Dr Kershaw's Hospice celebrates community heroes this Volunteers' Week

Dr Kershaw’s Hospice is celebrating the community heroes who are helping people to access palliative and end-of-life support this Volunteers’ Week (June 1 to June 7).

Each day, an army of volunteers supports the charity to provide dignified care across the borough. 

By volunteering at the hospice, at events, and in Dr Kershaw’s’ shops, 412 volunteers help to offset the current shortfall in NHS funding. 

In 2025/26, they contributed an impressive 40,640 hours, saving Dr Kershaw’s Hospice £548,696. 

To show their gratitude, staff visited volunteers at the hospice, The Furniture Hub, and its charity shops in Lees, Shaw and Royton. 

They were joined by the hospice chair of the Board of Trustees, David Macdonald, who praised the “fantastic” work of volunteers. 

Glenn Drake-Owen, volunteer coordinator at Dr Kershaw’s Hospice, said: “Volunteers are the backbone of our operations. 

“Quite frankly, we could not run our beloved hospice without the selfless support of people who kindly donate their time. As a charity, we are less than one-quarter funded by the NHS. 

“Each hour people donate allows us to provide specialist, compassionate care for patients and their families. Volunteers’ Week is about celebrating the unsung heroes of the community, and we would like to shout from the rooftops about our fabulous volunteers.” 

Dr Kershaw’s Hospice has a wide range of volunteer roles available, including corporate volunteers. From helping in the café to organising donated items, volunteers can put their specialist skills to good use. 

There is also the opportunity to get involved with events like Rose to Remember and the Summer Fayre. Benefits of volunteering at Dr Kershaw’s Hospice include social events and a reference after six months of regular volunteering. 

David Macdonald, chair of the Board of Trustees at Dr Kershaw’s Hospice, said: “If you are interested in volunteering, why not join us? It is one of the most rewarding roles you can have, and I can personally vouch for that as a volunteer myself. We have incredible volunteers doing incredible work, and each individual effort is so important to us.” 

To find out more about volunteering at Dr Kershaw’s Hospice, visit www.drkh.org.uk/volunteering.