Liz started volunteering with the Hospice in 2011 and has helped with a number of roles in her time with us including hairdresser, receptionist, gardener and hairdresser to name a few!

Liz says: “When I retired I was looking for something to do with my time. My sister had been looked after by a hospice down south before she died. The night shift nurse who looked after her at home had worked a long shift and then went home baked a cake and came back and put it on the doorstep for the family. My volunteering is in tribute and memory of her baking a cake after a really long hard shift of caring. It is a thank you for the cake on the doorstep which I thought was a lovely thing to do and I wanted to give something back to the wider hospice community, as my sister and our family had received such wonderful care during her time there.

“I started at Strathcarron by helping out on reception and then when one of the volunteer hairdressers left I was asked if I could help out fill in until they got someone else in as I used to be a hairdresser. I’ve been there ever since!

“I have helped out in the kitchen when they are short staffed as I have a food hygiene certificate and I have also helped in the ward in the past.

“During a period when I was having some challenges in my own life, I found that when I was helping with patients in (what used to be) Day Care I actually gained as much from being in the company of the patients and having that human connection as they got from me being there to assist them. It really was mutually beneficial. You get a lot of happiness from helping other people, particularly at the hospice.

“There was a lady patient who gave me so many cuddles when my mum was unwell and driving me up the wall calling me twenty times a day. Even though she was unwell, she took the time to make sure I was alright. When you are in a situation like that and someone gives you a cuddle it was so meaningful to me, they understood the meaning of life because they have limited life left.

“I have also been helping weed and plant there with other volunteers to help maintain it.

“I get great gratification from my volunteering at the Hospice and a real sense of belonging to part of a team. I love my time here. Staff are so pleased that us volunteers are all here to help and we get great support from everyone in any tasks when needed.

“If anyone is interested in volunteering but not sure if it is for them - or apprehensive about working in a Hospice as they have an idea in their head that it will be a sad place to be - I would highly recommend they come and spend some time visiting here. They will soon find out there is a loving, fun team who make it an enjoyable place to be.

“You get a lot of happiness from helping other people, particularly at the hospice. Life is so important.”

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If you would like to discuss how you would like to volunteer at Strathcarron Hospice, please complete an Application Form or contact our Volunteer Service Co-ordinator Eileen Ashford on Tel. No. 01324 826222 Ext 271 or e-mail [email protected].

Eileen will arrange for you to come up for a chat so that we can understand how best to use your skills and expertise and what roles would be best suited for you.

By volunteering with us you can make a real difference.

If you are interested volunteering with the Hospice, please click here

If you are interested volunteering at one of our shops or in distribution centre, please click here

* Certain roles within the Hospice are subject to a Disclosure Scotland Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG) check.  Prior to the meeting with the Volunteer Service Co-Ordinator, volunteers will be notified of the documents required where a role is subject to a PVG check.