The dedication and value of volunteers will be celebrated by Mountbatten this week.
The charity will mark Volunteers’ Week, which runs from 1st – 7th June, with a party and awards ceremony to thank those who give their time to support Mountbatten.
Special awards will be given to long-serving volunteers at the 7th June event. Mountbatten is also using Volunteers’ Week to highlight roles it has available for people looking to support a local cause.
Nigel Hartley, Mountbatten CEO said:
“Without our volunteers, we simply couldn’t care for the growing number of people across the Island who need us.
“Hundreds of volunteers support the hospice in all areas of our work, including round-the-clock care on our inpatient unit, for people at home, and our rehabilitation services to help patients live as well as they can for as long as possible. And supporting people to adjust to the death of a loved one with our free bereavement care.
“I am incredibly grateful to each and every one of them – they are the backbone of our work, and we are reliant on their generosity to continue serving the needs of local people.
“I look forward to celebrating the individuals who make such a remarkable difference to our communities during Volunteers’ Week.”
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Volunteers play a critical role in helping the charity care for people, either out and about in the community or in the hospice itself.
Mountbatten Neighbours volunteer Tracey Richards said:
“I love volunteering for Mountbatten and would recommend it to anyone”.
Mountbatten Neighbours are a group of trained volunteers who offer their time, companionship, and support to people living near them who have serious illnesses or who are old or vulnerable and need some assistance.
She then added:
“Giving something back is so rewarding.
“It makes you appreciate what you have and that others are suffering and need your help. I get a great sense of achievement from giving my time to support others”.
With the demand for Mountbatten’s services increasing rapidly, the charity needs more people to give their time, creativity, experience, and knowledge to fill a wide range of volunteer roles.
I knew a volunteer that gave 25 years loyal service and when she retired from volunteering she got a bunch of flowers and a free lunch at the hospice. Really?? 25 years and not even a voucher or a nice gift. 25 years!!
That if true, is very sad to hear. I imagine the CEO is very, very well paid, and whilst he is very grateful for volunteers, who wouldn’t be, getting free labour, it would have been nice if he had dipped into his own pocket and funded a meal for two for the person.
The people in the Hospice are so wonderful, and I know thanks is cheap to give, but most of us are really really grateful for their kindness, patients and compassion, and fully respect them even if we never get to so it personally to them all.
Totally agree. I know the bigwigs at the hospice are £50k plus and I think the CEO is on about 90k if not more. One Christmas the volunteers got a 17p value bottle of lemonade to share and some biscuits and chocolates to share between them. Disgrace.
Heart breaking when all those hard working volunteers spend hours with collection tins at places like the Festival, walk the wight etc in hot weather to beg for a few coins, when the CEO is paid huge sums.
One would imagine that a retired person who has the skills necessary to replace the CEO would do it for expenses only.
Weird how hands on volunteers are expected to work for ‘love’ yet top jobs still take massive sums with no guilt attached.
I have full respect for those who work for the Hospice and who make the last days for people so calm, and hope the CEO can take time and some of his earnings to at least treat staff well on well deserved retirement.