Colette has now gained skills to help her become independent and is a real asset to our Hospice
11th November 2020
Submitted by Nikki Butterworth, Dr Kershaw’s Hospice
Colette Ogden applied to volunteer at Dr Kershaw's through her Job Coach and mentor from Newbridge Future Finders which is a Specialist Post-16 Provider. Newbridge found significant limitations in possible employment opportunities for young people with a learning disability on transition into adulthood and was set up to find supported employment and volunteering opportunities.
We interviewed Colette who was very enthusiastic and willing to learn so offered her a volunteer role in our Café one day per week supervised by her Newbridge Mentor at each session. She soon gained enough confidence to be left to work with our Café Assistant soon became a welcome face at Cafe K. She grew in confidence and it was a pleasure to see her develop her social skills. New Bridge Future Finders Employability College and the Department for Education came to meet Colette and see how her volunteering had had a huge impact on her. She stood confidently and talked about her experience and role. This was a huge step for Colette.
We were subsequently invited to Newbridge to attend an Employer Awards evening and witnessed Colette receiving an award for Progression towards Independence and Dr Kershaw's received an Employer Participation Award.
She has now gained skills to help her become independent. From never travelling alone on public transport, she is now able to do this and get to the hospice alone.
Colette has gained valuable communication skills which enabled her to engage with our day hospice patients, staff and visitors and build excellent relationships when people visit the Café K.
She learned a lot about Health and Safety and completed mandatory Food Hygiene Training. In addition she has learnt how to serve hot and cold food, take instructions for going to the kitchen to collect items and provides excellent support to our Café Assistant.
Additionally, our Cafe Assistant has spent time teaching Colette the value of money and cost of items. Colette is now able to take payments which was a real breakthrough.
Colette is a real asset to our Hospice, she is honest, reliable, trustworthy and hard working. All the skills that any future employer would look for.
It has been a pleasure to see an individual grow and develop in the way Colette has in this role, and how mutual support can achieve so much. We are very proud of Colette. Our volunteer motto is ....be part of something amazing...and we think Colette is pretty amazing too.
Colette has not only made a difference to Dr Kershaw's but also to her own development. This has allowed us to link even further into the Community when we have visitors such as the Education Department and when we are seen at events showing our support to our valued volunteers.
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