Volunteers Week 2025: Meet Desmond and Nichola!

Desmond is one of the youngest members of our team, volunteering with the Dementia Wellbeing East London service.

Why did you start volunteering with St Joseph’s?
I was searching for something that felt meaningful, something that would allow me to connect with people beyond just surface-level interactions. When I came across St Joseph’s, I was drawn to how much heart and dignity they put into their work. The Dementia Wellbeing East London programme especially stood out because it was not just about doing good; it was about truly being present with someone in their final chapters.

What is special or different about Dementia Wellbeing East London compared to other volunteering opportunities?
There is a quiet beauty in how personal it is. It is not a one-size-fits-all kind of role. Every visit is tailored to the individual, their culture, their memories, and their pace. Sometimes it is sharing music from their past. Other times it is offering a hand massage or simply sitting together in silence. The team does not just train you and send you off. They walk with you, support you, and reflect with you. There is a deep sense of care, not only for the people we visit, but also for us as volunteers.

Would you recommend volunteering at St Joseph’s?
Yes. There is a warmth here that is hard to put into words. You feel it from the way the staff greet you and the two tailor-made happy birthday emails I received just a few days ago, to the little details that show how much people care. Many of the team have been here for years, and that says a lot. Volunteering at St Joseph’s is not just something nice to do. It changes how you see people, how you see yourself, and what it means to be present in someone’s life.

Describe a typical volunteering shift for you.
Each shift usually begins with me travelling to visit someone in their home or care setting. We might play their favourite songs, look through old photos, do gentle movement, or simply hold a comforting or stimulating object together. Sometimes I just listen. Sometimes we laugh. After the session, I write up some notes to share with the team so that the care remains personal and consistent.

How has volunteering affected your personal or professional development?
In ways I did not expect. It has helped me slow down, truly listen, and hold space for people. That kind of listening, where you are not rushing to respond but are simply trying to understand, is rare these days. I have also started to notice how people’s beliefs and philosophies about life show up in how they age and how they cope. It has made me more thoughtful in my own journey, and it has shaped how I want to work in mental health and palliative care in the future.

What have you gained from being a volunteer?
A sense of stillness and perspective. Spending time with people who have lived long lives, many of whom no longer speak much, if at all, has shown me how much connection can happen in silence, in presence, and in small gestures. I have also gained more trust in my own intuition and in my ability to care for someone even when words are not available. The support and reflection sessions at St Joseph’s have also helped me grow emotionally and professionally.

What would you say to someone who is considering volunteering?
Do not overthink it. Just start. If you have ever wanted to make a real difference, even in just an hour a week, this is one of the most meaningful ways to do that. You will learn more about life, loss, ageing, and joy than any textbook could teach you. And if you are someone who values quiet moments, deep connection, and learning from others, you will find the people you visit are some of the wisest and most surprising teachers you will ever meet.

Nichola, one of our most oldest and most experienced volunteers, gives her time volunteering with our Compassionate Neighbours service.

Nichola became a volunteer at St Joseph’s two years ago now having had over twenty years volunteering experience in other organisations.

Nichola joined the Compassionate Neighbours service after she attended their coffee mornings, and after some training she was matched to a community member in Tower Hamlets. As the distance from where Nichola lives is around 13 miles away, it takes her around 90 minutes to do this journey each way and as Nichola is our oldest volunteer at 95, this is no mean feat! On her visits, Nichola and her match enjoy a coffee and a chat about their shared interests.

Nichola has a second match and she speaks to her on the phone regularly.

We asked Nichola what she had learned from becoming a Compassionate Neighbour, she said “As a professional person I had to learn to listen better to patients coping with the end of their lives. I could no longer nurse as a volunteer and that took time to learn.”

Nichola said that she would recommend volunteering at St Joseph’s, “Go for it, you will find plenty of encouragement on the way! St Joseph’s Hospice has the most welcoming atmosphere for everyone!”

Thank you so much to both Nichola and Desmond for sharing their experiences and their hard work!

It’s National Volunteers’ Week this week (2nd-8th June), so what a great time to start thinking about volunteering! There are so many ways that you can support St Joseph’s Hospice.

If you’d like to find out more about volunteering with us, please call 020 8525 6032, email volunteering@stjh.org.uk or visit www.stjh.org.uk/volunteer for more information.