There are dozens of opportunities for volunteering at St Christopher’s and myriad motivations for giving your time to support us.
Two years ago, Satvinder Reyatt was approached about becoming one of the hospice’s trustees. As Executive Director of People, Finance and Governance at the Royal College of Occupational Therapy at the time (she’s now Interim CEO with a strong people and organisational development background ), Satvinder had experience of working for a range of health care organisations. Satvinder saw the potential for both organisations and herself to benefit from the crossover, and had a strong personal reason for wanting to take up the role.
“I had a family member who didn’t receive the care and support they deserved at the end of life. Going through that experience and the impact it has on me and my family emphasised the importance of good end of life care.
“I’m also passionate about driving change in people-focused and values-led organisations and St Christopher’s is totally aligned with my views about developing the workforce. Thirdly, as a practising Sikh I am involved in voluntary community activity through the Gurdwara.”
Just as Satvinder has felt welcomed at St Christopher’s, she is keen to ensure that volunteering at St Christopher’s appeals to all members of the community.
“I look at gender and race and diversity generally and believe it is really important that different voices and views are heard so that we can make better informed decisions that result in St Christopher’s being as inclusive as possible. We are making real progress on this, there is an appetite for change, and we will continue to do more.”
For those considering giving up their time to support St Christopher’s, Satvinder has a few recommendations.
“Knowing that you can have an impact as a volunteer is incredibly rewarding. Yes, it is a commitment for me, but I know I get it back in spades. I would say I dedicate about a day a month, sometimes a bit more, sometimes less. Think about how much time you have before you commit. But if you’re looking for a role that aligns with real values then I would highly recommend it as it is very motivating and satisfying. And if you have a personal connection then that will feel even more genuine.”
If you’d like to find out more about all the different ways you can volunteer for St Christopher’s click here.
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