Volunteering - it's not what you think

Over the past weeks a group of students from Forest School have been dedicating their Wednesday afternoons to helping at our hospice. From administration duties, event planning, storytelling and design work, the students have been lending a hand to whatever jobs need completing.  

It’s been a wonderful opportunity to breakdown some of the myths associated to hospices and a great way for the young people to gain some practical experience in the charity sector.

We caught up with some of the students and this is what they told us:

“When I heard the word ‘hospice’ I was a little apprehensive. I initially thought it was going to be a sad environment, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. As soon as I walked in, I got such a warm welcome – the staff and volunteers are always smiling. It’s rare to walk through Haven House and not see a smile. The care, kindness and positivity of the staff makes for an uplifting and inspiring environment. My volunteering experience at Haven House has really made me appreciate life.”

“This experience has completely changed my view of a children’s hospice and I feel grateful to have gained such a valuable insight into why hospice care is so important to the children and valued by their families.”

Teacher Chris Grainger said: “We had all heard of Haven House before we arrived, but we didn’t know exactly what the hospice provided or how it supported local families. When we entered the gates, we were all completely surprised at its beauty. This has been a really good learning experience – all of the students have said ‘We had an idea of what hospice care was, but it has completely surprised us.’ They have taken their knowledge and have been telling their friends and family. It’s been a positive way to raise awareness of Haven House and the fascinating world of hospice care.”