In honour of International Day of Friendship, Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice celebrates 10 years of its volunteer befriending service. Long-serving volunteer Stewart Rood reflects on the friendships he’s built and the impact of giving his time.
Stewart, 75, has been volunteering since the very beginning in 2015. He was inspired to start his Sue Ryder journey after the charity cared for his mother in her final days, he shared: “The treatment at the hospice was absolutely first class. When I die, that’s where I’d want to be.”
Motivated by gratitude and a desire to give back, Stewart became a befriender to help others facing the end of life, providing companionship and comfort. His relationships with befriendees have evolved into lasting friendships.
One of his first befriendees, Malcolm, had cancer and a sharp sense of humour, Stewart recalled: “We struck up a really good friendship. We used to go out for the day in the car or to the garden centre for a cup of tea. Malcolm once joked about losing his voice, saying, ‘I don’t know if I’m going to be able to tell Stewart to shut up if it gets any worse!”
Not all befriendees are at the end of life, some receive respite care or are supported at home. Stewart has helped with everything from setting up speaker systems to simply sharing meaningful conversations.
Reflecting on his experiences, Stewart said:
“It’s an honour to be allowed into that intimate part of people’s lives. I come away feeling they’ve given me their time too and shared special moments with me.”
Despite a decade of service, Stewart has no plans to stop anytime soon, he explained: “People ask me if it’s depressing meeting dying people, but I tell them it’s an absolute privilege. I have no intention of packing it in soon!”
Patricia Fleming, Befriending Coordinator at Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice, added: “Celebrating ten years of befriending at Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice is a fantastic milestone. Our volunteers make a real difference – offering companionship, comfort, and a friendly face when it’s needed most. The impact they have is invaluable, not just for those they support but for the volunteers themselves.
“Volunteering with Sue Ryder isn’t just about befriending – we have a wide range of opportunities, from supporting healthcare teams to helping behind the scenes. If you’re looking to give back, meet new people, and be part of something truly rewarding, we’d love to hear from you.”
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About Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice:
At Sue Ryder, we can’t make life’s most difficult moments easy, but we can carry some of the load. For more than 70 years we have been a source of strength and support for anyone living with a life-limiting illness or grief.
Dying and grief are universal experiences, but too many people face them alone. Here at Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice located just outside Cheltenham we provide a safe and reassuring hand for right across Gloucestershire to reach for.
From giving care and support for someone at the end of their life to helping someone manage their grief, we know there is no one size fits all when it comes to how we cope and the help we need. We campaign for everyone who is approaching the end of their life or grieving to have access to the right support, at the right time. And we seek to break down the barriers to talking about dying and grief – so we can all be better prepared and better equipped to be there for each other.
We can make a positive difference during even the darkest of times. Whether in the last months, weeks or days of life, or living with grief, we help people live the best life they possibly can. We are there when it matters.
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