TYNEDALE Hospice at Home is appealing for more community fund-raising volunteers to raise awareness of its services and raise vital funds to support its work in the local community.

The charity provides palliative nursing care to people in their own homes, family support services for people experiencing bereavement and a hospital transport service to people living in Tynedale, west Northumberland, Ponteland and the surrounding areas.

Cathy Bates, senior community fund-raiser at Tynedale Hospice at Home said: “We have a loyal and dedicated team of fund-raising volunteers who support us at Christmas and summer fairs and who help out at bag packs and other community events, but we are in desperate need of more support so that we can attend as many of these events as possible.

“They are an ideal way for us to spread the word about what we do, as well as raise vital funds to support our work.

“On average, thanks to the efforts of our community fund-raising volunteers, we could raise around £1,000 a month by attending these events, but this is getting harder to achieve when we have a limited number of volunteers to attend.

“It would be brilliant to get a few more volunteers on board to help us achieve this aim.”

With £1,000, the charity would be able to provide 33 hours of hospice nursing care in the home .

“Becoming an occasional volunteer is ideal for anyone who wants flexibility in their volunteering role and doesn’t want to commit to a set number of hours each week,” added Cathy.

“Attending community events is also lots of fun and there’s plenty of opportunity to meet with other volunteers and make new friends. And if you like interacting with the public, then this role could be ideal for you.”

When Hexham resident Wendy Reed was looking for a volunteer opportunity, a post on Tynedale Hospice at Home’s Facebook page caught her attention.

“The hospice was looking for occasional volunteers to help sell their Christmas soft toys and run fund-raising stalls in the lead up to Christmas,” Wendy explained.

“I was looking for something worthwhile to do, so the call for volunteers came at just the right time in my life. I signed up to become a fund-raising volunteer shortly afterwards and I am so glad I did.”

Now Wendy is a regular face in the local community, running fund-raising stalls in local department stores, selling raffle tickets at events and fairs, helping out with collecting tins and selling soft toys when needed.

“I love being out and about meeting people and there’s plenty of opportunity to do this in my role.

“Knowing that I am doing something worthwhile, however small that is, means a lot to me.”

Anyone who would like to find out more about volunteering roles can contact Sam Horne, human resources and volunteer adviser at Tynedale Hospice at Home, on (01434) 611913 or visit www.tynedalehospice.com/
volunteer