Sue Ryder Care Celebrate its Volunteers During Volunteers Week
Howard Lake | 26 May 2009 | News
During Volunteers Week (1-7 June) Sue Ryder Care is hosting celebratory events nationwide in recognition of the support its 6,500 volunteers give to the charity, at which long serving volunteers will be awarded tokens of appreciation. ‘Tea at 3pm’ taster sessions are also being held at Sue Ryder Care’s shops where those considering volunteering can learn more about the mutually beneficial opportunities available.
The charity promotes over 600 volunteering roles on its website, the widest selection of volunteer roles within the volunteer charity sector, and can develop bespoke roles for people where relevant. Volunteering roles include; all aspects of running a busy retail outlet from serving customers, sorting through donated items and creating window displays in one of Sue Ryder Care’s 350 shops; befriending people or flexing green fingers at one of its 14 care centres; helping the charity’s 17 fundraising teams host events and taking on roles to help the charity’s support services such as communications and human resources.
Volunteers are essential to help Sue Ryder Care raise vital funds to continue to provide quality care for people living with end of life and long-term conditions including; Cancer, Stroke, Brain Injury, Multiple Sclerosis, Dementia, Huntington’s Disease, Parkinson’s Disease and Motor Neurone Disease.
Advertisement
Tracey Mealing, Head of Volunteering at healthcare charity, Sue Ryder Care, said: “Volunteers Week is as opportune time for us to say a heartfelt thank you to all our volunteers for their dedicated support – and to celebrate long serving volunteers who have supported us for 5, 10, 15 and a staggering 25 years. With a view to attract more people to support us, we will be hosting ‘Tea at Three’ events across the country at our shops throughout Volunteers Week which I’d encourage anybody with an interest in volunteering to come along to and find out more.”
Tracey added, “Through volunteering individuals can not only support Sue Ryder Care but also gain invaluable work experience and develop skills needed to thrive in a work environment. We endeavour to match volunteers’ interests, skills and aspirations to the roles we assign to ensure a positive and rewarding experience.
“Over the years volunteering has evolved and become much more diverse and professional. In today’s increasingly socially responsible environment, volunteering is viewed in a positive way by prospective employers too.”
Sue Ryder Care currently has 6,500 active volunteers who deliver over two million hours of support each week, equating to a saving of £12,168,000 on employment costs for the charity. To enable the charity to maintain its existing services and grow and develop its services to provide care to more people that need it most, more volunteers are essential.
For information on volunteering to support Sue Ryder Care and to find out where the nearest ‘Tea at Three’ event is happening local to you visit www.suerydercare.org, email in**@su**********.org or call 0845 050 1953.
About Howard Lake
Howard Lake is consultant editor of UK Fundraising. He founded the site in 1994 and successfully sold it in 2022. As director of Giving X Ltd he is exploring growing giving on a massive scale.
He is the founder of Fundraising Camp and co-founder of GoodJobs.