Volunteering
Every year well over a hundred volunteers assist us with patient care, family
support, fundraising and many other aspects of our work. As a volunteer there are
lots of ways that you can help HospiceCare North Northumberland deliver its
essential services to patients and their families:
- Helping in the Alnwick or Berwick Day Care or Patient Clinics
- Driving patients to and from the hospice
- Helping people in their own homes
- Training to help with bereavement support
- Organising fundraising events and projects in aid of Hospicecare
- Helping at fundraising events
- Working on HospiceCare reception
- Assisting with hospice administration
Other volunteers use skills such as hair dressing, complementary therapies
or arts and crafts to help improve our patients' quality of life. Could
you get involved, become part of our team and together make a real
difference? We would love to hear from you - please call the HospiceCare
Volunteer Coordinator on 01665 606515.
Day Care Volunteers
Can you spare 6 hours a week or a month?
Come and work in our centres at Alnwick or Berwick from 9.30 a.m. to 3.30 p.m.
To welcome patients into the HospiceCare premises, talk with the patients, help to serve
refreshments as well as helping them to take part in different activities.
This is a fulfilling and rewarding role, for which training will be provided.
You do not need to have any previous medical training or experience, you just
need to be an empathetic and positive person, who enjoys helping others.
For further details contact our Volunteer Coordinator on Tel: 01665 606515
or click here to download an application form.
Driver Volunteers
We need drivers to cover the Alnwick area and the Berwick area
to take patients to and from the HospiceCare premises.
Can you spare a few hours a week? Do you have clean driving
license and would you be willing to use your own car?
If you can offer your time and enthusiasm we will give our
expertise and will provide training - together we can make
a great team.
For further details contact our Volunteer Coordinator on
Tel: 01665 606515 or click here to download
an application form.
Fundraising Volunteers
We need fundraising volunteers to help us organise and run events
such as sponsored walks and open garden days - if you would enjoy
coordinating fundraising activities in your area, taking responsibility
for organising and running events, please get in touch with our volunteer
coordinator on 01665 606515.
Reception Volunteers
We need people to welcome patients and visitors, handle phone calls
and take and pass on messages - if you enjoy meeting and helping
people, would like to support the work of the HospiceCare and have some
time available, please get in touch. For further details contact our
Volunteer Coordinator on Tel: 01665 606515 or click here to download
an application form.
Administration Volunteers
We need help with letter writing, filing, posting out information,
data entry on spreadsheets and other admin tasks. If you enjoy
working in an office environment, would like to support the work
of the Hospice and can spare some time, we would be pleased to hear
from you. For further details contact our Volunteer Coordinator on
Tel: 01665 606515 or click here to download
an application form.
Local volunteers for Alnwick & Berwick
Community support is vital for HospiceCare. Are you involved with a
local club or community group? Would you be able to organise a fund
raising event? Would you be interested in promoting the work and
fundraising events of HospiceCare by putting up posters for your
local hospice?
We are looking for volunteers in North Northumberland to take posters
to their local clubs and community groups to help us advertise the
wide range of exciting events we hold throughout the year to raise
much needed funds for HospiceCare. If you can help with publicity
all you need to do is give us a call on 01665 606515 / 01289 309997
and leave us your name, address, name of your local group and how
many posters you require. Each time we have an event coming up we
will send out the posters for you to hand out and put on notice boards.
If you can help by holding a fundraising event, please visit our
fundraising section.
HospiceCare Trustees
A group of Trustees are responsible for the governance and effective
management of the Hospice, as well as its strategic direction and
management. The Trustees are volunteers with relevant experience
who come from all walks of life, both clinical and non clinical.
Their wide experience, for example in business, accounting and finance,
the public sector, the voluntary sector and as experienced medical
practitioners, is of great value to Hospicecare.
Click here to download an application form.
Fundraising Events
Peel2Save
A new fundraising initiative called Peel2Save is a scheme run by the Alnwick Cryer which gives you great discounts from local businesses while providing much-needing funding for community organisations like HospiceCare North Northumberland.
Each...
Pit your wits!
Any quiz addicts out there?
HospiceCare are having a quiz night at 40 Narrowgate , Alnwick on Friday 30th March, starting at 7.30pm. You can have a team of up to 6 people, a cold buffet supper will be provided. Tickets are £5 and can...
Volunteers Wanted
If you could spare some time on Saturday 7th April, we need two volunteers to collect for the Hospice at Asda in Berwick, in the foyer. If you can help, just give us a call on 01665 606515.
Thank you...
Druridge Bay 10k Run (or Walk)
The Druridge Bay 10K run is being held on the 3rd June. If you would like to take part in this run which is very popular and support the Hospice by raising funds for us,log onto the Druridge 10K run web page and download an application! if you need i...
Shop
Our store is currently being stocked, please check back soon for our products.
Legacies
Leaving a Legacy of Care – please help us to go on caring for people
in our communities by remembering us in your will.
Making a will is one of the kindest things you can do for your loved ones.
Writing a will is usually straightforward but we recommend that you seek
guidance from a solicitor, who will be able to help you set out who you
wish to remember in your will and exactly what you would like to leave them.
Mrs Smith (not her real name) left HospiceCare a residual legacy
worth £10,000. Thanks to her we have offered care, at home, to
20 patients in Tweedmouth, Rothbury, Warkworth and other villages in
Northumberland. She’s made their lives so much better. We will never
forget her kindness – and neither will the families that we have been able to help.
“When my sister was first diagnosed with cancer the world seemed to
stop. We were so worried about how we would cope. HospiceCare North
Northumberland offered my sister a lifeline. She couldn’t get out easily
and she felt a bit isolated. So every week a volunteer picked her up and
took her to the day hospice. They gave her lots of support and helped her
to carry on enjoying life. Later, when she became too poorly to go to the
day hospice, the Hospice at Home team visited her in her own home. They
were so kind. HospiceCare North Northumberland is run almost entirely on
charitable donations, so I always give a little when I can and I try to
support their events. And I have left them a gift in my will. It’s my way
of making sure that they’ll still be here to help the next generation. It
would be wonderful if you could do the same.”
If you would like to discuss leaving a gift to HospiceCare North
Northumberland, please call the Hospice Finance Manager on 01665 606515.
We would be delighted to talk to you.
How to include us in your will – examples of wording
A Pecuniary Gift allows you to leave a fixed sum of money in your will
to your favourite cause.
For Example:
I bequeath to HospiceCare North Northumberland, Castleside House, 40
Narrowgate, Alnwick, Northumberland, NE66 1JQ, the sum of £_____________ to be
applied to the general purposes of the said charity.
Registered Charity Number 1103635
A Residual Gift is made after you have specified all your wishes for your
oved ones. You could leave part or all of what is left of your Estate
to HospiceCare North Northumberland.
For Example:
I bequeath to HospiceCare North Northumberland, Castleside House, 40 Narrowgate,
Alnwick, Northumberland, NE66 1JQ, [the whole / one half / threequarters, for
example] of my residuary estate to be applied to the general purposes of the said charity.
Registered Charity Number 1103635
Note – it's always advisable to consult a solicitor when writing a
will to ensure nothing of importance is forgotten.
Give a Minute Campaign
Give a Minute Could you support HospiceCare for one minute of work?
This year HospiceCare must raise £300,000 to continue providing care and
support to patients and their families throughout North Northumberland
and into the Scottish Borders. That&39;s £25,000 per month, £1,250 per day
or £3 each working minute.
Could you Give a Minute by sponsoring HospiceCare for just £3 a month,
a week or even a day to help fund the fantastic care we provide in your
local community?
For example every month you could donate:
- £3 to sponsor one minute each month
- £6 to sponsor two minutes each month
- £12 to sponsor one minute each week
- £24 to sponsor two minutes each week
- £26 to sponsor three minutes each week
- £90 to sponsor one minute each day
- £180 to sponsor two minutes each day
Every minute counts for our patients - please donate now.
Donate Online!
It costs around £300,000 each year to offer our current level of
service, less than 15% of this amount comes from the NHS or other
statutory sources. Financial contributions to the work of the hospice are vital.
To donate online, please click the Just Giving button on the right of the page.
Corporate Partnerships
We are looking for corporate partners, and to develop a relationship
between HospiceCare and your company. By supporting HospiceCare you are
contributing to the delivery of quality palliative care in our community
and achieving some of your businesses corporate social responsibility objectives.
Staff involvement and recognition through fundraising for the HospiceCare
is a great motivator and helps to develop new skills. Event participation
brings benefits of developing team work and builds more dynamic teams.
Through supporting HospiceCare your business could secure positive media
and PR exposure which further enhances your own corporate image.
Your business will receive a Corporate Partner certificate. Our
informative presentations to your staff will help motivate their
involvement in your businesses valued contribution to the care of
our patients.
HospiceCare is currently working with Morrisons in Alnwick,
Berwick and Hawick.
For more information on becoming a corporate supporter, please
contact our Fundraising Team, on 01665 606515
Support from Trusts and Foundations
HospiceCare is extremely grateful to the Trusts and
Foundations which have funded its work.
We would like to thank the following for their recent support:
- Albert Hunt Trust
- Ballinger Charitable Trust
- Barbour Trust
- Butler Ember Charity
- Carr-Ellison Charitable Trust
- Catherine Cookson Trust
- Chichester Charitable Trust
- Christ's Hospital in Sherburn
- Community Foundation:John Bell Fund
- Community Foundation:Northern Angel Fund
- Community Foundation:Northern Angel Fund
- Dobson Family Charitable Trust
- E C Graham Charitable Settlement
- Elise Pilkington Charitable Trust
- Falloden Charitable Trust
- Freemasons Grand Charity
- Greggs
- Hadrian Trust
- Hugonin Family Trust
- Inman Charity
- J H Burn Charity Trust
- Lady of Mercy Institute
- Liddell-Simpson Charitable Trust
- NEPAC
- Norman C Ashton Foundation
- Percy Hedley Charitable Trust, The
- Roger Vere Foundation
- Seahouses & District Cancer Care
- Sir James Knott
- Sir Jules Thorn Charitable Trust
- Sir Steven Middleton Charity Trust
- Souter Charitable Trust
- Sylvia Aitken Charitable Trust
- The D'Oyly Carte Charitable Trust
- The Follett Trust
- The Haramead Trust
- The Joicey Trust
- UK Coal
- W A Handley
- Willan 1989 Charitable Trust
- William Webster Charitable Trust
- Xerox (UK) Ltd Foundation
- Yorkshire B S Charitable Foundation
What the Hospice means to me - Angela's Story
"Well, I don't want to bore you all, but last summer, at the age of 37, I was diagnosed with breast cancer which was then found to be secondary in my bones. But that's enough about me - what you really need to know about is HospiceCare North Northumberland.
A year ago I didn't know HospiceCare existed let alone what they did for our community. When you are first diagnosed, your world as you know it just stops - no matter who you are, or what you do, young or old, rich or poor - your days become far from the normal you have been used to.
That's where HospiceCare came to my rescue. As hospitals and medicine were doing what was required to my body, the team at HospiceCare looked after the rest of me - the whole Angela. The team and the services they provide are invaluable. The team hold your hand and are there to get you through each day, and along with the services available, they make each day a little less scary, and help turn the tears into smiles. And trust me - I smile every single day! But it's not just me they help. Through showing me how to cope, I can pass that on to my children, my family and my friends, all of whom are very important to me.
But HospiceCare is a charity, and needs our support to enable them to continue. My aim is to make as much money as I can by taking part in as many of their fundraising events as I can. I started with the Zip Wire event on 27th June 2010 at Chillingham Castle. I roped some of my family and friends to come along and 'zip' with me. For those less brave or for those who just want to show their support, I ask you to dig deep and donate as much as you can.
I know you have heard that phrase many times, but this really is for a charity that is on our doorstep.
I thank each and everyone of you for reading this, joining in with events, or making a donation.
Lets see how much we can raise!!!!! Angela x"
Patient's and families stories
“The speed to which you responded to our needs was tremendous. It was a lifeline to us both and I especially appreciate the support you gave me in allowing my weekend breaks. Thank you”.
“Thank you for all your help and support, especially to those who organised carers and those who came to care, either during the day or at night. It was wonderful to be able to relax (a little!) and get some much needed sleep.
We looked forward to the carers coming and felt they were our friends as well carers. I realize that it is not easy to go in to a home where there is illness and stress, but all of you carers achieved this with professionalism and patience. All of the carers were cheerful, gentle, caring, kind and considerate, and it was always a joy to have them.
God bless you all for the service you give to our local community”.
“In particular the fact that you were able to care for me in our home was great, as it is not easy walking in bandages! Many, many thanks.”
“I am writing to thank you and all your colleagues for their kindness and dedication in the care of my wife”.
‘Hospice at Home ‘is a wonderful organization we were so lucky to have your support.”
"Coming to the Hospice for day care has given me some friendship and my wife a day off, all of the staff are excellent and listen to my needs. I look forward to coming - it is the highlight of my week."
"Sometimes it's hard to get out of bed in the morning to come to the hospice but it's worth the effort. The compassion I get from coming here is what I look forward to. My family are OK but some don't want to know about my illness , or they don't want to believe that I'm ill. I've always talked about my cancer from when I first had it because I think it might help others. People get better when they come to the Hospice - we don't all pop our clogs! It's a place for hope and we encourage each other, you have to be positive. My cancer is behaving itself at the moment and with the help of the staff at HospiceCare I am controlling it, I'm going to die of old age, not my illness."
"I wanted to let you know how much I appreciate how much you did for me and Dad. Without you I would not have had anytime to do nice things.
You always had time for me and I looked forward to our chats, you may not realise but without you I would have found life very difficult. Thank you so much, I will never forget."
"I would like to thank all the staff at the Hospice for the time you spent with my husband. Ken was driven by a volunteer from our home to the Hospice every week, he was made to feel special and it was a day he looked forward to. It was something to make him feel as if he wasn’t on the scrap heap anymore. He would always talk about the great things that had happened whilst he was at day care and it helped me to have a day to myself. Thank you again for all the help and support you gave my family, it helped us to cope."
"Just a few words to say thank you to you and the team for all your kindness and support during Paul's last few months of his illness. Help was always available and various staff members came to our home bringing their own special abilities with them, therefore helping Paul and myself cope with the sadness of knowing he was going to die. It was wonderful to be able to look after him at home, but I could not have done that without all the support given. I will be forever grateful."
A Volunteers Story - Alison Colledge
My name is Alison Colledge and I have been volunteering with HospiceCare for two and a half years. I saw a notice in the local post office asking for volunteers to work at the hospice and as a former nurse, the day care side appealed to me so I gave it a go!
I really enjoyed day care but the work of HospiceCare is ever changing and the needs of the people who use the hospice is changing.
I was asked if I would like to help with the running of a clinic that has replaced day care on Wednesdays. It offers patients an opportunity to come in, perhaps have a complementary therapy, a chance to talk and of course a cup of tea!
The time I have been helping with the clinic has been very enjoyable.
A Volunteer's story - Judith Draper
My name is Judith Draper and I have been helping out at the Hospice in Alnwick for over 4 years. I do massage therapies and Reiki. The patients get so much out of these therapies and I am very glad to help, as I can fit my volunteering in easily with my private practice.
A Trustee's Story - Chris Foreman
It gives me a great feeling of pleasure to think how far we have come since 1994 when our hospice was just an idea. As a founder trustee it has been a real privilege to see the service develop over the years, not to mention a lot of hard work by a large number of people! But I would not have missed any of it.
I began work as a Macmillan nurse in 1992 and it was apparent there was a need for more local palliative care services to save patients travelling to and from Newcastle.
When a district nurse colleague and myself went to a lecture early in 1994 describing the benefits of Day Hospice care we knew that we needed something like that in our area. With support from health professionals and local people a group was formed and we took our ideas to the wider community in a series of meetings.
We also had the backing of our friend Hazel Marsden from the Marsden Charitable Trust. In recognition of her generous support our hospice property in Berwick is named after Hazel.
The strength of the community support carried us on to appoint staff and volunteers to set up a service offering day care one day a week in Alnwick and Berwick. Joan Robson and
her staff and volunteers welcomed patients for the first time in October 1995. It takes a substantial amount of money, and huge team effort from our staff, volunteers and trustees to provide services working closely with existing healthcare services.
I have seen how patients, their carers and family benefit from the numerous services we provide and how in many cases patients would struggle to be cared for at home without HospiceCare's valuable support. Our Hospice at Home service has demonstrated just how we can enable patients to remain at home, if existing services are unable to offer the level of support required.
Yet as many hospices around the country are well aware without the generous support from our local communities we would not be able to provide these important services.
So a big thank you once again for your continued support, we do appreciate it.
A Skydiver's Story
I was one of 5 people who volunteered to take part in a sponsored skydiving event in aid of Hospicecare, which was held at the Peterlee Skydive Academy.
On the day of the sky dive, the weather was perfect. We had been allocated the last 2 places of the day. So we had the chance to watch the guys ahead of us go up in the plane and complete their jump. Then suddenly we were whisked off, kitted up and walking across to the single prop plane that was taking us up with our instructors. Once in the plane and securely attached to our instructors, the 25 minute journey to take us up to altitude began.
No time to bottle out now! At 10,000 feet, the red light turned to green, the door slid open and out we went, free falling at 160mph for about 45-60 seconds, awesome!! Once the parachute was open and we were under canopy, the experience changed again, wonderful scenery, on a beautiful clear day you could see for miles. …the sheer joy and explosion of excitement was immense, truly a great experience of a lifetime. Not forgetting why we were “mad” enough to jump in the first place…..Hospicecare, a very worthy charity to support.
When can we do it again guys!? Hilary Renton
