Drivers

North Devon Hospice services cover an area of almost 1000 square miles, from the Cornish border in South Devon, to the edge of Exmoor in the North. Volunteer drivers bring patients to Deer Park for visits, treatments and therapies. Drivers also take patients to hospital appointments, both locally and further afield.

Bus Escort

Some patients travel to North Devon Hospice by bus or mini-bus. To assist the driver and the patients, a volunteer escort travels with them. Their role is to help the patients get on and off the bus, and to ensure they are comfortable during their journey.

Day Hospice

Patients visit Deer Park for Day Hospice on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10.30am to 3.30pm. Volunteers support the staff during the day by greeting patients on arrival, making drinks, laying the lunch table and helping to serve lunch.  These volunteers also play a very important role just by being there. It is vital that our patients feel secure and comfortable, and volunteers help to instil this because our patients know they have chosen to give their time to the hospice.

Art Group

Some patients like to spend some time in the art room during their day at Deer Park. We are fortunate to have the facilities to accommodate a potter's wheel, various painting and drawing mediums, and other crafts, including silk painting and needlecrafts.  Volunteers who have an interest in or talent for arts and crafts, help by encouraging and supporting patients.

Look Good, Feel Great

These sessions are held once a month at Deer Park and are designed to help give our patients a moral boost.  Through make-overs, massages and facials, patients feel refreshed and pampered after Look Good, Feel Great.  Volunteers from beautician backgrounds/employment provide hand and arm massages, manicures, make-overs and hair styling.

Library

The Deer Park library is open to all and used by medical professionals, students and patients.  Our library has a wide range of books and publications relating to the work undertaking here and is a valuable resource for all.  In addition to recording the lending and returning of books, volunteers also keep computer records up to date.

Home Care

Many hospice patients prefer to be treated at home by our team of Community Nurse Specialists, or by their own carers.  Volunteers are able to help patients and their carers in their homes in a variety of ways; sometimes to sit with a patient to allow the carer to do their shopping or walk the dog.  North Devon Hospice also runs support groups for carers, and volunteers may be asked to sit with a patient whilst their carer attends these groups.  Volunteers may also be asked to visit and befriend patients who may have found themselves socially isolated due to their illness.

Administration and Clerical

Volunteers with administration skills are sometimes asked to help out in our offices.  This may be to set up new systems, to clean up databases or simply to assist staff in daily routine tasks.

The Fundraising Department regularly sends out large volumes of mail.  Volunteers provide a great service by helping with collating and enveloping documents to go out to our supporters.

Finance

North Devon Hospice is supported by many companies who allow us to display our collecting tins in their shops and premises.  Volunteers support this work by counting collections and issuing receipts for the tins.

Reception, Dining Room & Meeting and Greeting

A team of welcoming volunteers help in reception.  They are on hand to be with patients before and after complementary therapy appointments, to bring them drinks and make them feel as comfortable as possible.  Some visitors arriving at Deer Park may be apprehensive, and the volunteers role is so vital in making them feel welcome. Other tasks include making tea for visitors, serving them in the dining room, and using the till when needed in the Terrace Cafe. Volunteers also help out in reception at times, helping to answer phone calls or operating the switchboard.

Bedded Unit Volunteers

Volunteers support the nursing staff in a number of ways; helping with trays and meals at meal times, ensuring flowers are tending to and freshened up, helping with beverages for patients and their visitors, collecting newspapers, assisting with laundry if required and sitting with patients.

Kitchen and Dining Room

Volunteers help in the kitchen and dining rooms during busy times.

Garden

We are fortunate to have wonderful grounds here at Deer Park.  Colin, our Garden Superintendent is an award winning, Kew trained gardener has a team of volunteers who help with many tasks all year round.