The Orangery Café is such a lovely, happy place to be. I like it when families come in – and although they might visit at a difficult time in their life, it’s not a sad place. I try to make their day a little better, just with a smile or a chat.
When you’re going through a bad time it’s sometimes easier to share your feelings with a stranger. The Café is a place for family members to have a cup of coffee and enjoy a moment to themselves with their thoughts. It’s a quiet place to escape with friendly companionship. It’s also a comfortable space for staff from all departments to come together as friends.
A friend of mine died at the Hospice, 25 years ago. I went to visit her on the ward and I immediately thought it was such lovely place. Until you walk through the doors, you don’t realise the joy you’ll find at St Raphael’s. From 20 years ago until now, the same integrity and compassion has remained. It’s the people more than anything who work and volunteer here who care and want to help others.
In the Café I get to know people, particularly from the Wellbeing Centre when they come here for lunch. They may not interact at first but then they open up and I look forward to chatting. It’s a wonderful reminder of why volunteering is so special. A small act of kindness can travel further than you realise.
There’s a role for everybody here. Once you’ve come through the door, you’ll find your volunteering niche!