Developing a community resource for all: volunteering and hospices – the next steps

Most hospices have unique expertise and knowledge with regards to volunteers and volunteering. There are usually robust structures in place to support volunteering; these include systems for recruitment and selection, training and ongoing support. Many small organisations can struggle to sustain volunteering as part of what they might offer, as such structures and systems can be expensive and complex to run. This day will look at the potential that hospices have to develop their volunteer function in a broader way. The concept of a ‘volunteer hub’ will be explored, where hospices can become a centralised volunteer resource centre and recruit, train and offer to support for volunteers who can then be of use to other organisations such as care homes, hospitals and GP surgeries. Participants are asked to come with new ideas and case studies, where a new model for hospice volunteering can be developed and sustained.