‘The treasure of my life’: why volunteers are at the heart of Thames Hospice

Volunteers are the ‘beating heart’ of Thames Hospice.

In a month where the charity celebrates their invaluable contributions, the Advertiser has taken a closer look at their stories and why helping Thames Hospice means so much to them.

There are more than 1,000 volunteers helping Thames Hospice deliver its services.

Some help at the hospice itself, while others help in their own communities at its charity shops.

But no matter where they are, their qualifications or age – as young as 14 to 94 years old – their contribution is equally important and is celebrated at an annual summer tea party in June.

Speaking at this year’s event, chief executive officer Dr Rachael De Caux described its volunteers as ‘the beating heart’ of Thames Hospice.

The Advertiser spoke with three long-serving volunteers about their experiences working with the hospice, and why its mission has been so crucial for them to support.

Ricard Goss volunteers at Thames Hospice's base in Bray 

Richard Goss, 76, from Littlewick Green, told the Advertiser his 16 years of service to the charity had been ‘the treasure of my life’.

Richard volunteers at the reception of the inpatient unit at Thames Hospice’s base in Bray and received a 15-year service award last year.

Reflecting on when he began volunteering, he said: “They asked me what I’d be willing to do and I said, ‘I won’t do flower arranging’ – which occasionally now I have to do – and they said ‘what about reception?’

“From the very moment I started, I just thought A, I feel I can do it, and B, if I can be of any use to people who are here, why not do it? Why not volunteer?”

The role means he speaks regularly with patients and their families experiencing end-of-life care.

Asked why he had continued to volunteer, Richard said: “A sense, in some ways, of being able to contribute towards making that end-of-life journey for people as good as it can be.”

Six volunteers received long-service awards at its tea party event, having helped deliver its services for between 10 to 25 years.

Anita Dobson and Ross Kemp turn out to show their support for the volunteers

One of these was Anna Tindall, 75, who volunteers at Thames Hospice’s Ascot charity shop. She has previously helped as a driver, transporting patients to the hospice from their homes.

While working at Heatherwood Hospital in Ascot, before its rebuild in 2022, Anna learned about Thames Hospice and decided she wanted to do more to help.

“Because I went [to volunteer] from a work point of view and I saw what the nurses did, I thought it was a wonderful thing to look after people,” she said.

In addition to helping at the Ascot shop, Anna takes part in the hospice’s annual Sunflower Walk – a feat she completed with her husband Phil before he passed away. Phil died at Thames Hospice aged 67.

The Sunflower Walk invites fundraisers to complete a charity walk for Thames Hospice.

Asked if her experience with Thames Hospice’s care had strengthened her reasoning for volunteering she said she would have carried on regardless.

“If he hadn’t died, I would still be here,” she said. “And when he died, I didn’t think ‘I’ve got to stop coming’.”

Anna received a long-service award for 15 years.

Anna (right) and John (left) help make volunteers 'the beating heart' of Thames Hospice

Another volunteer who received a long-service award this year was John Porter, 65, who helps at the Thames Hospice charity shop in Sandhurst.

John said he had been persuaded to volunteer at the shop 10 years ago by his wife Deborah, who had started work there as an assistant manager.

Having been a volunteer with the scouts, John said ‘being able to give back’ to his community was always ‘a joy’.

He said: “That’s what it’s all about really, it's being able to give back to society and as much time as I’m able to give, I will.

“I love retail, I’ve been in retail since I was 14. I just love being in the shop, trying to sell, having a laugh and a joke with customers, bonding with them.

“And even if they don’t buy anything, you still enjoy that they’ve come in and had a browse.”

John, who works for food delivery company Ocado, said he enjoyed working with his fellow volunteers at the charity shop, adding he was proud of ‘the best presented shop in Sandhurst’.

He said: “When I work for Ocado, you’re all there for different reasons – you’re there for a wage at the end of the week.

“Whereas with the volunteering, you’re all there for the same purpose and that is to help raise funds and awareness for Thames Hospice.”

John said: “Being able to give back, it's just a joy.

“Feeling like it's not a chore – it’s a real pleasure.”

For more information about volunteering at Thames Hospice, and to view opportunities, visit thameshospice.org.uk/volunteer