In our own words…

This chapter explores the experience of volunteers in hospice and palliative care their own words. Frequently we hear about the work of volunteers from paid staff, from research, but not always from the volunteers themselves in their own words. In this chapter we have tried to explore what happens in the unique place that volunteers have within hospice and palliative care services; somewhere between staff, patients, and families. The stories in this chapter have all come directly from volunteers from Italy, Australia, Romania, India, United States of America (USA), and the United Kingdom (UK) in their own words. Translation, where required, has tried to remain true to the original story and all volunteers have agreed the translation to ensure that it has not changed the essence of the story. Volunteers have described their roles, what volunteering means to them, and the impact that it has on their lives.