2023 marks the 39th year of Volunteers’ Week (1-7 June), when St Andrew’s Hospice will join thousands of charities and voluntary organisations recognising the contribution volunteers make across the UK. With this year’s theme of ‘Celebrate and Inspire’ we hope to encourage people to get involved in volunteering in whatever way works for them.

The contribution of volunteers is often unseen and unrecognised by many, visible only through the incredible impact of their volunteering, so taking the time during Volunteers’ Week to celebrate their efforts and all they contribute to our local communities, the voluntary sector and society as a whole has never been more important.

Joy Farquharson, Chief Executive of St Andrew’s Hospice told us how valuable volunteers are to the organisation and the communities they serve: “I would like to say a great big thank you to all of our Hospice volunteers for their help and support. Without them, we couldn’t provide all of the services we do for the people of Lanarkshire. St Andrew’s Hospice has 584 volunteers who provide around 100,000 hours of work each year and without their incredible contribution, we would need to raise an additional £1million annually. I cannot thank them enough for everything they do.”

Volunteering can be a really rewarding thing to do, as St Andrew’s Hospice shop volunteer, Lucy McLaren told us: “You can’t imagine how much volunteering in the Hospice’s Hamilton shop has helped me! Before, I had a support worker and would barely leave the house. I had no friends and no confidence. My support worker suggested I volunteered here and she explained to the Shop Manager, Ebony, that I didn’t want to be on the till as I was very shy. The manager assured her that I didn’t need to do anything I didn’t want to do.

“The next week, it was my first shift and I remember it like it was yesterday. I was so scared and nearly didn’t go in but I did and everyone was so friendly and welcoming.

“It was the little push I needed. I’ve now modelled in the shop’s fashion shows, featured in their TikTok videos, sang at the Volunteer Afternoon Tea and most recently, sang in Hamilton town centre. I no longer need a support worker and this is all down to Ebony and the best group of volunteers.”

There are a wide range of volunteering opportunities with St Andrew’s Hospice including;

• Cafe volunteers
• Reception volunteers
• Shop volunteers
• Volunteer drivers
• Volunteer Outpatient Assistants
• Fundraising Event Volunteers

For more information on these roles or for an application pack, please head along to the Recruitment Drop In Evening taking place in the Hospice on Thursday 8^th June between 5pm – 7.30pm. Alternatively, you can e-mail [email protected] or call Julie Wilson on 01236 766951.