Volunteers needed at Claire House children’s hospice

Mar 13 2013 by Our Correspondent, Heswall News

WE ARE appealing to Wirral residents to improve their CVs, make new friends and help their community by volunteering.

Claire House children’s hospice provides respite for children and young people from across Wirral with complex medical conditions, as well as support for the entire family. With a busy team of fundraisers, 23 shops and the hospice itself, it has dozens of opportunities for would-be volunteers.

In particular volunteers are required within the hospice, greeting families at reception and helping out the kitchen team with preparing home-cooked meals.

Caroline Davies has volunteered at Claire House for three years, manning the reception desk, helping out in the kitchen and assisting at events for siblings whose brothers and sisters use the hospice.

She said: “Volunteering at Claire House is fantastic. I look after reception once a week greeting all our visitors. I also help in the kitchen and at sibling events.

“I have got to meet so many lovely families and feel privileged to be part of this wonderful organisation and the fabulous team who work here.”

Volunteering is a great way to meet new people and improve your skills. Claire House currently has more than 500 volunteers who get involved in most areas of the charity, from fundraising and helping out at events, through to housekeeping duties in the hospice and manning one of the Claire House charity shops.

Volunteer manager Jane Collingwood said: “Not only do we gain for the experience and enthusiasm our volunteers bring to the table, we also feel they get a lot out of it too and that is why we have managed to grow such a strong group of people.

“Volunteering is for everyone, from school leavers looking to apply to university with a strong personal statement to retired members of the community looking to continue to employ the skills they used during their career.”

If you are interested in volunteering at Claire House, and in particular within the hospice kitchen team or on reception, please contact Jane on 0151 343 0883 or visit www.claire-house.org.uk/volunteer to download a volunteer pack.