Calling Volunteers

20 January 2012

Charlie Cowcher, Volunteer Driver

The Hospice is a registered charity offering specialist care and support to local people with a life-limiting illness.  In the last year alone, we supported over 2,500 local people and their families, friends and carers throughout the boroughs of Greenwich and Bexley, but this would not have been possible without the support of our valued volunteers.

“Our volunteers make a big difference to the quality of peoples' lives who need our care and support" said Vanessa Hill, Hospice Volunteers' Manager. “We have all sorts of volunteer roles, with something to suit all abilities and availability.”

One such volunteer is 67-year-old Charlie Cowcher from Eltham who has been volunteering at the Hospice as a driver for the past five years. He devotes four hours a day, two days a week.

Describing a typical day, Charlie said: “I go to the patient’s house and I bring them to the Hospice. I know it’s never going to be a miserable journey because they know they’re coming to a nice place. For new patients on the way to the Hospice I try to reassure them by telling them all about the Day Centre. When we get to the Hospice I make sure that my passengers get settled and I introduce them to people. I come back to pick them up and take them home and we chat all about their day. I make sure they’re safely in their houses before I say goodbye.  I really enjoy this role, I like meeting new people and I have made some good friends.”

The Hospice has a dedicated team of almost 600 volunteers working in a variety of roles from charity shop work and fundraising to working directly with patients and their families at the Hospice itself.

If you would like to learn more about volunteering for the Hospice contact Vanessa Hill, Volunteers’ Manager on 020 8320 5812 or email vanessahill@gbch.org.uk

Back to 2012 news