June’s Volunteering Story
“We all have skills that help the hospice, and I know from my experience how amazing volunteering for St Elizabeth Hospice can be. You get out of volunteering as much, if not more, than you put in.”
“Hospice care is so important, and as a community we are fortunate to have St Elizabeth Hospice in our local area,” says June Lawrence, who has been volunteering at St Elizabeth Hospice since 2013, as a retail volunteer at their Selkirk Road charity shop in Ipswich.
Every year more than 4,000 people living with a progressive or life-limiting illness, and their families, are supported throughout east Suffolk, Great Yarmouth and Waveney by the free specialist palliative care provision of St Elizabeth Hospice.
This care is provided by hospice staff who operate throughout the region, supported by a fantastic team of volunteers, like June, whose generosity enables St Elizabeth Hospice to continue evolving its services to care for more people in the local community.
June, who is from Ipswich, said that her connection to the hospice started when some of her friends received care. “Over the years, a number of my close friends have been supported by the hospice’s outstanding care. While they were receiving this wonderful support, I would visit them and I was always moved by how personalised the care was.
“I knew then that I would like to give back to the charity in some way. One day, I was walking in the area and saw adverts for a volunteer vacancy at their Selkirk Road shop. I applied and I’ve not looked back since!”
June says that the social aspect of volunteering is one of her favourite things about her role. “Selkirk Road, like all the hospice shops, is a real community, and you get to know so many of the regular customers — and their dogs! — when they pop in for their regular browses of our latest items.
“We have such fun here, and each one of my three volunteering days a week is full of fun, laughter, and good-natured teasing with my colleagues.”
Outside of volunteering, June is a member of a number of community groups, including running a weekly Ladies Club, and enjoys playing carpet bowls.
“I am a people person – I just like keeping busy and love socialising. Volunteering at the hospice shop fits really well with my other activities and hobbies. Best of all, I have made so many friends, both customers and colleagues at the shop, over the years.
“My role sees me mainly sorting through the many generous donations we have to the shop. Seeing what will sell, or maybe even which items would be best for our eBay team to sell online.
“In every donation bag, you never know what you might find. For instance, a few years back we had a rather vintage looking leather jacket, which I thought was nice, but not particularly valuable. Upon further investigation the team learned its true value and it sold for over £200, which was a brilliant amount for the hospice and its services.”
June enjoys her role at the hospice, explaining, “Through volunteering you feel a great sense of pride that you are making a difference to such a vital service in your local community.
“I’d really encourage anyone who is thinking of volunteering to just give it a go. Pick up the phone and call the hospice team and they will be happy to help you find a role that suits you. Just give it a try – I did, and I’m still here after 13 years!”