LEND ST GILES A HAND - OR TWO
| Published: 3rd August 2008 20:46 |
Can you lend a hand?
A decline in the number of people volunteering for washing up duties has left St Giles Hospice short of a hand or two.The charity, which cares for local people with cancer and other serious illnesses, needs three shifts covered every day to ensure high standards of hygiene are maintained at the hospice.
Although the use of a commercial washer/steriliser eases the burden, there is still a need for ‘hands on' washing and the putting away of clean crockery and cutlery, particularly during holiday periods and at times of absence.
Lesley Stinton, Volunteers Manager for St Giles, says: "This may not be a glamorous task, but the volunteers, who come from all walks of life, are critical to our service provision because they free up our housekeeping staff to maintain the highest standards of cleanliness in patient and public areas.
"So if local individuals, groups of friends, couples or clubs would like to give some time in a useful way - and are tempted by our free plastic aprons and rubber gloves to fit - then a very appreciative team awaits.
"We need up to 40 hours' washing up doing each week - or more than 2,000 hours a year, and would be grateful for all offers of help, even if on a cover basis.
"Most of the volunteers work in pairs and a number of great friendships have been struck up amidst the steam and foam!"
The options available when supporting the St Giles housekeeping team at the Whittington-based hospice are for one to two hours from 9.30am, up to three hours from 12.30pm or around one hour from 6.30pm.
To find out more about becoming a part of St Giles' friendly and growing team of volunteers, contact Lesley on 01543 432031 or e-mail lesley.stinton@st-giles-hospice.org.uk
St Giles Hospice is a registered charity offering high-quality medical and nursing care for people with cancer and other serious illnesses, as well as providing support for their families and carers.
Patients come from across the hospice's catchment area, which ranges from Ashby de la Zouch and Atherstone in the east, to Cannock and Walsall in the west - and from Burton and Uttoxeter in the north, to Sutton Coldfield and Coleshill in the south.
Care is offered at the hospice's facilities in Sutton Coldfield and Whittington between Lichfield and Tamworth, or in patients' own homes across the region.
St Giles spends over £5.5 million every year providing its specialist services and with less than a third of this funded by the Government, relies heavily on donations and fundraising.
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