Volunteer news

Our Volunteers' Week BBQ was a fantastic evening and a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the incredible people who make such a difference to LOROS.

It was great to meet so many of you, see familiar faces, and watch volunteers from across the organisation connect, share experiences and learn more about the amazing contributions being made every day.

A special thank you to everyone who hoped for a dry(ish) evening! Despite the unpredictable weather, we had a brilliant time, enjoyed plenty of BBQ burgers (some of us even went back for seconds!), and there was even a little dancing along the way.

Thank you for everything you do to support LOROS. We are incredibly grateful for your time, dedication and commitment.

As part of our Volunteers’ Week celebrations, we were delighted to recognise the incredible dedication of our long-serving volunteers.

This year, 142 volunteers received long service awards for between five and 30 years of service, while four volunteers were honoured for an outstanding 35 years of volunteering with LOROS.

LOROS CEO Camilla Barrow said:

“Our volunteers are the heart of the hospice; without them we just couldn’t offer the support to patients and families that we do. They are so important to us, and help the hospice in so many different areas, from our shops and fundraising events to our care services. It speaks volumes that we have such a phenomenal number of people celebrating anniversaries with us – they love volunteering here and we love having them.”

Among those receiving a 35-year service award was Rita Berry, who volunteers in the LOROS shop in Market Harborough.

Rita said: “One of the best things about volunteering is the friendships I’ve made over the years, and the lovely feeling that you’re doing something genuinely good for LOROS. The secret to volunteering? To get on with people. I work with a very good colleague, and we love working together.”

Camilla adds: “On behalf of the hospice, I would like to thank all our volunteers. It is their commitment and dedication which enable us to offer the care that we do and touch so many people’s lives. Happy Volunteers’ Week to all of them.”

Lydia Moreton- Lottery Collector - 30yrs award

Rita Berry - Retail volunteer - 35yrs award

We had more than 60 volunteers turn up to receive their awards on the day and here is a list of all the inspirational volunteers that achieved their milestone year! Well done to each and everyone of you and a big thank you once again! 

35 years achievement awards

Rita Berry - Market Harborough shop 

Irene Lord - Home Visiting Service 

Barbara Brooks - Oakham Shop 

30 years achievement award

Lydia Moreton - Lottery Collector

25 years achievement award

Paul Coates - CCU Collector

Myrtle Geary - Anstey Shop

20 years achievement award

Anju Chohan - Lottery Collector 

Rebecca Horn - Biggin St Loughborough shop 

Anita Perfect - Lottery Collector 

Sulakhan Singh Dard - Chaplaincy Service 

Christine Ward - Birstall shop 

15 years achievement award

Kenneth Rostron- CCU Collector

Sue Stephenson - Day Hospice

Christine Willett - Anstey shop

Andrew Rimbault - Biggin Street shop

Karen Hewing - Birstall and Syston shop

Jane Codd - Queens Road bookshop

Gloria Kilby- Syston shop

Carol Measom- Syston shop

Graeme Tuckwood - Syston shop

Valerie Belt - Glenfield warehouse

Linda Branston - Glenfield warehouse

Elizabeth Stanyon - Glenfield warehouse

Jane Merry - Fundraising admin, CCU collector

10 years achievement award

Elizabeth Gooding - Ambassador

Andrew Williamson - Ambassador and fundraising events

Urmila Uka - Bereavement hub

Charles Brown - Bereavement hub and home visiting

Dianne Noon - CCU collector

Patricia Wright - Beaumont Leys shop

Barbara Pilbeam - Birstall shop

Christine Warren - Birstall shop

David Robinson - Devonshire Square shop

Pauline Howe - Humberstone shop

Angela Chawner - Kibworth shop

Mohamed Cassoojee - LOROS shop

Tarulata Mistry - LOROS shop

Irene Macdonald- Market Harborough shop

Pratibha Gadhia- Oadby shop

Andreana McKinnon- Oakham shop

Julia Fynn- Uppingham shop

Margaret Wall- Uppingham shop

Catherine Biddle- Glenfield warehouse

Russell Hillier- Glenfield warehouse

Rosemary Jordan- Glenfield warehouse

Christopher Meadows- Glenfield warehouse

William Parker- Glenfield warehouse

David Ripley- Glenfield warehouse

Kathleen Rowley- Glenfield warehouse

Pamela Bale- Collections Fundraising

Amanda Riches- Hairdresser

Marilyn Lewis- Home visiting service

Pallavi Shah- Home visiting service

Janet Forey- Lottery collector

George Moffat- Lottery collector

Jeffrey Spike- Lottery collector

Myra Boyd- Reception

Beverley Carr- Reception

Judith Henson- Reception

Anthony Powell- Reception

Margaret Reynolds- Reception

Frances Warner- Reception

Susan Steel- Reception and bereavement hub

5 years achievement award

John Taylor- Bereavement hub and chaplaincy

Jillian Hart- Compassionate neighbours telephone

Laliben Patel- Day Hospice

Diane Newton- Enablement PSPA/ Day Hospice

Paul Marcus- Enterprises online

Lesley Scott- Ashby shop

Shirley Wilkins- Ashby shop

Mary Dickons- Birstall shop

Judith Bevins- Coalville shop

Christine Gannon- Coalville shop

Susan Berlie- Devonshire Square shop

Valerie Homer- Glenfield shop

Caterina Mazzotti- Glenfield shop

Kathryn Perrett- Glenfield shop

Jane Ward- Glenfield shop

Theresa Parsons- Humberstone shop

Wendy Bowkett- Kibworth shop

Judith Langton- Kibworth shop

Shirley Mee- Kibworth shop

Laura Niven- Kibworth shop

Ruth Palmer- Kibworth shop

Ann Ward- Kibworth shop

Gillian Widdowson- Kibworth shop

Thakor Mistry- LOROS shop

Steven Powell- Lutterworth shop

Janet Rose- Lutterworth shop

Samuel Tyrell- Market Harborough shop

Prafulla Morjaria- Oadby shop

Linda Beaton- Oakham shop

Carol Cox- Pullman Road shop

Jonathan Cryer- Queens Road shop

Richard Grant- Queens Road shop

Barry Rowell- Syston shop

Elaine Bell- Syston shop

Claire Garvey- Syston shop

Patricia Watts- Syston shop

Susan Booth- Uppingham shop

Bernadette Caffrey- Uppingham shop

Susan Collins- Uppingham shop

Olwen Dunbar- Uppingham shop

Angela Healey- Uppingham shop

Jean Williams- Uppingham shop

Ian Wilson- Uppingham shop

Amanda Goodey- Birstall shop and hospice cafe

Elliott Deacon- Glenfield shop and hospice cafe

Diane Naylor- Glenfield warehouse

David Shephard- Glenfield warehouse

Karthiga Vijayavarmon- Glenfield warehouse

Neil Wilson- Glenfield warehouse

Ian Lewis- Pullman Road warehouse

Mohsen Mohammed Zadeh- Pullman Road warehouse

Sedigheh Nazemi- Pullman Road warehouse

Pran Tosar- Pullman Road warehouse

Shamoona Hughes- Florist

Angela Baxter- Bucket collection

Georgia Gale- Bag packing and bucket collection

Arlene Heeley- Bag packing and bucket collection

Joan Hooper- Bag packing and bucket collection

Carol Humphreys- Bag packing and bucket collection

Michelle Lawson- Bag packing and bucket collection

Dominika Ragina-Ptak- Bucket collection

Janet Walker- Bag packing and bucket collection

Deborah Williams- Bag packing and bucket collection

Sheila Haagensen- Fundraising events, bag packing and bucket collection

Gillian Rudkin- Fundraising events and transport

Sally Dodds- Home visiting volunteers

Beatrice Gerald- Home visiting volunteers

Jane Wilson- Home visiting volunteers and reception

Julie Clark- Hospice cafe

Ellen Hodgkin- Reception

Ela Juszkiewicsz- Reception

Elizabeth Street- Reception

Marilyn Williamson- Reception

Julie Charity- Reception

Rachel Pratt- Transport

Once again, a huge thank you to all of you, we are grateful for every bit of time you can gift us with your support.

We are delighted to have completed the first pilot of De Montfort University's Making a Difference: From Campus to Community programme.

Over six weeks, 15 students took part in a volunteering programme across a range of LOROS departments, including HR, Fundraising, Marketing, Chaplaincy and the Volunteering team.

The programme gave students valuable insight into the day-to-day workings of a charity, providing hands-on experience within an office environment and helping them develop a greater understanding of the many behind-the-scenes functions that keep LOROS running effectively.

Through their volunteering, students not only supported our teams but also gained practical workplace experience and a deeper appreciation of the role charities play within the community.

Manpreet and Prekshya's experience

As a university student, volunteering at LOROS has been an eye-opening and rewarding experience for both Manpreet Kaur and Prekshya Ghimire. The students have not only developed valuable workplace skills, but also gained a deeper understanding of teamwork, compassion and what a hospice is.  

Manpreet said: “Volunteering at LOROS has really helped me improve my communication skills and shown me how important it is to be passionate and caring in the work you do. Everyone I’ve been surrounded by has been so kind, and it’s been amazing to watch how well the teams work together. 

It has also helped me build my CV which is really valuable for my future career. I’ve bought things from LOROS shops before, but I never realised it was a charity, so it’s been exciting to learn more about the important work they do. 

I’m originally from another country, so it’s also been really useful for me to see how people work together here and understand more about working culture in the UK.” 

Prekshya said: “Volunteering at LOROS has helped me gain more emotional intelligence and understand more about how organisations work. On my first day, I was helping with the fundraising team, and it was really interesting to see everything that happens behind the scenes. It’s helped me realise how much planning and preparation goes into events before they actually happen, which I never fully understood before. 

I think the experience has really supported my career aspirations because I’ve been able to learn the basics of how an organisation operates while also developing skills that will help me in the future. 

Before volunteering here, I didn’t really know what LOROS was and I didn’t even know what a hospice was. When my friend explained to me that it’s a place where people go at the end of their life, I was shocked and really sad. 

I’d visited LOROS shops before, but I never realised how the money helped or what happened behind the scenes. Being here has made me understand that it’s so much more than just a hospice — there’s so much happening inside and so many people working hard to support others.” 

We would like to thank all the students who took part and look forward to building on the success of this pilot programme in the future.

We’d love to see you there on the day- there’s still a chance to register on the day to take part! 

We are still looking for a handful of volunteers to help marshal on the day, so if you have a bit of time to spare time on Saturday please contact our fundraising team pop down to DMU Vijay Patel Building and we can sign you up to help out too.

We are pleased to invite you to take part in an upcoming workshop to help develop and shape our new organisational strategy, which is currently being led by Camilla Barrow, CEO. 

These sessions are a valuable opportunity for our workforce and volunteers to come together, share ideas, and engage directly in discussions about our future direction. Your insights, experience, and perspectives are incredibly important, and we would really value your contribution. 

You are invited to attend one of the following workshops: 

• Friday 3rd July, 11.00am – 1.00pm 

• Monday 20th July, 10.30am – 12.30pm 

Both workshops will be held in Twycross/Saunders, Centre for Excellence. 

The sessions will be interactive and collaborative, focusing on what matters most to our organisation, the communities we serve, and how we work together to deliver our mission. 

Please let us know which session you are able to attend by emailing RebeccaStevens@loros.co.uk by Friday 19th June.

We hope you can join us and play an active role in shaping our future strategy. 

Urgent call for volunteers to help collect our boxes

Our Fundraising team have been a little leaner than usual, and we are on the hunt for volunteers that will help us collect our collection units from various places across the county.  

It may be as little as collecting the unit and swapping with an empty one every month and popping down to your local LOROS shop to hand it the collection unit.  

Our collection units- bring in a handsome income to LOROS – over £20,000! Surprising what a bit of loose change adds up to! 

Here are the areas we need support in, if you can help please get in touch so that we can pass your details to our Fundraising team.

North West Leicestershire 

• LE65 – Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Packington, Willesley, Worthington 

• LE67 – Coalville, Whitwick, Ibstock, Ellistown, Bagworth, Markfield, Swannington, Thringstone 

South Leicestershire & Lutterworth Area 

• LE17 – Lutterworth, Bitteswell, Ullesthorpe, Gilmorton, Claybrooke, Bruntingthorpe 

• LE8 – Blaby, Countesthorpe, Whetstone, Cosby, Croft, Stoney Stanton 

• LE18 – Wigston, South Wigston, Oadby 

Rutland & East Leicestershire 

• LE15 – Oakham, Uppingham, Ketton, Cottesmore, Empingham 

• LE14 – Melton Mowbray and surrounding villages including Asfordby, Long Clawson, Waltham-on-the-Wolds and Somerby 

Hinckley & Bosworth Area 

• CV13 – Market Bosworth, Desford, Barlestone, Newbold Verdon, Twycross, Shackerstone 

Charnwood Area 

• LE11 – Loughborough, Quorn, Woodhouse Eaves, Hathern 

• LE12 – Shepshed, East Leake, Kegworth, Sileby, Mountsorrel, Rothley 

Leicester City & Suburbs 

• LE1 – Leicester City Centre 

• LE2 – Aylestone, Knighton, Clarendon Park, Stoneygate, Oadby 

• LE4 – Belgrave, Rushey Mead, Hamilton, Beaumont Leys, Birstall, Thurmaston 

• LE7 – Syston, Rothley, Anstey, Queniborough, Thurnby, East Goscote and surrounding villages 

Support LOROS in the community

We also have a busy and exciting few weeks ahead with some wonderful opportunities to support LOROS in the community. If you’re available to help at any of the events below, we would really love to hear from you! 

Sunday 14th June: Bardi Orchestra Concert 
De Montfort Hall, Leicester 
Arrival time: 1:00pm 

Volunteer duties: 

• 1:00pm – Set up the tombola 

• 2:00pm – Sell programmes 

• Interval – Sell tombola tickets 

• End of concert – Run the tombola and support with the bucket collection 

As a thank you, you will receive a complimentary ticket to enjoy the concert – a lovely way to experience the event while supporting LOROS! 

Saturday 27th June: Medbourne Classic 
Medbourne, Rutland 
Daytime (please arrive in time for a 10:00am set-up) 

Volunteer role: 

• Help run the LOROS stall 

• Engage with visitors and support fundraising by collecting donations 

A lovely community event with a great atmosphere and a brilliant opportunity to raise awareness for LOROS. 

Sunday 28th June: Desford Striders Race 
Desford, Leicester 

Key details: 

• Volunteer arrival: 9:30am 

• Race start: 10:00am 

• Road closure: From 9:45am 

• Parking: Highfield Seeds, Peckleton Lane, Desford, LE9 9JU  (A short walk to Sport in Desford) 

Volunteer role: 

• Help run a water station, supporting and encouraging runners during the race 

Sunday 28th June: Blaston Show 
Medbourne, Rutland 
Daytime (8:00am – 6:00pm) 

Volunteer role: 

• Help run a LOROS stall 

• Chat with visitors, raise awareness, and support fundraising 

A busy, vibrant show and a fantastic chance to connect with the community. 

If you’re able to help at any of these events (even for part of the day), please let us know as soon as possible. Your support really does make a difference and is hugely appreciated. You can email Debbie directly at debbiethrussell@loros.co.uk.  

Volunteers' Q&A session with Camilla Barrow, CEO

This is a chance for volunteers to learn more about LOROS and ask any questions directly with Camilla. 

Please confirm your attendance by emailing Rebeccastevens@loros.co.uk 

Other volunteering opportunities

• Wellbeing Hub Volunteers- come and join us on the last Tuesday of every month in our Day Hospice- supporting activities with our team of volunteers 

• School speakers- We are still on the look out for volunteers to help us with school assemblies talking about LOROS and our support (but aimed at young people). 

• Admin volunteers- we have varying tasks in the hospice and at different levels of skill. Please get in touch if you would like to help our back office teams! 

• Spiritual Care Volunteers- please get in touch if you have pastoral/chaplaincy experience. 

We also have many fundraising events where we could really benefit from having an extra couple of spare hands! If you can support any of these dates, please get in touch with StacyMundy@loros.co.uk  

Stacy is part of the Fundraising team and has a special focus working with schools, colleges and higher education to encourage younger people to access our support and to raise awareness about LOROS. 

Family fun days

Could you help to run a LOROS stall at a family fun day? The stall will be full of table top games and a tombola to attract the local community to get involved. These are fundraising events and will need two volunteers per event. All items and equipment will be provided and will need to be collected from the Hospice the day before and then returned back to the Hospice. This is a fun and engaging way to connect with the community and raise funds for LOROS. Some dates we are looking for volunteers are listed below:

Farndon Fields Primary School Family Fun Day

Date – 27th June 2026

Time – 11am-3pm

Ash Field Academy Family Fun Day

Date – 4th July 2026

Time – 11am-3pm

Badgerbrook Primary Family Fun Day

Date – 12th September 2026

Time – 11am-3pm

Birch Wood School Family Fun Day

Date – 26th September 2026

Time – 11am-3pm

Natfest 2026

Date: 27th June 2026
Time: 12:00pm – 8:00pm
Location: Sileby

Natfest is a fantastic, family-run private festival held in Sileby, featuring all-day live music, great entertainment, and plenty of fun for all ages. We’re looking for enthusiastic volunteers to help make this special event a success while supporting LOROS Hospice.

What you’ll be doing

Volunteers will help with a variety of tasks throughout the day, including:

• Helping with event set-up and pack-down

• Selling LOROS merchandise and running funfair-style games

• Selling raffle tickets

• Talking to visitors about LOROS and the work we do

• Taking tickets on the door

• Helping direct and park visitors’ cars

You don’t need to have previous experience — just a friendly attitude and a willingness to get involved. Tasks will be allocated on the day, and there will be support throughout the event.