Volunteers in a children’s hospice: a study of the impact of volunteers in Rachel House Children’s Hospice

This article reports the findings of a study of volunteering at a children’s hospice, and in particular the impact of volunteering on families, staff and the volunteers themselves. Volunteering clearly had a significant and positive impact on families, providing additional support, extending services and reducing isolation. It also impacted significantly on staff morale and development, whilst the volunteers themselves increased their social networks and enhanced their personal growth.