At Lewis-Manning Hospice Care, volunteers are a core part of everything we do.

We are so grateful to have such a great community of volunteers, with such a diverse range of skills, who are able to help our charity in so many ways.

From helping in our retail shops to decorating and garden clearance.

Volunteering is a wonderful way to give back and help others, which in return makes you feel great!

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Meet Chris!

Chris North is one of our volunteer drivers.

Chris volunteers as a patient driver, helping to safely transport our patients to our Day Hospice in Wareham.

We asked Chris…

What is your reason for volunteering?

I am retired and have spare time which I wanted to put to good use, I think what I am now doing helps people.

What do you most like about volunteering with Lewis-Manning?

I looked to do various charity work. After talking to the Lewis Manning staff in Swanage though I decided that I liked the principles of the charity and its dedication to their patients was second to none. Also, I was told that there was a shortage of volunteer drivers transporting patients to their appointments and day hospice visits.

What do you get out of volunteering?

I find it very rewarding and the people I have transported are very grateful for what I do for them. I love seeing their smiling faces when they are going out for the day. We all have a good laugh when I am driving and sometimes, I feel the journey is not long enough!

Tell us something about you.

I love living in Swanage and the slow pace of life here. I feel so lucky to have this opportunity to help people that are not as lucky and as fit and able as me.

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Lyndsey Howard, Lewis-Manning Volunteer Manager

“Our volunteer drivers offer an essential service to patients who might otherwise be unable to reach our nurses and access our services. The support our volunteers give to the community is outstanding, and they are dedicated to delivering first-class service to our patients. We have an incredible team of volunteer drivers who consistently go above and beyond, and I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to them for everything they do for our patients.”

The impact our volunteer drivers make to our patients

• Our volunteer drivers’ contributions are vital to the well-being of our patients and their families.
• Our drivers not only provide a service, but they become a familiar and friendly face for our patients who might otherwise be isolated.
• Volunteer driving is more than just a transportation service; it represents a social lifeline for many, connecting them to the outside world again.
• Volunteer drivers provide a lifeline for many individuals. Their impact is profound, not only in terms of accessibility but also in social and health outcomes.
• Interactions between our patients and volunteers can provide meaningful connections and a positive social exchange, which enhances the overall well-being of our patients.
• As rural communities continue to face unique challenges, the role of volunteer drivers will remain critical.

If you are interested in joining our team of volunteer drivers, there are more details on our website. We look forward to meeting you!

Patient Driver Volunteer – Lewis-Manning Hospice Care

It’s so encouraging that many local business’ are offering their staff paid time off to volunteer and both businesses and employees are seeing huge benefits.

10 ways Volunteering can help you and your business

• Improving company reputation
• Empowering employees
• Allowing employees to give back to their community
• Boosting employee engagement and satisfaction
• Developing and sharing talents and skills
• Improving team skills, loyalty and productivity
• Benefits to mental health
• Spreading brand awareness
• Staff retention
• Having fun!

“The work of our volunteers is vital to our work providing end-of-life care to patients and support to their loved ones. We simply couldn’t do what we do without them.”

We’d love you to join our volunteering team and…

• Make a positive difference to peoples’ lives.
• Improve self-esteem, confidence and wellbeing.
• Diverse roles available across the Clinical, Retail and Fundraising teams.
• Gain invaluable work experience.
• Gain new skills and make new friends.

Email [email protected] or call 01202 708470 and ask to speak to our Volunteer Manager.