Heart of Kent Hospice in Aylesford marks Volunteers’ Week 2025 with several events to thank its 570 existing volunteers. The local hospice also hopes to recruit a few new volunteers to come and join their kind and committed volunteer teams supporting the work of the hospice.
During Volunteers’ Week Heart of Kent Hospice will join thousands of charities and voluntary organisations recognising the contribution volunteers make to their work every single day.
To celebrate existing volunteers during Volunteers’ Week, the hospice will be hosting two Cream Teas events designed to give everyone a chance to catch up over tea and cake!
Interested in volunteering at the Hospice?
Visit the dedicated volunteering information stand outside the Mall Shop (site 14) in Maidstone on Wednesday 4 June between 10am and 4pm to find out about volunteering at the hospice and to hear about the variety of rewarding roles available. The stand will be hosted by John and Marie from Compassionate Neighbours and Sarah from People Services will also be on hand to answer recruitment related queries and answer questions about joining the team at Heart of Kent Hospice.
Volunteers at the hospice provide invaluable support throughout the year including at events like the Bluebell Walk in May, The Sunflower Appeal and Remembrance Services which takes place from 22 to 25 June 2025 and the annual Moonlit memories Walk in October.
Volunteers support services right across the hospice including providing complimentary therapies including massage and relaxation techniques in the Hospice Hub and on the hospice Inpatient Unit.
Sharon one of the volunteer therapists who specialises in massage and aromatherapy at the hospice said:
“It’s all about putting a smile on patients’ faces and they love the fact they can chat to their friends over coffee while I move my stool around to provide non-intrusive therapies that can include hand and foot massages. There is also a therapy room with a lovely electronic bed to lift patients up and down if some privacy is required. Foot massage is proving one of the most popular therapies. At first the men were quite hesitant to try massage, but they now love the experience just as much as the women.”
Karen Cooney, Head of People Services at Heart of Kent Hospice said;
“By volunteering your time at the hospice you will be helping us to meet the growing demand for our hospice services in our local community and will be making a valuable contribution and making a real difference to the lives of those we support.
Whether you can offer a few hours a fortnight, a regular half a day a week or would be interested in supporting a short-term project, there are many ways for you to give us your time, skills and energy.”
Anyone interested in volunteering can send an expression of interest form which is available on the hospice website and someone from the People Services team will be in touch, or you can contact the People Services Team at volunteers@hokh.co.uk or call 01622 792200.
The UK Volunteering Forum said:
“Volunteers bring a richness to organisations across the country. There is no better time to recognise the diversity of our volunteers and celebrate the difference that volunteering makes than during Volunteers’ Week.
Without volunteers many charities just simply could not function, with so many people giving up their time and going above and beyond. The week is a chance for all of us to show just how vital they are to charities and communities everywhere.”
Visit the hospice website for more information on volunteering https://www.hokh.org/volunteering/
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Some more information about Volunteer’s Week
Running every year since 1984, the week provides a crucial opportunity to thank volunteers and recognise the value of their time, passion and skills. The campaign highlights the diversity and unity of volunteer work across the UK.
Volunteers’ Week is a UK-wide campaign led in partnership by Volunteer Scotland, NCVO (the National Council for Voluntary Organisations), WCVA (the Wales Council for Voluntary Action) and Volunteer Now in Northern Ireland. It is an annual campaign, which now takes place every year from the first Monday in June.
Please visit the Volunteers’ Week website to find out more.
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