“My name is Jessica Payne, and I’m 15 years old. I go to school at Leventhorpe, in Sawbridgeworth, where I am about to go into year 11.”
“I’ve been volunteering at St Clare as part of my work experience through school, because one day I want to become a nurse.”
“Throughout my week’s work experience, I’ve had a go at various different volunteering roles with St Clare. On the Monday and Tuesday, I was based on the Inpatient Unit where I was making teas and coffees, water jugs, changing sheets and towels, and bringing out lunches.”
“A large part of my role was speaking to patients and their families, and making sure that everyone was OK and had everything they needed.”
“On the Wednesday, I took part in a fundraising activity in a Tesco supermarket where I was helping people to back their shopping into bags for donations towards St Clare. The following morning, I did a shift in one of the St Clare charity shops, sorting through donations that people had brought in. Then, in the afternoon, I helped out on the hospice’s reception where I spoke to one of the volunteer receptionists to find out what they do as part of their role.”
“There are so many different volunteering roles at St Clare – I didn’t realise that the hospice had to raise over half of its entire funding itself!”
“I’m so glad that I came here for my work experience, as I have now witnessed firsthand what a hospice nurse gets up to on a daily basis. This experience has definitely confirmed to me that I want to be a nurse, too.”
“I first realised that I wanted to be a nurse when my mum’s friend was cared for by St Clare, and I came to visit her and experienced how welcoming and nice the hospice was. Barbara, my mum’s friend, just seemed so happy here.”
“I was 14 at the time, and I remember thinking about what a pretty place it was – just like someone’s house, a lovely home.”
“It might seem scary for someone my age to come to a hospice, but it’s not at all. There’s nothing to be worried about if you’re taking a visit to St Clare – it’s so calm.”
“So, when it came to choose where I wanted to go for my work experience, I knew straight away that I wanted to come to St Clare. The best part about my week was being able to be with patients and their families to talk with them. I spoke to everyone about my work experience, and they were all so nice.”
“I would definitely recommend coming to St Clare as a work experience placement.”
“I loved it here so much that I am going to try to do some volunteering in the Harlow charity shop, and see if I can volunteer at the hospice on the weekends. After I finish school, I’ll stay to do my A Levels, and then look to pursuing my dream of becoming a nurse!”
– Jess