Category: Volunteering
The Winners of the St Barnabas HeART Trail Staff & Volunteers competition are revealed
During the duration of the HeART Trail, St Barnabas staff and volunteers were invited to create and submit anything ‘heart’ related as part of our HeART Trail celebrations.
The entries, of which we received many, were judge by: Caroline Swindin, Head of Fundraising & Lottery; Steve Bond, Head of Volunteering Services; Ollie Williamson, Employee Experience Team Leader; Lisa Simpson, Director of People and Education; and Amelia Chambers, Head of Marketing Communications & Digital.
The quality of the submissions were exceptionally high, which made judging all the more enjoyable. The winners are:
- 1st place, Minnie from Marketing with her handmade slate and glass hearts.
- 2nd place, Debbie from Finance with her sewn HeARTs made from recycled fabrics from our own Charity Shops.
- Joint 3rd place, is Rebecca, Director of Patient Care, with her heart picture and Katy, from Welfare and Benefits, with her stain glass biscuits.
- 1st place, Volunteer winners are Mandy and Ron Morris for their glass artwork.
The Judges have passed on their congratulations to all of the winners, and their thanks for those who took part.
The competition was held to celebrate the HeART Trail, and engage with the members of staff and volunteers. The HeART Trail ran throughout the summer of 2023, and saw 30 HeART shaped sculptures adorn the streets on Lincolnshire. To find out more about the Trail, go to: https://stbarnabashospice.co.uk/hearttrail/auction/
St Barnabas thanks volunteers with series of events
The beginning of June marked Volunteers’ Week, and to give thanks to the approximately 1,000 volunteers that work for St Barnabas Hospice, the charity has organised a series of events throughout the month.
The first of these events took place on Monday 5th June at the St Barnabas Wellbeing Centre in Louth. Dozens of volunteers, patients, executive staff members and special guest Mayoress of Louth, Julia Simmons, enjoyed a morning of socialising.
The local Can’t Sing Choir took to the stage and sang (very capable) renditions of Tom Jones’ Delilah, The Monkees’ I’m a Believer and other songs. Many of the attendees sang along, including Chris Wheway, Chief Executive of St Barnabas.
Chris said in his welcome speech: “Without volunteers, we would not be able to provide our vital care around Lincolnshire, they really are the backbone of our charity.
“We have around 1,000 incredible people volunteering in our 25 shops and at events to help raise funds, supporting our clinicians in our Hospice buildings, helping us host support groups in our Wellbeing Centres, manning our Bereavement Helpline, the list goes on.
“The support of each volunteer means the world to us, and we are hosting these Volunteer Thank You events to celebrate the great work they do for us. We are forever grateful, and we hope they enjoy these events as much as we do.”
One person who had a great time at the Louth event was Barry, a blind patient of St Barnabas. He treated those in attendance to two acapella songs including ‘What Colour is the Wind’, during which Barry invited listeners to close their eyes, so they may imagine the world as he experiences it.
Barry says: “Every Thursday I come to the Wellbeing Centre for the weekly Coffee Morning, I love chatting with the people there and the volunteers really look after me. They help me to my seat, get me a brew and some cake, it’s just really good fun and I look forward to it every week.
“Everyone is welcome here, not just St Barnabas patients but also their families, friends, carers and the general public, so do come along. I’m very grateful to St Barnabas, and I’m happy I was able to sing for all those lovely people today.”
Take a look at the video below for all the highlights of the day!
Every year, the hospice charity provides care and support to over 12,000 people around Lincolnshire. Care is given in its Grantham and Lincoln-based Hospice buildings, six Wellbeing Centres and in people’s homes across the county.
St Barnabas Hospice is always looking for volunteers who want to make a difference to their local community. A wide range of roles are available to suit different abilities, skills and interests.
Volunteers over the age of 14 and from all backgrounds are welcome to apply via www.StBarnabasHospice.co.uk/Volunteer
Six fantastic St Barnabas volunteers win hotel mini-breaks
Six incredible people who have been supporting St Barnabas Hospice through volunteering have been awarded coveted Room to Reward certificates.
Not only is this award a great honour for all who receive it, but it also comes with a mini-holiday anywhere in the country – the recipient gets to choose!
Amanda Trolle, Anita Grey, David Thorn, Jenni Smith, Jim Ferguson and Wendy Herridge have all been successfully nominated by their managers or colleagues and will now be considering where to go on their 1- or 2-night hotel break.
Read their stories below.
Amanda Trolle
Amanda was nominated by her manager Charlotte Guy, who cannot praise her enough. Charlotte says: “Amanda has been working in the Louth clothes shop for just over one year as a Retail Assistant Volunteer and volunteers teers for several days each week.
“Amanda is always the first person to cover the shop and works extra hours for the shop to stay open. Nothing is ever too much for her when she is here. She really does have the charity at heart of what she does. It would be nearly impossible to find another volunteer like her.”
Congratulations, Amanda!
Anita Grey
Long-standing volunteer Anita was nominated by Fundraising Team Leader Rebecca Hooton, who said: “Anita is a Fundraising volunteer who has been with us for the past 10 years. She is the fundraising face of the Hospice and is always smiling, she radiates happiness and has a zest for life.
“Anita has volunteered for so many events including all six of our Colour Dash events, leading the volunteers on our merchandise stand and ensuring targets are met – always exceeding. She also has so much knowledge of the hospice and its services that she is able to help spread awareness as a brand ambassador.
“Anita is our best Fundraising volunteer and a true Hospice Hero.”
Congratulations, Anita!
David Thorn
Lincoln Area Retail Manager Grace Cook nominated David, saying: “David has volunteered for the Hospice café at Lincoln Magistrates Court for many years. The café is entirely volunteer run and David has taken the lead since we reopened after the pandemic.
“David regularly goes above and beyond and was present when the health inspector recently visited. Thanks to his immaculate record-keeping and great management, the café was awarded a 5-star food hygiene rating.
“He also has undertaken the project of revamping the menu and price list due to increase in stock costs. He streamlined the menu, only including best-selling items to reduce wastage, and increasing the prices to ensure the café remains in profit while giving value for money to the customer.
“David is very much appreciated by the Hospice, and it would be lovely to reward him for his hard work.”
Congratulations, David!
Jenni Smith
Jenni was nominated by her manager Wendy Hyland, who couldn’t do with her. Wendy says: “Jenni has been a keyholding volunteer at the Bourne charity shop for over 10 years. She ran the shop with a team of volunteers for approximately 2 years before I joined as Manager, keeping the shop open and raising much needed funds for the Hospice.
“She makes decisions on how the shop runs, visual merchandising, jobs that need doing and assisting other volunteers if they need any help. Jenni has recently taken another volunteer under her wing, training her up to also be a keyholding volunteer too.
“Jenni is a fantastic asset to the charity.”
Congratulations, Jenni!
Jim Ferguson
Jim was nominated by Silvia Potts, a Health and Rehabilitation Support Worker who sees all the good Jim does. She says: “Jim began with the Hospice as a volunteer driver for Day Therapy patients. In good weather he even used his open top car to the delight of a few of our patients who never had such an experience before!
“Over the years, he has volunteered for fundraising events, even dressing up as a reindeer around Christmas. He has given talks on behalf of St Barnabas, collects cheques and donations, always with endless patience. Jim has literally gone to the other end of the world for us on a Great Wall of China trek, raising thousands.
“Jim really is a breath of fresh air and now supports the weekly Coffee Morning in Grantham. We are lucky to have him supporting us in so many ways.”
Congratulations, Jim!
Wendy Herridge
Counselling Services Manager Joanne White has nominated her volunteer, Wendy. She says: “Wendy has been volunteering with us for many years and is a fantastic counsellor. Her experience and knowledge enables us to allocate to her our complex clients with ease and confidence.
“She will often take on home visits for us and prior to lockdown, Wendy would travel to support the community of Skegness, including clients in the rural villages that would have otherwise been unable to access our support.
“Wendy has trained our counsellors in Suicide Awareness as this was her job previously to her retirement from paid work. This has been an invaluable tool for the team and for the clients that we keep safe.
“Wendy goes above and beyond to support her clients.”
Congratulations, Wendy!
St Barnabas Hospice gets the chance to nominate deserving volunteers each year through Room to Reward, the whole reward scheme is free to the Hospice and to the Volunteers winning the award.
Again, well done to our six amazing volunteers – enjoy your mini break!
Support St Barnabas by celebrating the Coronation
With the Coronation of King Charles III less than a month away, St Barnabas Hospice are encouraging supporters to think of the charity while celebrating the new monarch.
Many people are planning Coronation festivities and no British party is complete without cake, tea, and coffee! The St Barnabas Care for a Cuppa fundraiser has everything you need to host a successful coffee morning, bake sale or afternoon tea whilst supporting the Hospice.
When you sign up, you will receive a free fundraising pack including a St Barnabas collection box, branded bunting, cake flags, recipes from Lincolnshire celebrity chef Rachel Green, games including activity sheets, word searches, and much more.
Whether you are celebrating in your own home, hosting a street party or attending a gathering in a community venue, Care for a Cuppa is a feel-good fundraiser that can be held at the venue and date of your choosing.
After registering, the free pack will be posted to you, and you can also download and print off your own materials if you need extra such as invites and posters. To sign up for Care for a Cuppa and receive your free pack, visit: www.stbarnabashospice.co.uk/care-for-a-cuppa
Or if you prefer your drinks a bit stronger, the St Barnabas Pub Quiz is a great way to support local hospice care with some friendly competition.
The newest Pub Quiz includes several rounds of general knowledge questions plus a round all about the Royal Family. Do you have what it takes to be ‘crowned’ the winner?
The Pub Quiz doesn’t just have to take place at your local pub, you can also organise this for your family and friends in your garden or at a community group.
After signing up, a free fundraising pack will be sent to the Quiz Master to make organising and hosting the quiz stress-free. The pack includes a St Barnabas collection pot, a pre-written quiz with answer sheets, posters, beer mats and more. To sign up for the Pub Quiz and receive your free pack, visit: www.stbarnabashospice.co.uk/pubquiz
Both fundraisers can be held on a date and time of your choosing so you can host your Care for a Cuppa or Pub Quiz before, during, or after the Coronation. Simply sign up via the website to receive your free pack and start sending invites to your family, friends, colleagues, and members of your community.
Annually, St Barnabas provides free, compassionate, and dignified care to over 12,000 adults living with a life-limiting or terminal illness, as well as much needed support for families and carers. This care is offered in people’s homes around Lincolnshire, within hospice buildings in Lincoln and Grantham, and in numerous Wellbeing Centres around the county.
Each year, the charity needs to raise over £6.5million to keep providing its many care and support services. With so many local people needing help, St Barnabas gratefully accepts support in any way, including through volunteering.
The Big Help Out is a national campaign, marking The King’s Coronation year by giving everyone the chance to lend a hand and make a difference in their communities through volunteering.
St Barnabas welcomes volunteers of all backgrounds over the age of 14, to support the charity across a range of opportunities. From volunteering in one of the 25 charity shops across Lincolnshire, to supporting patients in the Inpatient Unit in Lincoln, to being part of this summer’s HeART Trail, the Hospice would love to hear from you.
To find out more about volunteering and to sign up, please visit: www.stbarnabashospice.co.uk/get-involved/volunteer
Veronica McBain, Head of Fundraising and Lottery at St Barnabas, says: “We are grateful to every person who supports us by raising money for our cause or volunteering. Every pound raised and every hour given really does make a difference to our Hospice.
“We’re very excited to see how our supporters will fly the St Barnabas flag while celebrating the Coronation next month, and we look forward to welcoming new volunteers to the St Barnabas family through The Big Help Out!”
The Warehouse celebrates a hugely successful first year
St Barnabas Hospice’s flagship charity shop The Warehouse in uphill Lincoln is celebrating its first year in business on 10th February, and what a year it’s been – over 120,000 items were sold, generating £410,000 in sales, which goes towards supporting hospice care.
With over 5,000 square feet of shopping space, The Warehouse is choc-a-bloc with great items at low prices, including clothing, homeware, furniture, vinyl records, books and much more.
You will also find a display unit highlighting items currently on auction on the St Barnabas eBay shop, as well as racks of pre-loved, branded vintage items on Depop.
Emma-Jayne Parker, manager at The Warehouse, says: “We have been blown away by the incredible support given to us since we first opened our doors. People of all ages and interests visit us and find great bargains, and it’s not just those who live locally, but also further away in Lincolnshire.
“We have many regulars coming to The Warehouse to browse our thousands of items, as the stock is constantly changing thanks to the high-quality donations we receive. If you would like to drop off donations, you can book a slot online via our Book & Bring system so we know when to expect your items.
“I want to say a huge thank you to everyone who has made our first year such a success, including all donors, shoppers, staff, and of course our brilliant volunteers. We couldn’t run this shop without them, and they have given us over 4,000 hours of their time in the past 12 months.
“We are always looking for more volunteers who can help us sort through donations, put items on the shop floor or man the tills. It’s so much fun, we’ve got a great team here and each volunteer can choose in which area they would like to work.
“We’d love to hear from anyone over the age of 14 with a can-do attitude, who would like to gain new skills, meet new people, and support their local Hospice.”
If you are interested in volunteering, you can sign up via the St Barnabas website here: www.stbarnabashospice.co.uk/get-involved/volunteer
The Warehouse opened in February 2022, after months of renovations to the former donation sorting point for all of St Barnabas Hospice’s shops around the county. The charity’s ambitious plans to open its biggest shop have paid off, and it is designed with sustainability and accessibility in mind.
Caroline Peach, Head of Retail says: “Sustainability is key, sometimes we receive low quality items which we can’t sell but we don’t just dispose of them; these items get recycled. This year we’ve recycled over 38,000 kilos of unsellable stock, saving huge amounts of items from going to landfill and supporting the circular economy.
“It is very important to us that our shops are accessible for everyone, and we made sure that The Warehouse has extra wide walkways, ramp access, and smooth flooring across the store for the best shopping experience.
“We’re also very proud of the success of Gift Aid, a government initiative where for every £1 we generate in sales in our shops, we can claim an extra 25p from HMRC at no extra cost to the customer. Through this scheme, this year we’ve raised an extra £14,000 for Hospice care from The Warehouse alone. When people drop off donations, they can let us know they would like to participate, we just need a quick minute to set this up and it really helps your donations go even further.
“We are so very grateful to everyone who has supported us in this past year, and we can’t wait to see what this upcoming year will bring for The Warehouse. Make sure to come by soon and see the shop for yourself!”
You can find out more about The Warehouse, including the Book & Bring donation system and volunteering opportunities, by visiting: www.stbarnabashospice.co.uk/shop/warehouse
Mayor of Louth officially reopens Wellbeing Centre
Wednesday 21st September 2022 saw the grand reopening of the St Barnabas Hospice Wellbeing Centre in Louth, which has been closed to patients since the very first Covid-19 lockdown in 2020.
The celebrations were attended by local businesses and organisations, staff, volunteers, supporters and special guests Mayor of Louth, Cllr Jeremy Baskett and his wife, the Mayoress Bridget Baskett.
Not only did the festivities include a look around the refurbished Wellbeing Centre, formerly known as the Day Therapy Centre, but it also marked the official opening of the renewed sensory garden. The therapeutic sensory garden, designed by local landscape gardener Caroline Stanley and Riseholme College students, was first showcased at the Lincolnshire Show earlier this year, where it won Highly Commended. 
Elements of this beautiful garden have now been laid into the existing garden of the Wellbeing Centre for patients and their families to enjoy. The existing Louth garden was designed by Caitlin McLaughlin and displayed at Tatton Park RHS show in 2016.
Mayor of Louth, Cllr Jeremy Baskett, commented: “Today I have the honour of officially opening the Wellbeing Centre and its beautiful new garden, and it is great to see so many people here today to mark the occasion.
“I come from a healthcare background, and the way St Barnabas operates is the way of the future; providing healthcare not just from a base such as this fantastic Wellbeing Centre, but also offering care in the community and people’s homes. St Barnabas has a great reputation, and rightly so.”
Throughout the day, St Barnabas staff were on hand for tours of the building. The Wellbeing Centre is not just a site where patients can receive medical appointments, advice, and care; it is intended as a community hub for all local people, volunteers, and staff to come together, find support in one another and enjoy socialising.
The Centre has multiple therapy rooms and large spaces that nurses, patients and families can use for a wide variety of services. It also boasts a Hub space with comfortable chairs and a kitchenette, which will be open for visitors to drop in every Thursday morning from 6th October and enjoy a free-of-charge coffee morning.
The Wellbeing Centre hopes to restart the services offered before the pandemic, including arts and crafts therapies, gardening, gentle exercise classes, and much more. To help make these ideas a reality, St Barnabas is looking to recruit volunteers who can help deliver these valuable services to the community.
Steve Bond, Head of Volunteering, comments: “Volunteering is a great way of giving back to the community, gaining new skills, and meeting interesting people. Our volunteers often stay on to support us for years as they enjoy it so much!”
Local distillery Pin Gin was in attendance at the reopening, offering visitors tasters of the special rum and gin flavours they recently created to commemorate the charity’s 40th anniversary. The Ruby Gin and Ruby Rum are available to purchase from the Pin Gin website at £35 per bottle, with £14 of each sale donated straight to St Barnabas.
Warm beverages were provided by Lincoln Tea & Coffee Company. The company has partnered with St Barnabas on their Care for a Cuppa campaign, which was represented at the reopening by St Barnabas’ Fundraising Officer, Ellie Carter. Ellie baked a variety of delicious cakes to sell to the attendees on the day and raise money for the charity.
Care for a Cuppa is a feel-good fundraising initiative that encourages supporters to put the kettle on and host a coffee morning/bake sale to raise vital funds for their local Hospice. People who sign up receive a free fundraising pack including bunting, cake flags, games, posters and two delicious recipes by renowned Lincolnshire chef Rachel Green.
To find out more and host your own Care for a Cuppa, visit https://stbarnabashospice.co.uk/care-for-a-cuppa/
St Barnabas Hospice is thankful to everyone who attended the successful reopening of the Wellbeing Centre in Louth and would like to encourage volunteers and the general public to get in touch to get involved in upcoming services. Please email [email protected] to find out more.
If you are interested in joining us in Louth as a volunteer, please visit our website: https://stbarnabashospice.co.uk/get-involved/volunteer/
St Barnabas volunteer shortlisted for BBC Radio Lincolnshire Make a Difference awards
Stephen Currie, who has been volunteering for St Barnabas Hospice for over five years, has been nominated for the coveted Volunteer of the Year Award at this year’s BBC Radio Lincolnshire’s Make a Difference awards.
Stephen lives in Washingborough and started his volunteering journey with St Barnabas at Lincoln’s High Street South charity shop. He worked there for four years with manager Joanne, who nominated him for this award. 
Stephen is currently working at Lincoln’s Burton Road shop, while Joanne moved to a different charity where he also volunteers. He can be found at Burton Road several days a week, whilst also taking on extra shifts as a volunteer leader on days shop manager Karen is unavailable.
Stephen says: “I am very honoured to be shortlisted for this award, it shows the hard work we do as volunteers is truly appreciated.”
About his volunteering work, he comments: “It is great being part of a network of volunteers that help to raise funds for the Hospice, and I am doing the best I can to inspire others, as volunteers are the backbone of charities. Raising funds for charities is so rewarding and makes you feel valued.
“I have been able to do so much that I wouldn’t have done otherwise, for instance I worked at the Waterside Fashion Show two years in a row, volunteered in day-care centres, and much more.
“I also joined the St Barnabas Social Group Committee, where I helped organise events and trips for staff and volunteers until we sadly had to stop because of Covid. It has been such a great experience.
“A happy shop means happy volunteers and staff with happy customers, which in turn better raises funds for the organisation and I’m proud to be part of it!”
The local winners for the BBC Make a Difference Awards will be announced during a ceremony in September. Good luck, Stephen!
Volunteers are needed in almost all St Barnabas charity shops across Lincolnshire, of which there are 26, and we welcome volunteers from all backgrounds.
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, click here to find out more and register your interest.
Below pictured left to right: St Barnabas’ Wayne Banks, Debbie Robinson, and Stephen at the Lincoln High Street South shop
Lincoln Wig Bank urgently needs volunteers to avoid closure
The St Barnabas Hospice Wig Bank is in danger of closing unless volunteers come forward to help run it.
St Barnabas Hospice runs a Wig Bank every Monday, helping patients experiencing hair loss as part of their diagnosis. Sadly, the current volunteers are stepping down from their roles in March and the Hospice is asking for help to keep this service running.
The Wig Bank service is provided free of charge to patients living with a life-limiting or terminal illness across Lincolnshire, and the volunteers who run it play an incredible role in supporting patients with their diagnosis. St Barnabas hopes that new volunteers will help their patients choose the perfect wig and/or headwear, provide advice about scalp and wig care and support the patient through the process of obtaining a wig.
Since the Hospice set the Wig Bank up in 2014, it has supported over 450 patients.
Jane Fulton, a member of St Barnabas staff who has personal experience of the Wig Bank, said:
“When anyone is facing challenging treatments regarding their health, they need all their energy to focus on getting through it. The last thing they need is to face the prospect of hair falling out. Your hair identifies you as a person and losing it takes part of your identity away.
“The Wig Bank service at St Barnabas provides invaluable support in choosing a wig and fitting it. They understand what it means to face hair loss, they understand the emotions people are going through and they provide the most amazing wigs that will suit individual needs. Once the right wig has been found, confidence returns. You are not identified as someone ‘ill’ and you can get on with your treatment.”
St Barnabas would be delighted to speak to people with a knowledge of hair dressing who are able to support with this role. They are flexible and would be happy to change the day of the week that the Wig Bank opens if this suits someone better. A minimum of two volunteers will be needed to keep this service open in its current format.
To view more information on the role, visit https://recruitment.stbarnabashospice.co.uk/VacancyDetails.aspx?VacancyID=1753. Alternatively, call the Volunteer Services team on 01522 518 221 or email [email protected] to discuss it further.