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Volunteers’ Week 2026

For Volunteers’ Week this June, we’re celebrating the incredible support we receive by sharing the expectations vs reality of being a volunteer at Katharine House Hospice. Read on to find out more!

1 June 2026

Voluntary Services Manager, Jill, looks after our group of over 500 volunteers who support at the hospice, in our shops and out in the community. She has shared some surprising reasons people may be reluctant to volunteer at first.

One of the most enjoyable parts of my role is getting to know all the fantastic volunteers who donate so much of their time to support us. Often new hospice-based volunteers have certain preconceptions about the hospice, which are quickly dispelled once they start volunteering with us.

“The hospice must be filled with sadness”

One of the many myths surrounding hospice volunteering is that it is a place filled with sadness. One volunteer told me, “A few people that I told suggested that I could have found myself a more uplifting place to volunteer.”

Whilst the hospice does support people at the end of life, this doesn’t mean it’s a place of sadness all the time. Another volunteer, who had heard similar comments from friends, said in her experience volunteering at the hospice was not depressing at all. She attributed this to the ethos of the hospice being one of positivity, warmth and kindness, and said her main feeling was the knowledge that, as a volunteer, she was part of and contributed to that ethos.

“I won’t know what to say to patients”

Many potential volunteers are concerned they will need medical knowledge or specialist skills in palliative care. This isn’t something we look for. In fact, personal attributes are far more important, particularly the ability to connect with and listen to people.

As one volunteer explained, “Before I started volunteering, I thought talking to patients would be difficult and that it would be hard to know what to say. In reality, it is one of the best parts of the role. Patients are often really pleased to chat about everyday things or, if they’re not feeling like talking, it’s lovely to do something for them – like making a drink, communicating with the nursing staff on their behalf or supporting their visitors. The ward area has such a calm and warm atmosphere that any nerves I had soon went.”

“I don’t want to be reminded of loss”

Hospice volunteers often wonder if being in the hospice will constantly remind them of grief and loss. Often, the opposite is true. It can teach us about living. Patients and families show incredible resilience, humour and appreciation for the present moment.

Volunteers’ experiences demonstrate that hospice care is not about giving up, it is about making the most of the time that remains and ensuring people feel respected and valued.

One volunteer said, “It has made me reflect on time and work-life balance. It has made me appreciate good health and life, rebalance my personal life and value what I have. Volunteering there has made me realise that life is too short and that we should enjoy every moment today.”

“I’ll have to be emotionally strong all the time”

Some volunteers believe they’ll have to be emotionally strong all the time at the hospice. While some moments can be challenging, there is always support and guidance from the volunteering team and the hospice staff.

One volunteer summed it up well talking about how their role offers perspective and a strong sense of purpose, “The thing that has really stood out is the pleasure we create for residents or users of the wider services you offer, the gratitude for what we do as volunteers and the smiles and excitement of patients meeting others in similar situations.”

Browse our latest volunteer roles

If you have been considering volunteering with us but were put off by some of the myths surrounding the role, I hope you have seen that, by offering your time and simply being there, you could make a genuine difference.

View our latest volunteer opportunites, below!

Volunteer Opportunities