Every June, charities across the UK come together to honour the remarkable dedication and generosity of their volunteers. It’s a special time to express gratitude, recognising the invaluable contributions they make to our communities.
At St Luke’s Hospice, our volunteers are fundamental to our mission. With unwavering compassion and commitment, they provide essential support to patients, families, and staff alike. Currently, more than 400 people lend their time and skills to our cause, each one making a tangible difference.
As we celebrate their tireless efforts, we invite our community to explore the transformative power of volunteering. It’s not just about giving time; it’s about embracing a journey filled with fulfilment, connection, and the joy of making a difference. Join us in honouring our volunteers and discovering the profound impact they make, both locally and beyond.
Milestone awards
On Tuesday, 4 June, 13 of our volunteers were honoured with milestone awards for their outstanding long commitment and dedication to St Luke’s. They all received commemorative special gifts and individual appreciation notes, reminding them of what makes them extraordinary.
From Jean Thomas, who has volunteered for an impressive 25 years, to Patricia Manser, who celebrated five years at St Luke’s, we want to congratulate and thank each one of them for their long-standing dedication and devotion to our hospice.
Jean Thomas (25 years)
Pauline Gulamhusein (20 years)
Beverley Rust (20 years)
Lynda Burns (15 years)
Ratilil Shah (15 years)
Minu Devjani (5 year)
Satish Shah (5 years)
Sangeeta Karia (5 years)
Ramila Solanki (5 years)
Jignesh Patel (5 years)
Kathleen Karajain (5 years)
Olivia Dias (5 years)
Patricia Manser (5 years)
or this Volunteers’ Week, celebrating the dedication of our wonderful volunteers.
Why I volunteer at St Luke’s
“Preaching about my favourite subject”
“I get to say the words “I am off to work” which after becoming disabled I did not think I would say again.
I can teach and preach about my favourite subject in the world (gardening) to willing listeners and to my heart’s content – finally my knowledge of plants can be put to good use and I have the most beautiful ‘office/classroom’ I have ever worked at – it is a pure joy to hold my class in the award winning garden space at St Luke’s.”
Ivana Chobotova
Gardening Volunteer & Teacher
“Nothing beats walkers setting off on a new challenge”
“I have been taking part in the Annual Walks since they started in 1996, and was asked to join the committee in 2013.
It is a joy and a privilege to be part of such a dedicated group of people, helping to plan and organise multi-day walks in all parts of England, and beyond.
Nothing beats the sight of 60 or so walkers setting off on a new challenge, all with the same goal of raising as much sponsorship as possible for St Luke’s.”
Janet Clow
Annual Walk Committee
“People share with me precious memories of loved ones”
“I consider it a privilege that people are able to trust and share with me precious memories of their loved ones and also of themselves at such a vulnerable and difficult time in their lives.
Volunteering gives me the chance to make a difference in someone’s life no matter how small, and knowing that I have made a difference inspires me to do even more.
Volunteering brings me joy, appreciation, friendship & a whole lot more.”
Kim Elizabeth Brown
Bereavement Volunteer
The precious gift of being healthy and fit
“To be healthy and fit is a precious gift. My joy in volunteering for St Luke’s Hospice comes from helping an organisation that provides end of life care and comfort for very ill people. Being part of this team is a privilege”
Brendan O’Boyle
Midnight Walk Committee
Moments with our volunteers
Messages from staff
A message from Helen Fenton
I’d like to say a big “thank you” to our wonderful stamps team.
Pauline, Vivienne, Ian and David meet as a team every Tuesday morning, with Prafhula working from home, to sort through donated stamps ready to be distributed to our shops.
Their efforts have helped to raise thousands of pounds over many years and they have contributed significantly to the generation of income that is so essential to the Hospice.
They are an extremely dedicated team with Pauline and Vivienne having volunteered with us for 20 years and we would like them to know we are extremely grateful for all their efforts.
They have also formed close bonds with the managers of the shops that they visit and they also really appreciate all the extra work that they do placing stamps into their shops.
Thank you Stamps Team!
A message from Nila Gandhi
All our volunteer’s work is greatly appreciated.
Volunteers are the star of the Shop, giving precious time of their life.
Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart for your precious time, patience, your hard work and your dedication.
Kindly
Nila from Preston Road shop.
Thank you Stamps Team!
A message from Christina Patsia
A big thank to all our wonderful reception volunteers we really appreciate all your hard work.
We couldn’t do what we do without your support and dedication.
A message from Sandra Hayward
Pinner shop would like to thank all 55 of our amazing volunteers , some of which have been here for over 25 years. We have a fantastic Team, which helps us to have a fantastic shop. To quote a customer, ‘You have an amazing shop , you are a destination to us, The Harrods of Pinner charity shops’ .
A message from John Clifford
I would like to say a huge thank you to each of our volunteers who help the Hospice and the Shops function day-to-day. Your dedication to St Luke’s and those that we care for is inspiring and we couldn’t do what we do without you!
A message from Cristina Balau
I am incredibly touched by the huge contributions our volunteers make to our charity organization. With the support of my assistant and volunteers, we are closer to our mission every day. I consider the volunteers as my second family. Their dedication, hard work, and compassion truly change lives and bring hope to so many people. Let’s continue to uplift and support each other, celebrating the extraordinary efforts that define our amazing community.
A big thank you to Young, my longest volunteer. She has been helping me since the shop first opened. Her dedication, hard work, and loyalty have been invaluable. I am incredibly grateful for her continuous support and contribution.
Catherine, thank you very much indeed! You are a very dedicated person who has helped me immensely. You bring joy, passion, and a tremendous amount of hard work to everything you do. Your enthusiasm and commitment are truly inspiring, and I am fortunate to have you on my team.
Thank you very much, Ash! You truly make a big difference with your help, positivity, and happiness. You bring a big smile to our customers’ faces and make every child happy with your full box of sweets. Your kindness and generosity create a joyful atmosphere, and I am incredibly grateful for your contribution.
Vanita, thank you very much for choosing to be part of my team. I really appreciate your joy, kindness, compassion, and the happiness you bring in helping anyone, anytime.
Thank you, Merlin, for your hard work. You are a kind and devoted person, and I am very grateful to have you on my team.
Joanna, thank you so much, my darling, for your dedication and hard work. You are friendly and helpful, and I am very lucky to have you on my team.
Many thanks to Ramesh and Donna! Both of you are kind and very helpful. Keep up the amazing work!
Rose, thank you for joining my team. Your energy and happiness are contagious. I am lucky to have you!
I would like to extend a big thank you to Glenys, Wayel and Naz, who chose to help our cause and be part of my team. Your support and commitment are greatly appreciated. Thank you very much!
Thank you from the bottom of my heart to my students, Kayla, Charlton, Kelsie, and Kia, who come week after week to help us. Instead of staying at home with their family and friends, they prefer to come and support our cause, and at the same time, to develop new skills.
A message from Jo Pearce
Our volunteers are such an important part of our Fundraising family. We could not do the work we do and deliver what is required without the incredible commitment and dedication from our long-standing and loyal volunteers.
Whether it be counting the cash from the money tins, to processing donations, to supporting our lottery, to packing t-shirts, to updating records – we are hugely grateful for their amazing contribution to our wonderful volunteers.
Thank you Peter, John, Diane, Hansa, Madhu, and to so many others who really help us make every moment matter and provide a valuable service here at St Luke’s Hospice.
A message from Kara Glover
I am so sincerely grateful for the amazing support we receive, charity wide and in Fundraising alone. We couldn’t do what we do with these amazing volunteers – the volunteers we have aren’t just ‘volunteers’ but extended family.
A message from Sheila Murphy
Thanks so much to all our dedicated volunteers. We are so grateful for their hard work.
They come in week after week whatever the weather. We appreciate you and everything you do for us.
Volunteers genuinely change the world, and we are forever grateful. Thank you for your time and patience. We love our volunteers!
A message from Rhonda Culshaw
I’d like to thank all the volunteers in The Bereavement Service for their commitment to the service.
Their help means we can continue to provide support without delay and offer a very reliable, and valuable service.
I’m very grateful for all their support.
Thank you.
A message from the Finance Team
Harshad Popat and Manji Kerai are both dedicated finance volunteers known for their exceptional analytical skills and commitment to financial literacy.
Their volunteer work has significantly contributed to the efficiency and improvement of our financial reporting. We are thankful for their contributions and good work.
Become a volunteer
Don’t miss out on our volunteering opportunities:
We need more volunteers to help in our shops, at our events, and at the hospice, so if you can spare a few hours, your support will be greatly appreciated.
Also, volunteering at our shops is a great way to develop skills needed for a career in retail, including skills in digital and visual merchandising. We have a range of opportunities across charity retail and always welcome new people who want to become more involved in the community.
Our shops
Take a look at the vibrant window displays our shop teams have created for this Volunteers’ Week, celebrating the dedication of our wonderful volunteers.
