Voluntarism at the Heart of Hospice

As St Francis Hospice approaches its 35th anniversary next February, I have been reflecting on the spirit of voluntarism that is at the heart of this organisation. We could not provide the breadth and quality of services we do without the contribution of our 250+ in-house volunteers, our community fundraising supporters, corporate partners, and voluntary board members. We have celebrated some significant events in our volunteering programme in recent times, and I would like to share these stories with our wider community.

Earlier this month, our in-patient unit hospitality volunteers received the award for Best Large Group at the Volunteer Ireland Awards. Hospitality is central to the hospice philosophy; the words even share the same root. Providing a warm welcome, meeting each person’s individual needs, and ensuring that patients have company and a chance to chat if they wish is such an important role provided by this group of volunteers. Their contribution is greatly appreciated by our patients, their visitors, and the entire hospice team. Congratulations to them on their well-deserved win.

Another vital group of supporters is our community fundraising supporters, who staff our seasonal collections and other promotions such as our annual car draw in local shops and shopping centres in our community. This raises awareness of the work of St Francis Hospice as well as much-needed funds. Our annual car draw got off to a fantastic start thanks to the contribution of our community supporters who staffed a stand in the Blanchardstown Centre for three weeks. There is still time to purchase tickets by visiting our web site: https://www.sfh.ie/hospice-car-draw or dropping into the reception desk of our Raheny and Blanchardstown hospices.

St Francis Hospice is thankful for our many corporate partnerships. An important aspect of these partnerships is that volunteers from the companies who partner with us contribute their time and talents for special projects such as doing a big garden tidy, planting bulbs, painting, or decorating our hospice Christmas trees. Corporate volunteers from DLA Piper and Valeo Foods are pictured here during their recent Christmas decorating in both our Raheny and Blanchardstown hospices. We are especially grateful that they have promised to return in January to pack away the decorations, a job nobody relishes, and we know they will do it with a smile!

Another generous act of Christmas volunteering happened when employees of our corporate partners Bristol-Myers Squibb spent two days at St Francis Hospice Blanchardstown, making festively wrapped parcels full of food staples and holiday treats.

All the food items had been kindly collected and donated by a group of students in Loreto Dalkey. The parcels are now being delivered by our mini-bus drivers, volunteer drivers, and clinical staff to patients and families under our care who may just need a little extra cheer this Christmas.

The care, attention and artistry that the BMS volunteers applied to their work was truly in the holiday spirit! We thank them for modelling all the St Francis Hospice core values – dignity, respect, compassion, collaboration, excellence and kindness – during their time with us.

Last week, we congratulated 12 new volunteers who have qualified to become part of our Volunteer Bereavement Support Service (VBSS). Following an incredible 60 hours of training over several months, these dedicated individuals will support family members whose loved ones died under the care of St Francis Hospice. This specially trained listening service, supervised by our social work team, provided 980 sessions to bereaved people last year. The addition of these new volunteers will increase the availability of the VBSS service to people experiencing a bereavement.

Voluntarism has always been at the heart of St Francis Hospice. As a colleague once described, “Our volunteers are the cement that holds the bricks together.” Those who give of their time and talents for the benefit of others truly represent the best of our community. Thank you to our in-house hospice volunteers, community fundraising supporters, voluntary board directors, and corporate partners for all that you contribute to St Francis Hospice for the benefit of our patients and indeed our entire community.

Our specialist palliative care service has experienced many changes since St Francis Hospice’s foundation in 1989, and no doubt there will be many more to come. One thing that will not change is the wonderful spirit of voluntarism and all the generosity, kindness and commitment that this brings with it. Happy Christmas to all, and very best wishes for 2024.

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Volunteer Ireland DLA Piper Valeo Foods Group 百时美施贵宝 Bristol Myers Squibb UK & Ireland Loreto Abbey Dalkey St. Francis Hospice Dublin