As part of Volunteers’ Week, we’re celebrating some of the wonderful people who generously volunteer their time at The Myton Hospices. Their support helps us continue providing compassionate end of life care and support free of charge to patients and their loved ones across Coventry and Warwickshire.

Kristina first started volunteering for The Myton Hospices five years ago after hearing from her friend Mandy just how rewarding it was. Kristina said:

Mandy was volunteering on the Inpatient Unit serving tea and coffee, as well as bucket collecting at events. She absolutely loved it and said how rewarding it was, so I asked how I could get involved.

As a single parent, Kristina found it difficult to find the time to volunteer while her two daughters were younger. But once they became teenagers, volunteering quickly became something they could all do together.

Working full time and balancing school, Kristina and her daughters now regularly volunteer at Myton events including our Abseil Challenge, Walk for Myton, Cycle Challenge and Santa Dash. From serving refreshments and checking in participants to handing out medals and helping on the merchandise stall, the family are always happy to lend a hand. Kristina added:

The girls were completing their Bronze and Silver Duke of Edinburgh Awards, so volunteering was a brilliant way to get them involved. We enjoyed it so much that we’ve carried on ever since. It’s something we can do together, it’s fun, and we’ve met so many lovely people of all ages along the way. The girls tell their friends about volunteering and they think it’s really cool, some of them have even signed up too!

For me, it’s also been a way of supporting them as they grow up and become more independent. I’m there in the background encouraging them, although they probably prefer volunteering away from me as I can be a bit bossy sometimes!

Speaking about why volunteering is so important to her family, Kristina said:

I think it’s really important for young people to understand that life isn’t always easy. People become unwell, families face difficult times, and kindness and compassion matter so much. I wanted my daughters to grow up being caring, thoughtful people, and volunteering together has been a wonderful way to do that.

We also love The Myton Hospices. I’m Warwick born and bred, as is all my family, so Myton has always been close to our hearts. My auntie and a dear friend’s mum both spent their final days in the hospice, and the care they received was incredible. The staff were so compassionate and supportive, and we knew we wanted to give something back.

We understand how important fundraising and volunteering are to local charities like Myton, and we wanted to help support our local hospice however we could.

Over the years, Kristina has seen volunteering help her daughters grow in confidence and develop valuable life skills.

It’s been such a joy watching them grow in confidence, learn new skills and meet so many different people. They’ve learnt how to communicate with people of all ages, work as part of a team, handle money, use technology and understand the importance of helping others. I truly believe volunteering has helped them develop skills and confidence that have gone on to help them secure part-time jobs whilst still at school.

For all of us, volunteering makes us feel happy. We might not be able to change the world, but we can do our little bit to help, and that matters. Every volunteer plays a part and together we make a difference.

Kristina is encouraging anyone considering volunteering to give it a try.

If you can spare any time at all, I’d absolutely encourage you to get involved. There are so many different opportunities, from helping at events to gardening or serving tea and coffee at the hospice. It’s also a fantastic way to meet people. The volunteers all come from different backgrounds and everyone is so friendly, welcoming and supportive. The hospice staff are amazing too – such a caring and dedicated team. Everyone is working towards the same goal of supporting patients and their families.

As well as volunteering, Kristina also supports Myton in other ways, including taking part in fundraising events and playing the weekly Myton Lottery.

I’ve taken part in the Snowdon Walk, which was definitely a challenge but I loved it, as well as the Moonlight Walk for the past 11 years. I also help raise money through raffles and play the weekly Myton Lottery. Every little bit helps.

A huge thank you goes to each and every one of our volunteers for everything you do to support Myton and the families we care for. We simply couldn’t do it without you.

If you would like to become part of our volunteer community and support people living with life-limiting illnesses across Coventry and Warwickshire, visit the link below to find out how you can get involved.

Find out more!