Volunteering at a hospice: inside the role of a Bereavement Hub volunteer

For more than two years, Angeline has been a dedicated volunteer at Treetops Hospice, offering a listening ear to people navigating some of the hardest moments of their lives.

Her role sits within our Wellbeing team, in our network of Bereavement Hubs. These hubs run in various community venues across Derbyshire, offering a relaxed, drop-in space where anyone experiencing grief can meet others who understand. Whether you pop in once for a cuppa or attend regularly, every visit is free and our staff and volunteers are always ready to listen.

The hubs are designed to help people feel less isolated and more connected to their community. As Angeline explains: “The benefit of the Bereavement Hubs being out in the community is they can help people to feel less isolated and find out about what’s going on in the local area that they can get involved in.”

Our volunteers and staff provide a safe, open space to chat, often bringing resources to spark conversations and occasionally welcome guest speakers who highlight local support options. “We want people to leave our hub feeling better than when they came and ready to go on with their week,” Angeline says.

Why Treetops

Angeline first joined Treetops in February 2024, hoping to support an independent charity serving her local community. She began in our original Monday group, supporting people with life‑limiting illnesses and their families. When the Bereavement Hubs launched, she moved to the Ilkeston Hub, where her calm presence and people skills quickly became invaluable.

She explains: “I like the personal touch at Treetops, everyone is encouraging, supportive and works collaboratively.”

She also appreciates the balance that volunteering brings. “There is something freeing about being a volunteer. We have responsibility, but without the pressures of a full‑time job, which means each session brings something different, and I can really focus on supporting people as well as I possibly can when I am there.”

Much of Angeline’s role is about creating a safe, comfortable environment where people feel able to share. She describes it as “being inclusive” and “gently managing emotions”, encouraging quieter voices and making sure everyone feels heard.

“For me, volunteering in the Bereavement Hubs is less about a specific skill and more about being interested in what people have to say. We listen, we enable conversations, and give people the chance to make new connections.”

She hopes her experience encourages others to consider volunteering. “People sometimes think you need to be a certain type of person or have particular skills to volunteer at Treetops, but that’s not the case. Anyone with time to give can make a real difference.”

For roles like Angeline’s, we provide full bereavement support training, so volunteers can feel confident and prepared.

The power of peer support

What Angeline finds most inspiring is the natural peer support that grows within the hubs. “We’re just facilitators of conversations as staff and volunteers. It is the power of the group that offers the real peer support.

“It’s about helping the group recognise that while each person’s experience is unique, there are others who can relate and offer insights we can all learn from.”

For many people, walking through the door for the first time can feel understandably daunting but with our experienced volunteers and staff welcoming them, that first step becomes a little easier.

Anyone can volunteer – and make a difference

Angeline is passionate about encouraging others to get involved, whatever their background, age or experience. “I truly believe everyone has something to give when it comes to volunteering; it’s just about finding what works for you.”

At Treetops, our volunteers can get involved in a wide range of roles – from our retail shops and Wellbeing services to the servery team, reception, counselling support and more. We do our best to match each person with something that suits their skills, interests and availability.

For anyone considering volunteering, Angeline’s message is simple: “Anyone who has time to give could be a valuable volunteer at Treetops.”

And for anyone experiencing grief, our Bereavement Hubs offer a warm, welcoming space to talk, listen or simply sit with others who understand.