Shruthi has been volunteering in the Peace Hospice Care Inpatient Unit since February 2023. She says:
“I am currently studying A levels in biology, chemistry and maths and am interested in pursuing a career in healthcare. So I wanted to find a local volunteering opportunity that would give me practical, hands-on experience to help me decide whether that is the right career path for me.
“I started to do some research and found volunteering opportunities with Rennie Grove Peace. I know that the hospice has a great reputation for making a difference to patients and their families so I was keen to apply for a role with the Inpatient Unit.
“I volunteer once per week, on Saturdays between 4-7pm. In this time I help to free up the nurses and healthcare assistants by taking on tasks such as speaking to patients about their food orders and serving meals and drinks to patients and their families.
“The IPU volunteers all work as a team to make everything in the unit run smoothly. By doing things like serving meals, clearing trays, replenishing water jugs and serving drinks to visitors, we can play our part in making the environment as welcoming as possible.
“One of the things I enjoy about the role is spending time with patients. I like to take the time to speak to them about their needs so I can help with things like their meal choices, or get a member of the clinical team to see them if they have a medical need. Being able to make a small difference to the experience of patients and their families at what may be a very difficult time is really rewarding.
“I get so much out of volunteering. On a practical level I have gained great work experience that has helped me with my future career plans and will be beneficial when applying to universities. I also get so much satisfaction from giving something back in my community and making a positive impact on someone’s life.”