Our volunteers take on a wide variety of roles here at Weston Hospicecare, and we’re currently looking to build our team of Companions.
Being a Companion is a very valued and important role at Weston Hospicecare, offering emotional support to patients and those in a caring role. Being a Companion requires a gentle approach, where good listening skills are the primary requirement. Companion support is not counselling and it is essential that Companions stay within the boundaries of the support being offered, but imagine how much that time could mean to someone with a life-limiting illness. Spending time with patients, whether that’s sitting and chatting, or completing a jigsaw together, is something that proves beneficial on all sides; our patients appreciate the opportunity to talk candidly about how they are feeling, and to discuss their emotional and physical struggles with an impartial, friendly face. The time a Companion spends with a patient also allows their primary care-giver to take a much needed break sometimes.
Our Companions need to be empathetic, a good listener, and non-judgmental. You should also be flexible and have access to your own transport. It goes without saying that you need to be friendly and approachable; we pride ourselves on being a friendly bunch here at Weston Hospicecare. A good sense of humour is also desirable; you’d be surprised at how many laughs we share with our patients!
Full training is given for this role, in the form of a 4 week training plan (once weekly sessions) and ongoing support and supervision. If you enjoy spending time with others, and meeting new people, this could well be the role for you, and you can offer whatever amount of time suits. Being a Companion gives you an opportunity to give something back to the community, while also honing and learning some desirable skills. We’d love to hear from you if you’re interested; you can call us on 01934 423975, or email volunteer@westonhospicecare.org.uk
“A companion is someone who gives you total freedom to be yourself.”