Volunteering
We often hear from volunteers that it is an honour and a privilege to be an ‘end of life’ volunteer; to be with patients in their last days and hours, and provide emotional support and company to them and those close to them at such a challenging time in their lives.
If you are passionate about providing support to those who are dying – get in touch today.
Become an End of Life Volunteer
We work closely with healthcare organisations to help them get this vital support to patients as quickly as efficiently as they can. But we couldn’t do that without the help of so many amazing people – the volunteers themselves.
If, after going along (in person or virtually) to an informal information session, you decide to apply for the role, and are successful after meeting the Project Manager or Volunteer Coordinator for the team, you will be invited to attend a training day where all the information you’ll need to carry out the role will be provided.
You’ll meet teams from across the organisation including staff from Specialist Palliative Care, Chaplains, Voluntary Services and Patient Experience. You may even be lucky enough to meet the Chief Executive! They all value this service and are keen to meet and thank the amazing people who come forward to help them provide excellent end of life care to their patients.
Once you start in the role, you will be supporting people in some of the following ways:
- Sitting quietly by the bedside, so the patient knows they are not alone.
- You might read a favourite book to them, or simply hold their hand.
- Sitting with the patient whilst their loved ones take a break.
- Ensuring visitors are aware of services provided by the organisation to families of people who are dying.
- Providing hot drinks for visitors, and someone for them to talk to.
- Advocating for the patient, and liaising with staff where appropriate.
We couldn’t make such a big impact without people like you!
We believe that ‘no one deserves to die alone’ and volunteers at our partner healthcare organisations are a vital part of our vision.
By joining the amazing teams who volunteers in hospitals, community NHS Trusts and hospices across the UK you’ll help make sure that people who are dying and those close to them are offered the company and comfort of another human being as they die.
Why Should I Volunteer?
There are benefits for you too.
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- You’ll learn new skills and have access to educational training with experienced professionals.
- You’ll find fulfilment by being engaged in such meaningful activity.
- You’ll be part of a friendly team at the heart of your community, giving you the opportunity to meet new like minded people.
Frequently Asked Questions
EOL Volunteers work within healthcare organisations to support patients at the end of their life, and those close to them.
They provide company and companionship to patients with life limiting conditions who may be in the last months, weeks, days or hours of life, and support and respite for their family and friends. They may be in a hospital ward, a hospice or in their own home – depending on the healthcare organisation you are volunteering for.
Important qualities include being:
- A good listener
- Empathetic and kind
- Non-judgemental
- Resilient and pro-active about taking care of yourself and others
- Punctual and reliable
- Comfortable with silence
Butterfly Volunteers are members of a hospital’s volunteer team who work on the ward to support patients at the end of their life and their families.
They provide company and companionship to the patient in their last days and hours of life, and support and respite for their family and friends.
No, just a passion for making a difference for others.
This will depend on the healthcare organisation you are working with – but as a minimum you should expect to volunteer for 2 four hour shifts per month.
You will receive a generic induction to your healthcare organisation as one of their volunteers, including safeguarding, GDPR and health and safety.
You will then attend an End of Life Volunteer training day for specialist training and volunteer wellbeing, which will be run by your Project Manager/Volunteer Coordinator, and attended by a member of our team.
Ongoing training sessions will also be offered as you become more confident in the role.
As you will be part of the healthcare organisations volunteer team (you won’t be volunteering for us), we’ll put you in touch with the Project Manager/Volunteer Coordinator of your choice.
Contact us here and we will provide you with more information.
There’s no difference.
We like to use the name Butterfly Volunteers because butterflies are thought to represent endurance, change and hope and are recognised as a symbol of palliative care.
Some of the healthcare organisations we work with choose to call their ‘end of life’ volunteers Butterflies; others prefer to use a different title.
But whether they are called (Swans, Signets, Compassionate Companions or Butterflies, the role of these volunteers is largely the same.
Once you’re volunteering you’ll be invited to join our End of Life Volunteer Community, where you’ll meet volunteers from across the country and be invited to social events.