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Volunteers’ Week took place earlier this month and Southern Area Hospice Services (SAHS) took the opportunity to raise the profile of volunteering and to thank the amazing volunteers who dedicate their time and skill to the Hospice.
The hard-working volunteers at SAHS were given a huge ‘Thank You’ when SAHS treated them to a volunteer lunch to help them relax away from their usual duties.
Volunteers enjoyed lunch in the sunshine surrounded by the beautiful Hospice gardens, and were presented with personal certificates of thanks. Volunteer Coordinator Rosie Teggarty said "We are so lucky to have such a dedicated team of volunteers, our staff and patients need this level of volunteer support, volunteers contribute so much to the work of the Hospice, their time and skills help us to continue to offer our vital services”.
Volunteers play an integral role in the provision of Hospice Services. Individuals or businesses can volunteer at SAHS, and they welcome volunteers from all walks of life who are aged 16 and over. Volunteers can help in many different ways by taking responsibility for a series of roles in the following areas; reception duties, assisting staff with drinks rounds and serving patient meals in the inpatient unit, support roles in the Day Therapy Unit, such as hairdressing, beauty, arts and crafts & complimentary therapies, volunteer drivers to take patients to Day Therapy or helping with the laboratory run to Daisy Hill Hospital. Volunteers also act as ambassadors for SAHS in the Community by attending Cheque Presentations and Fundraising Events.
Originally from Upper Ballinderry, Lisburn, Bridie Wilson first began volunteering with Southern Area Hospice Services 16 and a half years ago. A Mother of 12 children - 7 girls and 5 boys, and grandmother to 39 grandchildren, Bridie also has 17 great-grandchildren, all of whom have their own special place in Bridie’s heart.
Bridie is a remarkable lady, not only because she is an enthusiastic and energetic volunteer giving up 2 days of her week for Southern Area Hospice Services, but because she recently celebrated her 90th birthday! The occasion was marked with a lovely surprise party in the SAHS shop in Monaghan St, Newry and was attended by Bridie’s volunteer friends and some of her family members.
It all started when Bridie was widowed over 16 years ago. After a lengthy period caring for her dear husband who was housebound, Bridie felt that there was a void in her life…she really missed caring for others. She decided then that she wanted to continue to help others who were ill. Bridie began volunteering in the Hospice Shop (then in Cornmarket, Newry), and found that this made her happy and fulfilled, and importantly gave her the great satisfaction and joy that comes from helping others.
Her fellow volunteers provide Bridie with friendship and a support network…”I love my role as a volunteer at Southern Area Hospice Services! It is fun and rewarding, I have met some lovely people through volunteering, and the other volunteers are like an extended family to me!”
22 year old Chauntelle also works at the SAHS Shop on Monaghan Street Newry; Chauntelle began volunteering at 16 years of age. An enthusiastic volunteer, Chauntelle assists at the shop once a week. She brings a youthful approach and an eye for current trends. Chauntelle also helps the fundraising team out at various events for instance modelling in SAHS fashion shows and selling raffle tickets when required. Chauntelle is also a keen cyclist and describes why she enjoys volunteering so much “I love volunteering at SAHS, the shop is really good craic, and I enjoy the variety of things that I can help out with. Dealing with so many different people has really improved my communication skills”.
Siofra a 17 year old A-Level student has been volunteering at Southern Area Hospice Services for 1 year. Siofra has a caring manner and enjoys working with the patients directly. Her main role is to assist once weekly with ward duties at St. John’s House in Newry, by helping to give out breakfasts and teas, and spending some time chatting to the patients. Siofra who also enjoys horse-riding in her free time, explains how her role as a volunteer has helped her to gain important skills such as working on her own initiative, and improved communication skills. Most of all she says “I like to put a smile on the patient’s faces”. If Siofra can brighten up someone’s day then she goes home happy.
GlaxoSmithKline Volunteers… from Pharmaceuticals to Pitchforks.
Spring was in the air on Friday May 17th 2013 when GlaxoSmithKline held their ‘Orange Day’ Event, volunteering at Southern Area Hospice Services at St John’s House in Newry. The warm sun shone brightly and the gardens at SAHS were in full bloom as the enthusiastic GSK volunteers set to work carefully completing the tasks that were set for them.
Getting the gardens ready for summer was the top priority, as 16 eager GSK volunteers set to work finishing off essential spring gardening tasks, under the watchful eye of our regular gardener P.J. Wheelbarrows were wielded and at the ready to move a mountain of topsoil and the daffodils which had reached the end of their season were dealt with. Some less ‘green-fingered’ GSK volunteers felt their skills were better suited to office tasks, and delighted SAHS Social Workers by streamlining their current databases and creating new and more efficient reporting systems.
Orange Day is a GlaxoSmithKline volunteer programme, which gives employees one paid day off each year to volunteer for their chosen local community project. This year SAHS were thrilled that GSK chose them as the beneficiary of their Orange Day event! It was easy to see that GSK have an ethos of professionalism and hard-work as the volunteers applied themselves to the tasks… but more importantly the GSK volunteers brightened up the day bringing volunteer spirit, enthusiasm and good cheer to everyone they met.
Southern Health and Social Care Trust volunteers displayed their true volunteer spirit on June 11th 2013, when they braved the elements in the Gardens at Southern Area Hospice Services. Unfortunately for the volunteers it was the day after our June ‘mini heat-wave’ had ended! However, the determined volunteers were undeterred by the mist and mizzle and quickly set to work sweeping paths, weeding flower beds, raking leaves, and tackling the tricky moss on the brick paving.
The volunteers work in various roles within the Trust, including disability care, special needs, and mental health and were from across the Southern Trust area. They delighted SAHS staff as they diligently set to work, demonstrating their gardening skills with gusto. SAHS welcomed their volunteer spirit, determination and hard-work and we are grateful to the Southern Trust for this opportunity.
A spokesperson for the Hospice added "At SAHS we recognize the value of our volunteers and thank them all for their hard work, we really do appreciate it! Southern Area Hospice Services is dependent on the participation of volunteers in order to continue to provide our essential services to local people in the Southern Trust Area."
As well as its inpatient unit in Newry, SAHS runs Out-Patient Clinics in Craigavon Area Hospital, South Tyrone Hospital and Newry. SAHS also provides a full range of services to improve the quality of life for people affected by cancer and other terminal illnesses and gives support to the families and carers. Day hospices in Newry and Dungannon provide an opportunity for medical support as well as social activities. All of these are provided free of charge but the hospice must raise £2.3 million this year to sustain its services.
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer / would like to find out more about volunteer roles, or if you would like to help us in any way please telephone Rosie or Andrea on 028 302 68492 or email mccanna@southernarehospiceservices.org
