Volunteer news- October 2026

It’s been a busy few months and we’ve been working on our new hospice wide strategy and how we can improve and develop our services and support. Thank you to all the volunteers that took the opportunity to attend the strategy workshops delivered by our CEO, Camilla Barrow. It was very important to us to see so many of you there voicing your opinions and providing solutions.

For those of you that could not attend our strategy workshop, there is still an opportunity for you to book on to our Volunteers’ Q&A session with Camilla Barrow. It’s a special session allowing you to ask our CEO absolutely anything about LOROS!

The next Q&A session will be on Wednesday 18th November 2-3pm in the Centre for Excellence.

If you would like to attend, please email Rebecca Stevens to confirm your place.

Camilla joined Ben Jackson on BBC Leicester to talk about the future of LOROS Hospice and our ambition to open our remaining seven beds.

Camilla spoke about the importance of securing sustainable, long-term funding to ensure we can continue providing vital hospice care for local people and their families.

“Our ambition is to open those remaining 7 beds. We need a sustainable stream of funding to rely on to make that possible.

We’re working hard to make that happen but we need funding for beds agreed for 2-3 years at a time, not short term. That is our ambition.”

Her message was clear: “This hospice absolutely has to be here for the future.”

At LOROS, we are committed to making that future a reality, ensuring that everyone who needs our specialist care and support can access it, now and for generations to come.

Thank you to Ben Jackson and BBC Radio Leicester for giving us the opportunity to share this important message.

Listen from four minutes in to hear the full interview.

Our Fundraising team goes from strength to strength, working tirelessly behind the scenes to help keep the hospice running through the millions of pounds raised each year.

That vital income comes from so many different and creative sources – from bake sales and fundraising activities in our local communities, to partnerships with large corporate businesses that provide significant donations and support. We also bid for funding to support smaller projects or specific items needed by the hospice, alongside the fantastic contribution made through our Lotteries and community collections.

Our event volunteers play a huge part in supporting these fundraising efforts too. Whether it’s setting up tables, chatting to members of the public, marshalling, cheerleading, selling merchandise or collecting donations with a bucket, every task makes a real difference and provides tremendous support to our Fundraising team on the day.

And now, we need you more than ever! There are so many wonderful events taking place across the county that our team simply can’t get to them all – and this is where you can make a real difference.

We’d love more of our volunteers to join us at events, or even attend on our behalf as a LOROS representative. Don’t worry – we’d give you everything you need for the day, along with all the information and support to help you feel confident representing us. And really, who better to be the face of LOROS in our communities than our passionate volunteers who already know and care so much about what we do?

A huge thank you to all of you who already get in touch and offer your time and support at our events. Seeing a sea of people in yellow LOROS T-shirts is not only wonderful for the team – it helps LOROS stand out, be recognised and, importantly, be remembered in our community.

So, if you fancy getting involved in an upcoming event, whether alongside our team or representing LOROS out in the community, we’d love to hear from you. Your time, enthusiasm and passion really do make a difference.

There are now just two weeks left to sign up for the LOROS Reindeer Run 2026, with registrations closing on Friday 16th October!

Our festive fundraiser is a fantastic way to bring schools, nurseries, youth groups, community organisations, clubs, workplaces, families and friends together, while helping to raise vital funds for local hospice care.

The Reindeer Run is designed to be simple, fun and flexible. You choose the date, distance and location – and whether you run, walk, skip, dance or create your own festive challenge! We’ll provide the fundraising resources and support you need; all that’s left to do is get those antlers on and join the herd.

Every Reindeer Run, big or small, helps us continue providing free hospice care and support to patients and their families. And sometimes, the inspiration behind a Reindeer Run is particularly special…

Freddy and Harriet's Reindeer Run

When Freddy and Harriet's Pops, Dave, died they wanted to do something to help the people who had cared for him at LOROS.

After asking their mum, “How can we get some money for the people that helped Pops?”, they decided to organise their very own Reindeer Run!

With the support of their friends, family and school community, they brought everyone together for a festive day of fundraising, complete with games, cakes and lots of reindeer fun!

Freddy said, “I liked Daddy dressing up in a funny reindeer costume”, while Harriet said: "I loved running with all my friends and seeing the money go up”.

The day was about much more than festive fun for the pair. Harriet said: “I am proud that we got lots of money to help LOROS because they helped my Pops, I want to do it again so we can keep doing things for LOROS”.

Their mum, Emma, said: “Knowing that Freddy and Harriet are supporting LOROS in memory of their Pops means so much to me. I think it says everything that a 4 and 6 year old noticed how well cared for Dad was at LOROS and how comfortable they felt visiting him there.

Dad always loved challenging himself and pushing himself to do things, so seeing the children take on the Reindeer Run feels like they are keeping that part of him alive and carrying it with them. I know Dad would have been so proud of them.”

Could you help us spread the word?

As our wonderful volunteers, you can play a huge part in helping us make this year’s Reindeer Run a success. We’d love you to share the Reindeer Run with your friends, family, workplaces, schools, community groups, clubs and other contacts. You never know who might be inspired to gather their own herd and get involved!

Taking part is a great way to:

• Bring people together for some festive fun

• Promote health, wellbeing and teamwork

• Support local hospice care across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland

• Create a real sense of community while making a difference

• Raise vital funds to help LOROS continue supporting patients and families

We need volunteers in the following areas:

• Glenfield

• Coalville

• Welford Road

• Narborough Road

• Pullman Road warehouse

  We have over 700 volunteers based in our shops, you will be welcomed and feel like part of a team! Here are some spotlights from our shops:

Spiral Scratch spotlight

When two of our shops recently swapped locations, change brought new opportunities, and nowhere is this more evident than at Spiral Scratch music shop.

Led by Matt, Sean, and their fantastic team of volunteers, Spiral Scratch has embraced its new home with enthusiasm, creativity, and dedication. The results speak for themselves. Not only has the move led to increased sales, but it has also enabled the team to grow, with volunteer interest so high that there is even a waiting list to join!

What makes Spiral Scratch truly special is the welcoming and inclusive culture that Matt and the team have created. It is far more than a retail space; it has become a genuine community hub where volunteers, customers, and music lovers come together. Their passion and commitment shine through in everything they do, and this is reflected both in the shop's success and in the positive reputation it has built within the local community.

The team's expertise and enthusiasm recently helped secure an incredible fundraising success. Through Matt's connections, a synthesiser previously used on stage by the iconic band Heaven 17 was donated by John Shuttleworth and personally signed by Martyn Ware. The instrument went on to sell for an amazing £1,650 on eBay and even attracted coverage on BBC Radio Leicester.

One of the standout features of the shop is its purpose-built workshop, where volunteers put their technical skills to excellent use. From repairing stereos and restoring musical instruments to preparing quality items for sale, the workshop is a hive of activity and innovation.

Visitors to Spiral Scratch are also treated to the creative talents of volunteers such as Baz, whose artwork is proudly displayed around the shop, adding character and personality to the space. Combined with exceptional customer service, these contributions help create a shopping experience unlike any other.

The shop itself is a music lover's dream. Featuring a dedicated listening booth, a musical instrument room, and rows of wooden crates packed with vinyl records, Spiral Scratch has created a unique atmosphere that perfectly blends retail, creativity, and community.

A huge thank you to Matt, Sean, and every member of the volunteer team. Their hard work, talent, and commitment continue to make Spiral Scratch one of our most unique and inspiring shops. You truly demonstrate the difference that passionate volunteers can make every single day.

Meet our wonderful volunteer Jan

We would like to give a big shoutout to our lovely volunteer, Janice Swift!

Janice joined LOROS as a volunteer in 2021, starting at the High Street LOROS shop. She is now part of the team at our This + That shop.

Janice’s volunteering journey actually started before COVID, when she volunteered as a hairdresser at a day care centre. After COVID, she spent some time volunteering at another charity shop before joining the LOROS team.

Janice enjoys volunteering because it keeps her active, gives her the opportunity to meet new people and allows her to enjoy working with others. She is always happy to help and can often be found working on the till, chatting with customers and making everyone feel welcome.

She especially enjoys helping with the £1 sale at the hospice, where she loves getting involved and helping customers find a bargain!

Janice brings a warm, friendly and caring personality to the shop, and we are very lucky to have her as part of our LOROS family.

Thank you, Janice, for all your time, kindness and hard work. We really appreciate everything you do!

We are pleased to let you know that our hospice is implementing the Accessible Information Standard (AIS) as part of our commitment to delivering compassionate, person centered care for everyone who uses our services – patients, families, visitors, staff and volunteers.
 

What is the AIS?
 
The AIS is a legal requirement across NHS and publicly funded adult social care services. It aims to ensure that people with a disability, impairment, or sensory loss can access information and communication in ways that meet their individual needs. This may include providing information in formats such as: Large print Easy Read Braille Audio formats Email rather than letter British Sign Language (BSL) interpretation Communication support for people with hearing, sight, speech, or learning difficulties.

 
Why are we implementing AIS?
 
At the hospice, we want everyone to be able to understand information about their care and communicate effectively with our teams. Implementing AIS will help us to: improve patient, family, and carer experiences; reduce barriers to accessing our services; support equity, inclusion, and dignity for all; ensure we meet our legal and regulatory responsibilities and enable safer care by reducing the risk of misunderstandings or missed information.

 
What does this mean for staff and volunteers?
 
We all have a role to play in identifying and responding to communication needs. You may be asked to: ask individuals if they have any information or communication needs; record those needs accurately; flag the needs so others are aware of them; share information about those needs with relevant teams and ensure information is provided in the required accessible format where appropriate.
 
Training, guidance, and supporting resources will be made available to help everyone understand their responsibilities and feel confident in supporting this important work. Our commitment by implementing the Accessible Information Standard means that we are taking another step towards ensuring that every person who comes into contact with our hospice feels heard, understood, respected, and included.
 
An AIS working group has been set up with staff from clinical and non-clinical teams to progress a Must Do action plan by March 2027.
 
Over the coming weeks and months you will receive requests to undertake training or assist in some of the actions relating to the action plan.
 

Thank you for your support.
 
Kind regards

Jane Pickard - Director of Care Services

It’s time to get winter ready!

The roving healthcare unit will be visiting LOROS on 19th October, offering a range of free vaccinations to those eligible including:

• Flu

• Covid-19

• MMR

• RSV

• Whooping Cough#

  The unit will be in the car park from 10am – 4pm. There is no need to book a slot. The team will be happy to discuss any vaccination issues on the day.