Nelson Region Hospice Trust

Photo above: Volunteer Barb's role is administration support for the volunteer programme. This day, she was working on a draft of the new Volunteer Services booklet.

Click here for volunteer opportunities

Our 370 team of volunteer staff allows hospice to:

• Provide a comprehensive range of patient support services we would not otherwise be able to offer.  For example, caregiver relief and other community based support, biography (life stories) and bereavement follow up.
• Free up our nurses for more patient care and other paid staff to extend their own roles.  For example, administration, assisting nurses in the IPU, coordinating car maintenance, delivery & installation of electric beds and equipment. 
• Raise valuable funds for hospice.  For example, raffle programme, hospice shops and other fundraising events.

We offer volunteers:

• A comprehensive and highly regarded training course (for volunteers working with patients or in IPU).
• Orientation and inservice training during the year for different groups of volunteers
• “Bounce Back” opportunities.  For the many people who are away from Nelson for part of the year e.g. travel, family, work commitments etc.   We welcome “bounce back” volunteers and try to offer flexible roles that allow volunteers to be on leave and return to their volunteer work when it suits them.
• Short term opportunities.  If you are only in Nelson for a short time, we would still love to hear from you.  We will try to match opportunities according to your experience and intended length of stay.
• The opportunity for any skills/abilities to be considered for inclusion in our volunteer programme.  Many of our services to patients and families have evolved as a result of volunteers’ particular skills and suggestions.

 Volunteer Roles

Current volunteer opportunities

• SHOP WORK.  Our hospice shops make a hugely valuable contribution towards hospice funding and there are a variety of volunteer roles with shifts to suit different needs.  It is also an area of volunteering ideally suited to short term visitors to Nelson  who wish to volunteer just for a few weeks or months.  Anyone interested in helping in our Nelson shop may phone Irene Dunning (shop manager) ph 5481823.

• BED AND EQUIPMENT DELIVERY. An electric bed and other equipment can often allow patients to remain at home to be nursed when they become very ill.  We would not be able to provide this hugely valuable service were it not for our “bed volunteers”. 
  
  Volunteers work in pairs, using the hospice van to deliver or collect electric beds from patients’ homes.  Call outs can sometimes be at short notice and are always during the working week for up to three or four hours depending on distances.
  
  This role suits fit, active adults with a current clean driving licence, who are comfortable around illness.  Friends who wish to volunteer together would be most welcome.  The role calls for a small amount of paperwork to help us keep track of equipment and we offer inservice training days from time to time.

• RAMPS - A BUILDER OR RETIRED REGISTERED BUILDER. Building ramps for patients who become wheelchair-bound and find access to their home and garden difficult - or sometimes impossible. The role also includes installation of hand rails - often in a shower. 
  TIME. A few hours for each ramp or less to install hand rails. It is not a hugely busy job - months can go by with no referrals - but very useful nonetheless because the waiting list for ramps via the hospital system is too long for our patients.
  CRITERIA. As well as having building experience, the person doing this role needs to be comfortable around illness and have good communication and listening skills and to be non judgemental.

• MASSAGE, MOTUEKA. Offering massage to 1-3 patients (or sometimes caregivers), one half day a week. Based in the District Nurses rooms, the role is coordinated and referrals are made by the D/N team leader.
  TIME. Around 4 hours a week.
  CRITERIA. Qualification in standard relaxation massage. To be comfortable around illness, have good communication and listening skills and to be non judgemental.

• COMMUNITY PALLIATIVE CARE ADMIN. Reception, phone and admin work at the community palliative care office (Eden Villa).
  TIME. Fridays 11.30 - 1.30 or 12 - 2pm.
  CRITERIA. Admin/office skills. Confidence with a photocopier, scanner and if possible, computer. Sense of humour and ability to work unsupervised.

Tim volunteering at the IPU. Many of our volunteer support services have evolved from volunteers who present with specific skills and ideas. When Tim turned up on our doorstep seeking volunteer work, we established a role which allows flexibility for him and helps us to keep our IPU exterior tidy. Tim now comes in 2-3 times a week for about an hour each time to sweep. It is a job that no-one was really managing to do and it keeps the IPU looking a bit tidier for visitors and patients alike.

To contact our Manager, Volunteer Services, for further information or to make a volunteer application:    MARY GARNER Ph 546 3912 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it