At Skanda Vale Hospice, volunteers are the heart of everything we do.
They’re the friendly face that greets you at the door, the listening ear beside the bed, the hands that prepare a warm meal, and the quiet presence keeping our spaces safe, beautiful, and serene.
Volunteering isn’t about filling gaps or ticking boxes; it’s about service, connection, and being part of a deeply compassionate community. Every role, no matter how small, helps us offer holistic, person-centred care to people with life-limiting illnesses and their loved ones.
In this blog, we’ll explore what hospice volunteers do, from nursing to gardening, cooking, fundraising, and more. Whether you’re curious about what’s involved or considering taking the next step yourself, we hope these stories inspire you.
What Do Hospice Volunteers Do?
1. Care & Nursing
One of the more well-known types of hospice volunteers are those who come and provide care and nursing services. Although care and nursing sound similar, they are actually quite different, but equally important to ensuring each person is supported with gentle, individualised care.
As a volunteer carer, you’ll support people with their daily lives, and this will vary depending on the person and their individual needs. You’ll offer companionship, a kind presence, and a practical helping hand. You’ll be compassionate and lend a listening ear during what is often a very difficult time for those living with life-limiting illnesses.
After all, our physical health is just as important as our mental and emotional wellbeing, something people often forget. So, creating a nurturing and warm environment is central to our vision of holistic, person-centred care.
It’s just like our volunteer carer Mim says:
“Little things can make a big difference; making someone a cup of tea, saying hello, sitting down and having a chat with them, just little acts of kindness. I always leave here happy and elevated.”
Volunteer nurses also provide person-centred care to enhance people’s quality of life. The main difference is that a nurse can aid in clinical care, such as administering medication and managing symptoms. A volunteer nurse will also carry out holistic assessments to ensure each person has an individualised care plan that gives them the best experience possible.
And just like a carer, a nurse will have amazing communication skills, allowing them to build deep and meaningful relationships with the people we care for, their family and friends, and their colleagues. Volunteer nurses also offer guidance and reassurance, helping people understand more about hospice and palliative care in a calm and compassionate way.
Cate, one of our volunteer nurses, finds the work very rewarding:
“It’s given me the joy back in nursing because I can do nursing how I think it should be done, and I can spend time with each person. I enjoy being able to work in an environment that looks after the whole person. We will support you with what you need rather than what we think you need.”
2. Catering
Sharing food is one of the simplest, most meaningful ways to care. Whether you’re living with a life-limiting condition or not, food brings comfort and connection, contributing to the overall warmth and support we offer.
The role of our volunteer cooks focuses on creating fresh, wholesome meals that nourish body and spirit. This includes menu planning, cooking, kitchen management, and maintaining high food hygiene standards.
Meanwhile, volunteer kitchen helpers support the cooks in this mission, ensuring that not only our guests’ needs are taken care of, but also those of loved ones and fellow team members. Everyone is included at our table.
3. Office
Behind the scenes, our volunteer administrators are quietly keeping everything running smoothly.
At Skanda Vale Hospice, our administration volunteers support the team with a wide variety of essential tasks, everything from data entry and correspondence to scheduling and welcoming visitors.
By taking care of these vital details, they enable our care team to focus fully on supporting the people we look after and their loved ones. Their work may be quiet, but its impact is deeply felt.
This impact is even felt by the volunteers themselves. Our Volunteer Quality Assurance & Corporate Governance Lead, Ahalia, explains.
“That’s the beautiful thing about it; you come into work without thinking you’re coming to work. There’s enjoyment in creating something. It’s made my life purposeful and filled a big void; all that comes out now is gratitude.”
4. Garden
Being amongst nature can do wonders for our wellbeing, that’s why we ensure to take care of our beautiful, peaceful gardens for everyone to enjoy.
As a volunteer gardener, you’ll help nurture these spaces. Tasks include seasonal planting, ground maintenance, light construction, and sharing creative ideas to keep our gardens flourishing.
Our gardens offer sanctuary, not just for our patients, but for their families, friends, and our team too. We welcome gardeners with all levels of experience who feel called to contribute to this special space.
5. Retail & Fundraising
Retail and fundraising volunteers help build bridges between our hospice and the wider community. Their efforts make it possible for us to offer high-quality care completely free of charge.
At Skanda Vale Hospice, our retail volunteers help at our charity shop, which has become a community hub. A big part of the role involves warmly welcoming customers, sharing stories, and helping people understand more about what a hospice truly is.
These conversations often open doors to deeper connection and understanding, just one more way volunteers make a real difference.
Our retail volunteers find this role to be rewarding, thanks to the shop’s positive community impact. But it also comes with a sense of fun and creativity; from sorting through donations to creating eye-catching displays, our volunteers have the freedom to try their hand at new things.
6. Housekeeping & Maintenance
A clean and lovingly cared-for space tells people: you are safe here, you are valued. That’s why our housekeeping and maintenance volunteers are such a vital part of the hospice family.
Volunteer cleaners create a welcoming, homely environment for everyone. It’s all about attention to detail, small gestures that help people feel calm, dignified, and respected.
Our Housekeeping Lead, Sue, says it best:
“I’m so proud that I can give something back by cleaning this place and making it absolutely spotless. It doesn’t matter what you’re doing, how little or often you come in, it’s all to the same end: giving the patients the best possible journey.”
Maintenance volunteers make sure everything works smoothly behind the scenes, from health and safety checks to fixing leaky taps and touching up paint. Every action supports our mission to offer care with grace and dignity.
Join Our Volunteering Community
At Skanda Vale Hospice, every volunteer brings something unique, and every act of service, no matter how big or small, is deeply valued.
Whether you’re in the garden or the kitchen, at the bedside or behind a desk, volunteering here is about being present for others in a compassionate and meaningful way. It’s about offering kindness, listening with your heart, and helping to create a space where people feel safe, cared for and honoured.
As many of our volunteers say, it’s not just what you give, it’s also what you receive. Volunteering often brings a renewed sense of purpose, connection, and joy.
If you’ve been inspired by the stories in this blog and feel called to get involved, we’d love to welcome you. You can find out more about how to become a volunteer in our easy five-step guide.
Check out our volunteering opportunities here, and if you’d like to speak with a friendly member of the team about our roles and jobs, feel free to give us a call on 01559 371222
