GIVING your time is an important way to support a local charity, but do you know just how rewarding it can be?

Volunteers at Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice Care find that they get as much out of volunteering as they put into it, and enjoy the welcoming and vibrant atmosphere as well as the interaction they have with patients, families and staff.

Phyllis Tuckwell’s volunteers help in all aspects of its care - from doctors, nurses, physiotherapists and counsellors, to chaplains, gardeners, fundraisers, shop workers, receptionists and even yoga teachers!

Many are therapists, counsellors or healthcare professionals who are looking for a way to give something back to the community, while others may be students hoping for a career in healthcare and in need of experience, sixth form pupils who want to boost their CVs, or individuals who want re-train or get back into work after having had some time off.

Finding a meaningful way to give something back to the community is also a motivation many volunteers, some of whom are bereaved relatives, who have seen first-hand the compassionate care which Phyllis Tuckwell offers, and want to support it personally.

Others may not have had personal contact with Phyllis Tuckwell before, but want to help out a local charity, or may have just retired and are looking for something which offers the same camaraderie and structure of the working world.

“Our volunteers love the interaction they get with our patients, families, staff and other volunteers,” said Julia Morpeth, voluntary services manager at Phyllis Tuckwell. “They enjoy contributing to the wonderful care which we offer, and being part of the welcoming and caring environment here.”

“It makes you feel valuable,” said one of Phyllis Tuckwell’s volunteers, while others commented “it’s an uplifting place to volunteer,” and “it’s a privilege to volunteer here.”

Whatever your skill, training or interest, there’s a place for you. Be a welcoming face on reception, serve teas and coffees to patients, help in one of Phyllis Tuckwell’s 19 shops, drive patients to and from the hospice or Beacon Centre, or visit patients in their own homes, providing companionship and practical help. If you enjoy the company of others and like the idea of making a real difference to someone’s life, you’ll fit right in.

So whether you’re looking to offer your professional skills, build up your CV, get back into the workplace, take control of your retirement or just give something back to the local community, Phyllis Tuckwell can help.

To find out more, come along to the Phyllis Tuckwell open day on Saturday, November 18, at the hospice in Farnham.

For more information, visit www.pth.org.uk/open-day.