LEWIS Manning Hospice Care is celebrating its dedicated volunteers during National Volunteers’ Week and would love more people to join

The hospice charity will be celebrating the difference volunteers make to their organisation and thanking them for all their time and dedication during this year’s initiative, which runs from June 1-7 .

They also want to encourage others in the local community to join the team, whether it’s manning the till at one of their charity shops, or working with the day hospice team to help patients.

Chief executive officer at Lewis-Manning Hospice Care, Clare Gallie, said: "During this week we want to make sure, more than ever, that the wonderful people who offer our local charity their continued help and time through volunteering, understand that we are all so very thankful for their support.

"Our volunteers are wonderful people and so I wanted to say on behalf of everyone at our hospice, thank you.

"Without our volunteers we simply would not be able to help the local people that we are here to care for."

Meanwhile, volunteers manager Nicola Garsden said: “We currently work with over 90 amazing volunteers, many of whom have donated their time most generously for many years.

"We are always looking for ways to encourage new volunteer support and have a huge variety of different roles, including help with our: charity shops, day hospice, patient drivers, administration and complementary therapy services.

"By volunteering you would be helping a well - loved charity and people in your local community, with many added benefits, ranging from confidence building, socialising, meeting new friends, gaining new skills and experience, many of which can be transferred into the workplace.

"Most importantly it is a fun and friendly experience."

Lewis-Manning Hospice Care is a charity established 29 years ago, providing care to patients and their families facing a life-limiting illness across Poole, Purbeck and East Dorset.

The Poole-based hospice offer a range of free care services aimed at helping people live well through their illness, closer to home.

Lewis-Manning volunteer Carol Burnell said: "I feel I've had a great life so far, and I wanted to give something back.

"The idea of volunteering for a charity is something I had long considered, but it wasn’t until I started talking to close friends and family about how fantastic Lewis-Manning Hospice Care’s day care was that I felt I wanted to get involved and help others who needed support in my community."

To find out more about Lewis-Manning Hospice Care’s vital services, or if you would like information about volunteering, visit: lewis-manning.org.uk E: hr@lewis-manning.org.uk or call 01202 708 470.