Summary
Volunteers’ Week, 1–7 June, is a national celebration of the millions of people who give their time and skills to support causes close to their hearts. Throughout the week, we’ll be sharing comments, photos and video clips from our volunteers at Southern Hospice Group via our social media.
Thanks to our volunteers, we can keep on caring
At Southern Hospice Group, we want to offer a heartfelt thank you to the volunteers who support our hospices every single day. Our volunteers play a crucial role in our hospice communities at Chestnut Tree House, Martlets, and St Barnabas House. Whether they are supporting patients and families, keeping our shops running, helping at events or sharing specialist skills behind the scenes, their generosity enables us to focus on what matters most: providing specialist hospice care to local people.
“Quite simply, we could not run our hospices without support from our volunteers,” says Georgia Ellick, volunteering services lead at Southern Hospice Group. “Whether it’s serving tea and cake at one of our hospice cafes, keeping our gardens in bloom, cheering on our fundraisers at challenge events, or offering kindness and a smile on our inpatient units, our volunteers take on a variety of essential roles. So, on behalf of all of us, I’d like to offer a great big ‘thank you’ to our 1,264 volunteers for their continued support.”
Voices from our volunteer community
Liz volunteers at our Chestnut Tree House shop in Seaford.
“I moved to Seaford five years ago with my partner, but we’d only been here 10 weeks when he died. It was such a shock, and getting involved in my local community as a volunteer got me through a difficult time. I met new people, made new friends, and spent less time alone at home. For me, volunteering is keeping me healthy as I age – it’s a way of staying socially active whilst also supporting children’s hospice care. I look forward to my shift every week!”
– Liz, retail volunteer, Chestnut Tree House shop, Seaford
Alison (left) and other gardening volunteers at St Barnabas House.
“I love volunteering because I enjoy gardening and get a huge amount of pleasure from seeing the gardens at St Barnabas look lovely. Hospice care matters to me because I have seen what it does for people and their families. We see patients and family members out in the gardens, and we know it’s so important to have that special, quiet space. I recommend volunteering to others because it helps you feel part of a team and people really appreciate what you do.”
– Alison, gardening volunteer, St Barnabas House
John is a volunteer receptionist on Martlets’ inpatient unit.
“I volunteer on the reception desk of Martlets’ inpatient unit. I love mixing with people and, if a patient’s been on the ward for a while, I get to know their loved ones because they are visiting regularly. Having that familiarity and conversation is a good feeling. From the cleaning staff to the nurses, my colleagues are lovely to work with, and sometimes I’m a listening ear for them too. I also help take in the lunches to patients in their rooms sometimes, so I’m not just sitting at the desk – I look forward to volunteering every week.”
– John, IPU reception volunteer, Martlets
Could you volunteer for us?
“Everyone brings something valuable and we’ll help you find a volunteering role that feels right for you,” says Georgia. “Volunteering for Southern Hospice Group is an opportunity to learn new skills, meet new people and to support your local hospice. Currently, we’re looking for retail volunteers to provide support in our shops. Together, our shops generate more than £5.4 million in income every year, which directly supports our hospice services. Whether you’re welcoming customers, sorting donations, styling displays, or working behind the scenes, we need you!”
With hospice care facing a funding crisis in the UK, we are more reliant than ever on the generosity of our local community. Our volunteers help us reach more people, enhance the services we provide and give their time and expertise for free. In 2026, we estimate our volunteers will contribute 140,000 hours of time – the equivalent of £1.79 million. That means we can direct more of our resources towards patient care and family support. If you’re thinking of volunteering for us, thank you. Together, we’ll keep on caring for the local people who need us.
Please visit Volunteer for Us to find out more about volunteering opportunities at Southern Hospice Group, and see out latest volunteer opportunities – supporting Chestnut Tree House, Martlets and St Barnabas House. Alternatively, you can call 01273 021549 or email volunteering@southernhospicegroup.org.uk.