The Cariad Crew Project is Recruiting Volunteers!

Funded by the Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA), Cariad Crew has spent the past six months working with stakeholders, existing volunteers and people interested in volunteering to develop a new volunteering infrastructure within St David’s Hospice.

The project has focused on creating volunteering opportunities within health and palliative care that are inclusive and responsive to the needs of both volunteers and the Hospice.

A key part of the project has been working closely with St David’s Hospice’s Health and Palliative Care team to understand where volunteers can make a meaningful contribution and to develop new roles that complement the work of staff.

As part of the project, 24 members of St David’s Hospice staff have received Social Model of Disability training, helping to build understanding of disability, accessibility and the barriers that can prevent people from getting involved in volunteering.

The project is also developing social stories for St David’s Hospice and Hafan Dewi Sant. These will help people understand what to expect when visiting or volunteering within the Hospice environment and are intended to make the experience more accessible and welcoming.

Over the past six months, CVSC and St David’s Hospice have also held a variety of workshops and engagement sessions with stakeholders, volunteers and potential volunteers. These sessions have helped shape the new volunteering roles, training and infrastructure, ensuring that the project is developed with the people who will use and benefit from it.

Following this period of development, Cariad Crew is now ready to welcome new volunteers.

The first opportunities include roles such as Volunteer Inpatient Receptionist, Volunteer Counsellor Support, Volunteer Communication Support – British Sign Language, Volunteer Community Sighted Guide and Community Events Volunteer. 

The project aims to demonstrate how volunteering can provide meaningful opportunities for people while also making a valuable contribution to the care and support provided by the Hospice.

Jasmine Pilling Volunteer Development Manager, said:

“Cariad Crew has given us the opportunity to listen to volunteers, potential volunteers, staff and stakeholders and think differently about how volunteering can work within health and palliative care. We have spent the last six months building the foundations, developing roles and looking at accessibility, and we are now ready to be able to open these opportunities up to the community.”

The Cariad Crew team is now encouraging people who are interested in volunteering in health and palliative care — including people who may not have volunteered before — to find out more.

You don’t need to be a healthcare professional to become part of the Cariad Crew. The new roles have been developed to provide different ways for people to contribute, with training and support available as appropriate to each role.

To find out more about the Cariad Crew project and the current volunteering opportunities please get in touch.