Rosemary Minshall, a long-serving volunteer at Rowcroft Hospice, has been honoured with a League of Mercy Award for her exceptional commitment and service to the hospice and wider community. This prestigious recognition is awarded to up to 50 individuals annually who have demonstrated exceptional voluntary service.
Rosemary received her award at a special ceremony held at The Mansion House in London on Friday 11 July, where she was formally recognised alongside other outstanding volunteers from across the UK. The League of Mercy Award celebrates individuals who have given extraordinary service to others through volunteering in health and social care.
For 30 years, Rosemary has dedicated herself to supporting Rowcroft’s work in numerous ways – most notably through her role as a Bereavement Support Volunteer and as a long-standing, dedicated member of the Dartmouth Friends of Rowcroft fundraising group.
As a Bereavement Support Volunteer, Rosemary has helped hundreds of patients and family members through some of the most difficult moments of their lives – offering a listening ear, a safe space, and the gift of her time and care. She has also shared her skills more widely in the community, organising local bereavement lunches to help combat loneliness, and supporting older people as an Anna Chaplain through her local church.
In addition to her bereavement work, Rosemary has played an active role in the Dartmouth Friends of Rowcroft group, raising vital funds and awareness for the hospice. The group have raised over £190,000 over the years, through community events such as coffee mornings, fetes and classical concerts — helping to ensure continued community support for Rowcroft’s services.
Reflecting on her experiences as a volunteer and receiving this award, Rosemary said:
“I was surprised but honoured to be nominated for this award. It isn’t needed, but it does feel like a ‘thank you’ and it’s very much appreciated. Having worked with Rowcroft for 30 years and volunteered elsewhere too, volunteering has been a big part of my life. What I’ve given has been given back to me, through the pleasures and laughter I’ve shared with colleagues, clients and friends. I’ve had the privilege of seeing firsthand how Rowcroft cares for patients, relatives and friends, and I’ve met so many different people, hearing about their lives and, I hope, helping them come to terms with their bereavement.”
Anastasia Somerville-Wong, Rowcroft’s Bereavement and Support Service Co-Ordinator, said:
“I am delighted that Rosemary has received a League of Mercy award. She has always been a wise and wonderful member of our bereavement and listening support team, and she has supported so many people over the last three decades that we have lost count! Her clients consistently express their heartfelt gratitude for her kindness and understanding, which has helped so many through the most difficult time of their lives. The award could not be more richly deserved.”
To find out more about volunteering for Rowcroft Hospice, please visit www.rowcrofthospice.org.uk/volunteering
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About Rowcroft Hospice
It takes time, compassion, medical expertise and money to help patients with life-limiting illnesses and their loved ones to make the most of every day, but every year Rowcroft Hospice helps around 2,500 people in South Devon to do just that.
By providing comfort, support and specialist services, the hospice enables families to share precious moments when they are needed most – whether it’s a beautiful wedding, remarkable reunion or a simple thank you.
From Dartmouth to Dawlish and up onto Dartmoor, Rowcroft cares for 80% of its patients in their own homes with a team of community nurse specialists, social workers, and bereavement volunteers. The team also provides occupational therapy, physiotherapy, complementary therapy, spiritual care and music therapy, delivering a holistic approach tailored to individual needs.
Day and night, Rowcroft’s award-winning Hospice at Home team provide free specialist support to patients at home in their last few of weeks of life. The team helps to monitor and manage symptoms to enable patients to be comfortable and also offers support for loved ones, enabling carers to take much needed breaks. The service includes a dedicated telephone support line 24 hrs a day.
In Rowcroft’s 12-bedded Inpatient Unit in Torquay, the hospice’s team provides specialist care for patients whose complex needs cannot be met at home. Along with high quality health and social care, we also offer delicious homecooked meals and access to our beautiful gardens. The welcoming and homely environment helps patients and families to make the most of precious time together.
Rowcroft is an independent charity with around 75% of its funding derived from the incredible generosity of local people. The hospice team fully acknowledges the current challenging economic climate and is grateful for the local community’s continued support through these tough times; every pound raised makes a real difference.
With an increasingly ageing local population, the demand for Rowcroft’s care has never been greater. The charity currently cares for around one in three people with life-limiting illnesses across South Devon and has ambitious plans to expand its care to reach more people.
For more information, please visit www.rowcrofthospice.org.uk
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