Volunteers are vital to running of day service at Cardiff and the Vale Hospice

Volunteers at a Penarth hospice’s day therapy unit are vital in helping staff members continue to provide a good service.

That’s the opinion of Sam Clements, Outpatient and Day Therapy Nurse Manager at the Marie Curie Cardiff and the Vale hospice in the town. 

Sam, who manages the volunteers at the unit as well as staff, said the complementary therapists, as well as the volunteer drivers who bring people from their homes to the unit, allow the charity to provide the service to help people living with a terminal illness. 

“I manage a variety of volunteer complementary therapists, drivers, group therapy assistants,” says Sam.

 

“Without the support of these people, we would not be able to provide this service to our patients. 

“We currently offer a wide range of complementary therapies, mostly on a volunteer basis. 

“This forms an essential part of the outpatients and day therapy department, which is also vital for many of our patients and carers. 

“For many, the volunteer drivers are also a life-line ‑ without this service, they would be unable to access the wide range of supportive services available from the hospice in Penarth.”

 

Sam says he is always keen to provide one to one support to those volunteers, but that they also work autonomously within their speciality.  He says this has helped the service develop over time – and welcomes any other volunteering ideas.

 

“Over the years we have embraced the changing evidence base of complementary therapies and now provide this service to our patients and carers, with fantastic results. 

“We are always open to new suggestions, so if you think you have a skill that could potentially benefit our patients and carers, please get in touch. 

“We are always happy to listen to new and innovative ways of embracing volunteering.” 

If you would like to volunteer for Marie Curie, please visit www.mariecurie.org.uk/get-involved/volunteering