To mark Volunteers’ Week taking place from Monday 2nd June to Sunday 8th June, St Barnabas Hospice is hosting a series of countywide events to give special thanks to over 1,000 of the charity’s volunteers.
Volunteers’ Week is the perfect opportunity to showcase the amazing contributions that volunteers provide to enhance the work of the Hospice in many different areas.
It is a chance for the charity to say a big thank you for everything they do to support patients and their families, either directly or indirectly.
Steve Bond, Head of Volunteering at St Barnabas, says: “Without the volunteers’ compassion, dedication, and generosity, we simply wouldn’t be able to provide the level of care and support our patients and their families need.
“As a local charity, we rely heavily on the time and effort our volunteers so willingly give. We have around 1,000 incredible people volunteering in our 24 shops and at events to help raise funds, supporting our clinicians in our Hospice buildings, helping us host support groups in our Wellbeing Centres – the list goes on.
“We are so grateful for the support they provide daily.”
Alongside the charity’s thank you events for volunteers; St Barnabas are proud to introduce ten members of their volunteering workforce who have been awarded Room to Reward certificates.
St Barnabas Hospice gets the chance to nominate deserving volunteers each year through Room to Reward, and the whole reward scheme is free to the Hospice.
Those nominations are turned into thank-you breaks, giving our volunteers a chance to relax, recharge, and feel truly appreciated. Through Room to Reward, hotels and holiday parks across the UK donate their unsold rooms.
Pamela Brewer, Esme Bridgewood, Rosje East, Carol Farrow, Susan Griffiths, Rachel Hallam, Ruth Ives, David James, Jean Jones and Jill Metcalfe have all been successfully nominated by their managers or colleagues and will now be considering where to go on their gifted hotel break.
Pamela Brewer:
Nominated by Jo White, Counselling Services Manager.
Jo says: “Pamela has been volunteering with St Barnabas for just over 12 years. She supports us by volunteering as a counsellor, offering both one-to-one counselling and supporting the bereavement groups and creative wellbeing groups – she has recently taken on her 100th client for one-to-one counselling which is such a huge achievement.
“Pamela goes above and beyond for people she connects with, ensuring that they are not only supported by St Barnabas, but they have the support they may need externally.
“Pamela, you are wonderful, and we feel blessed to have you in our team. Even on the wettest and soggiest of days, you have still supported others, often putting them before your own needs and always managing to bring a smile to someone’s face. Thank you for your commitment and all that you bring.”
Esme Bridgewood:
Nominated by Mandi Ellerington, Shop Manager.
Mandi says: “Esme has volunteered with us for 3 years, building towards her 5-year badge and beyond.
“Esme has hurdles to overcome – she has Autism and ADHD and has just purchased a JAM Card to help people be aware to just take a minute. She works the till, helps train new beginners, and has expressed an interest in helping with our Facebook posts.
“We could not run this shop without Esme’s commitment and happy smile. In the years that I have worked with Esme, I have seen her grow as a person and learn new skills that she was told she would be unable to learn. Her confidence has grown – she is a different person to who she was when she first started.”
Rosje East:
Nominated by Fiona Malloch-Rear, Community Fundraiser.
Fiona says: “When I first joined St Barnabas nearly two years ago, I knew that the Grantham area was incredibly busy for fundraising. This is most certainly down to the hard work that our fundraising volunteer Rosje has put in over the many years that she has been connected to the hospice.
“Her dedication to our Easter Novelties campaign is to be admired and she has worked tirelessly on this over the years. This year alone, she has crocheted over 300 items herself and created the most wonderful and unique characters.
“On a personal level, Rosje has become a good friend, and I can always rely on her for her dedication and honesty. Rosje thoroughly deserves to spoil herself and have a treat, as she always downplays her role and I don’t think realises how truly grateful we are for all she has done over the years.”
Carol Farrow:
Nominated by Kate Taylor, Volunteer Coordinator (Inpatient Units).
Kate says: “Carol has gone above and beyond in her support of the Inpatient Unit recently. As part of the Volunteer Reception Team, her role is to welcome visitors to the IPU and put them at ease.
“Having previously been a member of the Ward staff, Carol has been a volunteer for over ten years and regularly covers two evening shifts per week. She is well respected by colleagues and loves her volunteering, is always warm and professional in her role and clearly adds value to the Inpatient Unit.
“Overall, Carol is a first-class volunteer who is hugely committed to St Barnabas and our values, and I feel her ongoing dedication and exceptional contribution to the Inpatient Unit is worthy of extra recognition.”
Susan Griffiths:
Nominated by Deborah Yarwood, Fundraising Officer.
Deborah says: “Sue started volunteering at Countryside Lincs in 2023, and since then she has helped my role immensely – I would not be able to do some of the fundraising events without her by my side.
“Sue is so passionate about the Hospice as she unfortunately experienced it first-hand in October 2019 when she lost her beloved husband Mike. Sue cannot be more grateful of the support Mike and her family received while he was there and as a volunteer now, Sue feels like she is giving back.
“She will turn out at all hours, whether it’s an early morning start or a late finish, she will be there until the very end. She’ll always have a smile on her face and a piece of delicious cheesecake in her bag – we all love Sue and hope she will continue to support for many more events. Sue, you are one in a million!”
Rachel Hallam:
Nominated by Ellie Carter, Legacy and In Memory Manager.
Ellie says: “Rachel has been an invaluable member of the Fundraising Office Volunteer Team, dedicating her time to supporting essential administrative tasks. Her role involves counting monies, cleaning collection boxes, and assisting with various office duties.
“Her dedication extends beyond her weekly office hours, always stepping up whenever additional support is needed. Rachel has played a crucial role in helping the team sell foreign monies and collectable coins, a task that has directly contributed to increasing funds for St Barnabas Hospice.
“Rachel’s unwavering commitment through her fundraising volunteer role has helped generate income while also raising awareness for the organisation. Her reliability, enthusiasm, and selfless contributions make her a truly deserving candidate for this award. From all the Fundraising and Supporter Engagement team, we love having you in the office and are so grateful for all your help and support – so thank you Rachel!”
Ruth:
Nominated by Louise Innes, Shop Manager.
Louise says: “Ruth works with us each week without fail and has been with us for two years now. Our cause is one that she feels very strongly about and is proud to talk to people about whenever she can.
“I have complete faith in Ruth to understand my vision for our shops here in Skegness. The organisation we have in place in the shops and the back-room areas is largely down to Ruth and her amazing skills, making life easier and smoother for not just myself, but also James and all the other volunteers.
“I would be lost without her. In short, Ruth is my right-hand woman. The love from our team is very apparent, everyone enjoys working with Ruth. The customers adore her, and I am often stopped, not just in the shops but in the town, to be told about how fantastic she is. I have nothing but love and admiration for this lady.”
David James:
Nominated by Emma O’Keefe and Sharna Jordan, Shop Manager and Deputy Manager.
Emma and Sharna say: “David is our Keyholding Sales Assistant in our charity shop on Lincoln High Street; he has been with us for over three years.
“When David first joined, he was struggling with his mental health and the effect this had on his self-belief. However, his confidence grew so much that in 2024 we asked him to be a keyholder and manage the shop in our absence. Since then, he has been able to step into our shoes and has saved the shop from being closed on many occasions.
“We are particularly proud of him for managing our busiest day of the year, ‘Steampunk Saturday’, the biggest event in Lincoln’s tourism calendar. David managed a small team of 3 and was able to take a staggering figure of over £800! He embodies our hospice’s values, and we feel he deserves extra recognition for his determination, effort, and innovative ideas.”
Jean Jones:
Nominated by Debbie Laws, Shop Manager.
Debbie says: “Jean has been volunteering for over ten years and has given countless hours of her time to support the running of the shop as a till operator.
“Her customer service is first class, and she is well loved by both her fellow volunteers and our customers. Her knowledge of dressmaking, fabrics and haberdashery is a bonus in aiding sales on our craft section. She has gone the extra mile by doing alterations for staff and customers in exchange for a small donation to the Hospice.
“Jean has a heart of gold. She has a big personality, is approachable, kind, caring and always ready to listen to her colleagues and customers with a friendly ear – especially those who have suffered bereavement. Jean is the definition of the ‘perfect volunteer’.”
Jill Metcalfe:
Nominated by Grace Cook, Lincoln Area Retail Manager.
Grace says: “Jill is the heart and soul of St Barnabas Hospice Café, serving as a Lead Volunteer with dedication, leadership, and kindness. In a café run entirely by volunteers, Jill plays a crucial role in ensuring smooth operations, organising shifts, training new volunteers, and maintaining a warm and welcoming space for visitors.
“Jill consistently goes above and beyond her role. When volunteer numbers were low, she stepped up without hesitation – covering extra shifts, recruiting new volunteers, and ensuring that the café remained a place of comfort for all who rely on it. Another key achievement has been Jill’s dedication to maintaining the highest standards of food hygiene, which played a crucial role in the café achieving a 5-star food hygiene rating.
“Jill Metcalfe is truly a Hidden Hero. Her commitment, resourcefulness, and leadership have made a lasting impact on St Barnabas Hospice Café, and she is highly deserving of this recognition.”