MORE than 300 of our volunteers joined Lord and Lady Mayoress of Sheffield Tony and Val Downing to celebrate the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.
The special event at Sheffield’s St Paul Mercure Hotel recognised the accolade given to the St Luke’s volunteers by the Royal honour.
The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service is the highest award given to volunteer groups across the UK and recognises the St Luke’s volunteers who give 116,800 hours of their time each year, helping to deliver the best possible care to patients and their families.
The nomination for the award was made by keen St Luke’s supporter Anne Broadhead, supported by former Lord Mayor of Sheffield Coun Denise Fox and the former Chief Executive of Sheffield City Council, Lord Kerslake.
“This award really places in context the important part that our volunteers have to play in the continued success of St Luke’s,” said our Volunteer Development Manager Joy Wigfield.
“It was a wonderful opportunity to bring together volunteers who give so much of their times in many different areas of St Luke’s and a real celebration of their vital contribution.”
The volunteers provide an estimated 116,800 hours of support throughout the year, helping 1,834 patients as well as their families and loved ones.
Aged from just 14 to 94, the volunteers take part in a wide range of activities including fundraising, patient transport, bereavement counselling, recording life histories, being patient companions, delivering food parcels, tending the hospice’s gardens and providing vital support in the award winning chain of 14 St Luke’s shops across the city.
They also help provide nearly 3,000 free places each year on supported activities at both St Luke’s and at Clifford House – the St Luke’s centre for people affected by life limiting illnesses.
And their enthusiasm, effort and imagination help to raise more than £7 million annually.
Could you spare some time to help St Luke's? View our volunteer opportunities to find out how.