Medical and financial professionals are being invited to give something back to their community by joining the board of trustees at Weston Hospicecare.
The hospice, based in Thornbury Road in Uphill, cares for around 900 patients a year with life-limiting illnesses, and supports their families too.
The charity’s work is overseen by a group of unpaid trustees, who play a key role in ensuring it delivers on its goal of providing excellent palliative care to people from across Weston-super-Mare and North Somerset.
There are currently three vacancies within the trustee body, meaning the hospice is looking to recruit two new trustees from a medical background – palliative care experience would be particularly welcome – and one with financial expertise.
Chair of trustees Judi Driscoll said: “We are looking to recruit three new trustees who will be able to help the charity achieve its vision and who are passionate about excellence in palliative care.
“The role of trustee is unremunerated and there are six board meetings per year plus various committee responsibilities.
“As a trustee, you will play an important role and – with your fellow trustees – will be responsible for ensuring the good governance of Weston Hospicecare and helping us to deliver our strategy, which is to work to make sure that everyone we care for can live as well as they can for as long as they can.
“Offering your skills and expertise to Weston Hospicecare as a trustee can be enormously rewarding on a personal level, while also playing a crucial role in helping to deliver its much-needed services.”
It costs £4million a year to run the hospice and its community services, but only a fifth of that is funded by the government. Its remaining costs are met by the community in the form of donations, legacies and fundraising events, plus its lottery and shops.
However, all of its services are provided free of charge.
That means volunteer support is vital in keeping costs down, and at present more than 600 people are actively volunteering their time in support of Weston Hospicecare’s 150 staff.
Anyone who is interested in volunteering their time and skills for a trustee role can learn more about the role – and how to submit their interest – here.
Alternatively, they can contact HR manager Sonja Hammond via sonja.hammond@westonhospicecare.org.uk or 01934 423900.
Shortlisted candidates will be invited to visit the hospice and will be given the opportunity to discover more about how the charity operates.