the Hospice in a variety of different ways. From assisting the current volunteers in one of the Eden Valley Hospice shops to brining their family and friends along and helping to maintain the beautiful grounds, everybody can help to make a difference.

 

Nigel continued “I used to come to the Hospice once a year when I was still working for the County Council. We came as a ‘day out’ from the office to help a very worthwhile organisation. Working in a team of ‘many’ ensured that this resulted in a lot of work and tasks being achieved which was very satisfying. I found the staff to be very friendly so when I retired 3 years ago I wanted to continue to help as a regular volunteer.

 

“I would say that if you have the time then doing something that helps others less fortunate can give you a positive feeling about things and therefore help you to feel that you are doing something worthwhile. Also if retired I think people need to have positive things to do and also challenges to show we can use skills we have developed over the years and still contribute to the wider society.”

 

If you, your place of work or community group would like to donate their time, skills and experiences to help make Eden Valley Hospice and Jigsaw, the beautiful place it is today please contact Steve Golding, Voluntary Services Manager, on 01228 817658 or visit www.evhospcie.org.uk/volunteering

Volunteers brighten up Children’s Hospice gardens

On a damp and dreary winter morning 11 volunteers from a Cumbrian branch of Mercedes Benz carried out a range of maintenance tasks in a Children’s Hospice’s gardens.

On Sunday 9 February members of staff and their families undertook a variety of duties in the gardens at Jigsaw, Cumbria’s Children’s Hospice, formerly Eden House Children’s Hospice. Despite the terrible weather the group of volunteers from Mercedes Benz sanded down, oiled or painted a number of benches as well as weeding and tidying up the borders in the garden.

Barry Crooks, Dealer Principal said, “Jigsaw is a great well known local cause. We have supported the Children’s Hospice in the past and when the team were asked they decided that they wanted to help the Children’s Hospice again. It was great that they were able to allow the staff to bring their families and we all really enjoyed the day and we would be happy to return in the future when the weather improves.”

During the year a host of people, community groups and businesses from throughout Cumbria donate their time to help Jigsaw, Cumbria’s Children’s Hospice in a variety of different ways. From helping the volunteers and staff to maintain the gardens to collecting donations for the local community, people are able to help make a huge difference to the lives of children and young adults with life limiting illnesses.

Steve Golding, Voluntary Services Manager, said “These community volunteering events allow us to work alongside local and national organisations and strengthen those relationships. The days themselves are a great way of team building and are hugely helpful to us as it allows us to support the existing volunteer gardeners and maintenance team by tackling any jobs that need to be done around the grounds.”

If you or your business would like to make a huge difference to Jigsaw, Cumbria’s Children’s Hospice by donating your time, skills and experiences by volunteering please contact Steve Golding, Voluntary Services Manager, on 01228 817658 or visit www.jigsawhospice.org.uk/volunteering