Children's hospice at Milton appealing for volunteers

East Anglia's Children's Hospices (EACH) needs more volunteers to help support the families of children using their hospices.

The group has three hospices across the region. They are based at Milton in Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, and Ipswich.

Many families find themselves spending a lot of time at the hospices, which is why EACH have launched a ‘Help at Home’ service. The initiative is aimed at easing home life for families who have children in a hospice.

EACH is appealing for volunteers to join in with ‘Help at Home’ volunteers who will be matched with a family whose child is receiving care.

Anyone who chooses to volunteer with the hospice will have the chance to carry out some rewarding work for a family who need its. Gardening, shopping and dog-walking are just some of the jobs that volunteers can take on.

EACH Help at Home volunteer Jo Dive also helped tidy the garden of a family whose child was receiving end-of-life care at Milton. (Image: East Anglia's Children's Hospices)

Household chores, such as ironing, vacuuming and cooking, can also be done by volunteers. Anyone who particularly enjoys working with animals or children may have the chance to look after pets and offer support to any siblings in the family.

Marie Huggins, co-coordinator of the ‘Help at Home’ service, said: “The role can be as flexible as you like and we can make arrangements to fit in with people’s commitments.

“Whether you can spare two hours a week or two a month, it’ll have a real impact on the families we support.”

Marie said that the ‘Help at Home’ service makes an “invaluable, life-changing difference to our families.

“It gives them a real lift and means they can focus on the care of their child, either being there to look after them or creating precious memories together.”

Anyone interested in volunteering will be provided with training and support from EACH throughout the year. Marie described the training days as “informal” and added that they take place in a “friendly and welcome atmosphere”.

She added: “We cover various topics and the idea is to prepare people, so they don’t have unanswered questions by the time they go into a family’s home.”

EACH rely on volunteers to keep their organisation running. There are many volunteer roles available with them, including in areas such as retail, fundraising and events, and chaplaincy.

Kate Littlechild and husband Tony volunteering at the Cambridge Beer Festival. (Image: East Anglia Children's Hospices)

The group offer flexibility with their volunteering roles. Marie said on anyone volunteering for the ‘Help at Home’ service: “All you need to give is your time, either to help regularly or as a one-off project.

“Whatever time they [volunteers] can spare is appreciated, be it on a weekly, fortnightly, or ad hoc basis, and will make such a difference.”

Marie added that EACH would “love to hear from anyone interested in joining us, as long as they’re over 18".

Who are the East Anglia Children’s Hospices?

The East Anglia Children's Hospice organisation was established in 1989, and has since provided care for children with life-threatening conditions, as well as those receiving end of life care.

There are specialist nurses and therapists at all of the hospices to help support and care for the child and their family.

EACH relies on volunteers and donations for the majority of its work. 15 per cent of the organisation’s income comes from statutory sources, while the rest is through fundraising and income from its charity shops.

In 2024, EACH aims to raise £6.7m in fundraising and £7.8m from its charity shops.

Anyone who would like more information about the ‘Help at Home’ service can click here. There is more information available on the EACH website, and anyone who wants to enquire can email volunteerservices@each.org or call 01223 800800 and select option four.

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