Helen & Douglas House Hospice has won a top award for its work with volunteers. The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service is the highest award given to volunteer groups across the UK for outstanding work done in their local communities.

Tom Hill, Chief Executive, Helen & Douglas House said; ‘We are very proud of this recognition and enormously proud of our volunteers. They give us the most precious thing they have - their time.  Without them we would not be able to provide the range of support and services to the families that need us.’

Helen & Douglas House volunteers support all areas of the hospice’s work; including befriending young patients, helping in the kitchen, garden, or offices, supporting the Fundraising Team in-house and at events, helping with maintenance, and in the music and art rooms. They bring an enormous range of skills and diversity of age, background and experience to the charity. The 32 Helen & Douglas shops across the region could not operate successfully without them and volunteers clearly reflect the communities in which they are based. For many volunteering is a way for them to gain confidence and skills in a supportive environment, especially those with special needs. The charity is currently working towards a Home Volunteering project, the aim being that a committed team of trained volunteers will help Helen & Douglas House families within their own homes. This can be anything from the purely practical such as the laundry or gardening, to helping on a family trip.  

The charity was nominated for the award by an employee of MEM Consumer Finance in Bicester. Helen & Douglas House has been the company’s charity of choice since September 2009 and they have raised funds, as well as volunteering for the charity.

Anyone interested in volunteering for Helen & Douglas House can contact Wendy Bridge, on 01865 794749, or volunteering@helenanddouglas.org.uk.