"I COULDN'T do without volunteers - they're a godsend," says Einir Davies, front of house at St Asaph-based Kentigern Hospice, taking a moment to breathe amid the Christmas lunch rush at its café, Caffi Cariad.
The Journal is here on a volunteering day, with a party of 17 among today’s bookings in the café, which will serve a full house for lunch every day up to December 22.
Christmas bookings started as far back as August and September, Einir says, with the café a vital source of funds for a hugely dependent charity.
Providing free specialist palliative care to adults with life-limiting illnesses in North East Wales, St Kentigern’s running costs will exceed £2.6million this year.
But just 28 per cent of this is provided from Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board – the equivalent of 93 days every 12 months.
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Whether volunteers are newly or semi-retired, or are just keen to fill their time doing something worthwhile, the one constant they all speak of is a desire to “give something back”.
One antler-clad volunteer, for instance, has been coming in twice a week for a year now since retiring – “it keeps you going,” she says, “and it’s about meeting and helping people”.
There’s plenty to get your hands dirty today – be it delivering vegetable soup, fish and chips and trifle to inpatients, handing out Christmas crackers filled with predictably bad jokes, or serving a man for whom the café is essentially his “local” as he makes his daily lunch visit.
As the café’s guests tuck into turkey, North Wales-wide Sound Radio is also paying a visit today, capturing music therapist Hannah leading staff and patients on bells-assisted Christmas singalongs.
Volunteering opportunities can extend beyond the kitchen or café – in the foyer, another helping hand mans St Kentigern’s “meet and greet” stand, while down the corridor, we deliver Christmas cake and hot drinks to grateful recipients in a “felting” session.
People can also help cover its inpatient reception desk, fundraising staff, garden, day care and therapies, ward support, patient drivers, tin collectors, support groups, and more.
For Sharon Newell, hospice volunteer co-ordinator, help is all too gratefully received – every day, indeed, there is at least one person giving up their time for nothing at St Kentigern.
“The hospice was founded by volunteers for the local community 28 years ago – today, our volunteers are carrying on that legacy,” she says.
“The hospice has to fundraise about 70 per cent of its costs, so voluntary support across all hospice departments helps our finite resources go further, and directs vital funds to caring for our patients and their families.
“We have 75 active hospice-based volunteers, and over 200 volunteers in our retail shops, but we do need more volunteers in our ‘preloved’ shops (in Colwyn Bay, Prestatyn, Rhyl, Abergele, Ruthin, Denbigh, Flint and Holywell).
“We are keen to hear from younger volunteers, too (Welsh Baccalaureate, Duke of Edinburgh, college opportunities) or people needed to gain some confidence in the work place again after having time off.
“Just two hours a week, fortnightly or monthly, really will make a difference.”
St Kentigern’s services are delivered through its 12-bed inpatient ward and day therapies, such as bereavement support, outpatient clinics, occupational therapy, complimentary therapies, and art and music therapy.
If you are interested in volunteering at St Kentigern, you can email: Sharon.Newell@stkentigernhospice.org.uk.
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