Volunteering for the hospice has given me so much back in 17 years

While out shopping one day in Barnstaple, I found myself walking through the doors of North Devon Hospice’s Furniture Centre, which I’d heard was a treasure trove of fabulous second-hand items.

I wasn’t disappointed! As I marvelled at the rows of beautiful furniture that lay before me, a painting on the back wall caught my eye. It was bold and dramatic - a piece that I decided would look perfect in my home.

As I arrived at the till, I began chatting with the lady behind the desk who told me more about North Devon Hospice. She said how thanks to support from people like me, the hospice can offer care to those in our community facing a life-limiting illness.

She explained how this care can be given at the hospice itself or at home depending on the level of support a patient needs and where they feel most comfortable.

As well as the physical care, she also described the breadth of emotional support that is available to families, and how there is no timeline for when this support ends.

The more I heard about this amazing charity, the more I wanted to be part of it. And that’s when I decided to start volunteering at the hospice.

That was 17 years ago and I love it just as much now as the day I started!

During my time here, I’ve helped in lots of departments across the charity. From serving customers in our Furniture Centre to hosting ‘Look Good, Feel Good’ sessions alongside our wonderful Supportive Care Team, I’ve been welcomed by teams across the hospice and made to feel like part of the family, which has been lovely.

Currently, I volunteer at the No.9 and Northgate hospice charity shops in Barnstaple. During my weekly shifts, I serve customers, pop prices on our items, sort through jewellery, and help to merchandise the windows. But for me, the best of this role is being with the public and seeing them feel good about buying something they know will help a great cause, just as I first did all those years ago.

While volunteering for North Devon Hospice has brought me lots of wonderful opportunities over the years, one of the most memorable was attending the Queen’s Garden Party in recognition of the hospice being gifted the Queen’s Award for volunteering.

Above: Sue at the Royal Garden Party. Credit: Sue Weston

It was a glittering affair hosted in the stunning gardens at Buckingham Palace. There were scrumptious canapés, a live band playing, and we even got to meet a few members of the Royal family including Kate, Princess of Wales, which was just amazing!

I felt so honoured to be representing North Devon Hospice, even more so having picked out my outfit for the day from our fabulous charity shops.

For me, volunteering brings a truly rewarding feeling and it’s wonderful to work with such a great team – they cater to everyone! If you’re looking to do something fulfilling in your spare time, why not come and join us? Visit northdevonhospice.org.uk to find out more.