Martlets encourages people along to its Volunteer Open Day on Saturday, April 27.
THE day will showcase the different opportunities available, how volunteering impacts on the services that Martlets can provide and the additional benefits to individuals from volunteering.
The Volunteer Open Day will take place at the hospice on Wayfield Avenue between 10am and 3pm and Martlets will be welcoming everyone from all ages, backgrounds and experience as there are many different roles available to volunteer.
On the day there will be opportunities to meet key members of staff, take a tour of the hospice and participate in activities. Current Martlets volunteers will be also be available to discuss what they do and how volunteering has helped them to learn new skills, make new friends and create a stronger connection with their communities.
Martlets is aiming to show local people how easy it is to get involved in volunteering with roles available to suit everyone’s talents and interests.
Volunteers could be doing anything from helping at a fundraising event, tending to the hospice garden, running art and crafts activities, driving patients to appointments or volunteering in Martlets shops or distribution centres.
Volunteers are vital to the care and support that Martlets give people with terminal illness and their families in Brighton and Hove and surrounding areas. Whether people are able to offer a few hours once in a while or a regular weekly shift, anyone who becomes part of ‘Team Martlets’ plays an important role in helping to keep the hospice running smoothly.
Georgia Ellick from the hospice’s People Services Team said: “We are so grateful to our amazing volunteers for giving us their precious time to help in so many different ways across Martlets.
“We offer a very welcoming friendly environment where people can develop skills and enjoy new experiences. Many volunteers may have had a personal experience of our hospice, others may just have heard about us and want to help a local charity. We’d welcome everyone to come and see us at our Volunteer Open Day and come and find out more.”
Trish Rendel, a gardening therapy volunteer, added: “I’ve met some really nice people whilst I’ve been volunteering at Martlets. Everyone is so friendly here and you feel like you are appreciated and valued.
“When I heard that the hospice was setting up a horticultural therapy Sow and Grow group; I used to have my own gardening business, so I said that I had experience and signed-up straightaway. The group meets regularly to sow seeds, transplant seedlings and talk about plants, it’s all very social so there’s always lots of chat going on and we finish with a nice cup of tea and a slice of cake!”
Alex Mahoney a keen gamer who spends two days a week testing donated computer games and checking games consoles for Martlets said: “It’s probably one of the more unusual volunteering roles. However, we get all sorts of games and consoles donated to us and we need to know that they work before we can sell them on to raise money for the hospice.
“I play games a lot at home, so I know when something’s not working properly and it’s great to be able to use my gaming knowledge in a good way to help a charity. Volunteering is helping me to gain experience of working and it’s shown me an area of work that I might like to try in the future, which I hadn’t thought of before.”
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