At 77 years old, Sandra is still making a remarkable difference to people receiving end-of-life care at St Christopher’s Hospice. After spending 35 to 40 years running her own travel company, she is now semi-retired, dedicating part of her time each week to volunteering with her therapy dog, Wilson.
Sandra’s journey as a hospice volunteer began more than a decade ago when she walked into reception with her black Labrador, Max, and asked a simple question: “How can we help?”
The hospice could. After completing patient-facing volunteer training, Sandra and Max began visiting patients, offering comfort, companionship and a welcome distraction from illness. Today, Sandra continues that work with Wilson, a six-and-a-half-year-old spaniel who has been visiting the wards at the hospice for around five years.
Sandra and Wilson volunteer once a week, visiting patients across the hospice’s three wards and occasionally spending time in Namaste sessions in the Lavender Room. No two visits are the same. Some days they may only see a couple of patients, while on others they will meet eight or more. Interactions can be as brief as a friendly hello or involve sitting with someone for half an hour, chatting and sharing memories.
Wilson’s impact is often immediate. Patients stroke him, cuddle him and, when appropriate, invite him onto their beds. Sandra has seen how a dog’s presence can bring comfort in a way that words sometimes cannot. Sandra said: “The weight of the dog on your bed is something quite special.”
For many patients, Wilson sparks conversations about beloved pets from the past, family life and treasured memories. Those moments can help people feel relaxed, comforted and more connected at a time when they may be feeling isolated or anxious.
The visits can be just as valuable for family members as they are for patients. Relatives often welcome the chance to focus on something positive, even if only for a few minutes. Wilson helps break the ice, encourages conversation and brings a sense of normality into difficult situations.
Sandra believes that volunteering in a patient-facing role is about understanding people and recognising when a visit is wanted and when it is not. She said , “Some people are frightened, some people are busy, and some don’t really want to engage,” she explains. “You have to read the room.”
That sensitivity is important in a hospice setting, where needs and emotions can change from one moment to the next. Sandra knows when to stay and chat, and when to quietly move on.
Her golden rule is that patients do not feed Wilson. “He’s a spaniel,” Sandra laughs. “He’d beg from everyone if he could.”
Outside the hospice, Wilson also gives back to the community by visiting a local Primary School, where he listens to children read. Sandra has found that children who are reluctant readers often feel more confident reading aloud to a dog than to an adult.
While Sandra finds volunteering incredibly rewarding, she is also honest about the emotional challenges that come with supporting people who are nearing the end of their lives.
“You do get involved,” she says. “Sometimes it can be quite tough afterwards.”
She says the role can be challenging at times, but volunteers are supported by hospice staff and have access to supervision to help them navigate the emotional demands of a patient-facing role.
Despite the challenges, Sandra has no plans to stop. More than ten years after first offering her help, she continues to provide comfort, companionship and kindness to patients and families at some of the most difficult moments of their lives.
And when patients or relatives need a little extra support before she leaves, Sandra’s response is always the same:
“If you think of something else, just let me know.”
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