“I’ve loved every minute”: Weldmar’s volunteer champion retires after 25 years service

At Weldmar, we often say that ‘we couldn’t do what we do without volunteers’. In turn, volunteers couldn’t do what they do without Caroline Munslow.

Caroline, who has led Weldmar Hospicecare’s army of more than a thousand volunteers for almost 25 years, has announced her retirement.

“I have enjoyed every single minute of it,” says Caroline. “because our volunteers are so incredible. There have been challenges and ups and downs along the way, but the variety of the job has kept me hungry. No two days are the same, and I will miss it, for sure.”

Caroline first joined Cancer Care Dorset in 2001, providing administrative support to the community based nurses, before moving into her role supporting volunteers four years later.

“Everything was paper based in those days. I would keep the nurses’ records up to date, make their appointments, and prepare for presentations. I became more involved in the roles of volunteers. As well as helping in charity shops and at fundraising events, they would help with driving, befriending, dog walking, gardening, or shopping for patients. There was a lot of time on the phone, finding volunteers for certain tasks. We provided lots of training and support, but the payback was that volunteers would love their role. It was very busy but wonderful.”

Caroline stepped up to be Volunteer Services Manager at what was a very busy time – Cancer Care Dorset, which provided community support, merged with both the hospice in Dorchester and Trimar Day Hospice in Weymouth, to become Weldmar Hospicecare.

How volunteers make a significant difference

Caroline is first to see the impact that an individual volunteer can have on a patient in Weldmar’s care. “I remember one person in particular, who was unable to drive and also too weak to push a shopping trolley around a supermarket. She was determined that she still wanted to do her own shopping and choose what she wanted, so we found a volunteer who would drive, and help them around. That continued for a number of months, and had a profoundly positive effect for the patient.”

Caroline says that although many people step forward to volunteer because they have been touched by Weldmar’s services and want to give something back, or looking for a social connection after bereavement, it’s been wonderful seeing a growing number of younger volunteers coming through: “We get a number of students who come to us, often who are looking at a career path into medicine. Helping out at a hospice charity is a wonderful addition to their CV and university applications. Others who come to us from local schools are quite nervous at first, and it’s brilliant to see them grow and gain confidence.”

Caroline also cites the recent introduction of a volunteer gardening team as something she is particularly proud of. “Our new gardener, Andrea, had a vision for the hospice grounds, which are so important for the patients who are here, their loved ones, and our own team. She now has a team of twelve people helping out on a regular basis, and the transformation of the gardens is quite amazing.”

Saying thank you to volunteers

Recognition of the contribution of volunteers has been crucial to Caroline’s philosophy, and so an annual ‘Volunteer Celebration’ event was introduced. “It used to be just a cup of tea and a piece of cake in a church hall somewhere, but it has grown so much over the years. We now hold the event, which always falls in Volunteers’ Week in June, in the marquee in the meadow of Weldmar’s Inpatient Unit. Our Chief Executive, Caroline Hamblett, leads from the front and updates volunteers on where we are and the direction in which we’re heading. We hand out long service awards, there are hospice tours for volunteers, and always a delicious buffet provided by our excellent catering team.”

Thanks to Caroline, volunteers who have been nominated by Weldmar staff are treated to mini-breaks, thanks to the Room to Reward initiative. This pairs deserving charity volunteers with unbooked hotel rooms around the country.

Caroline is modest about her own impact as Weldmar’s Volunteer Services Lead: “I’m just a facilitator! It’s all about the volunteers, not me. But I have loved being part of it. I’m now looking forward to spending more time with family, walking our dogs on the South West Coast Path and in the Lake District, and not setting the alarm. Will I volunteer at some point in the future? Maybe!”

Thank you, Caroline.