Margaret Charlton has volunteered in a range of roles at Blythe House for over a decade. Here, in her own words, Margaret, from Buxton, explains that ‘variety is the spice of life’…
‘“Go and have a look at Blythe House Hospicecare” several people said to me back in 2012. I had just retired after 30 years’ nursing; 28 years in a variety of roles providing treatment and support for patients living with cancer.
‘When we settled into Buxton, I went looking for more variety and something different in which to volunteer: “Nothing to do with healthcare thank you very much”, I said… I tried a few different things, but nothing entirely hit the spot for me. Hence, “go and look at Blythe House” kept cropping up in conversation.
‘So, I drove up, walked in the door and I was sold. It felt like slipping into comfy slippers; everyone was so welcoming. Nicki [Theaker, now facilities support coordinator at the hospice] took me under her wing and soon I was in the kitchen on Tuesday mornings; serving up teas, coffees and helping to prepare lunches. What a lovely way to spend a morning, meeting everyone and helping in a small way to look after our patients, staff and volunteers. We had a lot of fun and laughs along the way!
‘Alongside kitchen support, I also helped on occasion in our then Information and Support Centre, with fundraising in various ways, and spent a short while as a trustee, at a time of big changes in the organisation. I even found myself speaking to Prince Edward when he visited in 2015 as we celebrated our 25th anniversary. Variety wasn’t in it! And those were just a tiny part of all the amazing things that were going on at the hospice.
‘In 2016, the hospice established its brand-new Hospice at Home service, and shortly afterwards I joined the second cohort of volunteers on the very thought-provoking and enjoyable training, with input from virtually all hospice staff. And then I was out supporting patients and families in the community, meeting more amazing people with all the ongoing supervision and encouragement I needed from the Community Volunteer team. I loved it!
‘In 2020, I stepped back for a while to spend more time with my husband, Jack and look after him while he needed me to be there for him, and I also needed to be with him. Now I’ve come back to find familiar and new friendly faces, a familiar but new building and familiar and new ways of working together as a cohesive, responsive and forward-looking flexible unit. It’s a happy and exciting place to be!
‘I was invited to update my knowledge by joining the new patient-facing volunteer training which has equipped me to help as a volunteer in new roles. Appropriate training of all kinds has always been a great part of volunteering at the hospice; I’ve learnt so much. I’m now back in the community providing company to patients, carer respite and dog walking, but there are so many other ways to help in the community – in conjunction with Helen’s Trust in the Derbyshire Dales, this service has grown enormously since it began. I’m also now helping (I think!) in reception and with the Thursday afternoon patients’ support group.
‘The part of me that thirsts for variety is being quenched very nicely indeed with these different roles in which all our volunteers are vital and so much appreciated. There are truly so many ways we can contribute, and the satisfaction and fun in doing so is immensely rewarding! I certainly gain far more than I give to this essential service and asset to our community, and I can thoroughly recommend giving it a go– you will have so much to offer this thriving enterprise and so much fun and satisfaction to look forward to!’
Find out more about volunteering opportunities at Blythe House and Helen’s Trust.
