Pam Hutchinson has been volunteering at Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice for 13 years as part of the housekeeping team and says she has loved every moment.

“I just love coming here,” said Pam. “It’s such a nice place to work, the people are lovely, we have a great team and I just enjoy being here.”

Pam first discovered Bluebell Wood after spotting an advert in a local paper shortly after her youngest granddaughter started nursery.

“I thought, ‘What am I going to do now?’ I saw the advert, rang up, and the rest is history,” she laughed.

Over the last 13 years, Pam has become a familiar and valued face at the hospice, volunteering one day each week and building strong relationships with staff, families and fellow volunteers along the way.

“There have been lots of special moments,” she said. “They make such a lovely fuss of volunteers and everyone always talks to you and includes you. Earlier this year they even surprised me with a birthday party, which was really lovely.”

Pam says one of the most rewarding parts of volunteering is seeing the happiness Bluebell Wood brings to children and families.

“You see the children come in laughing and smiling. It’s calm, lovely and welcoming. People often think a hospice is a miserable place, but it really isn’t. It’s a very happy place.”

She also enjoys seeing families enjoy special visits and memorable moments, including visits from footballers and celebrities.

“It’s lovely seeing the children’s reactions when special visitors come in,” she said. “You speak to the families and children and I think it helps make everyone feel comfortable.”

For Pam, volunteering is all about helping others and giving something back.

“It makes you feel good that you’re helping people and doing what you can. It gives you such a lot of satisfaction. In 13 years, I’ve never once thought, ‘I don’t want to go in today.’”

Pam hopes more people will consider volunteering at Bluebell Wood and says many people are surprised when they visit for the first time.

“Not everybody feels they can volunteer in a hospice because they think it will be sad, but it’s not like that at all,” she said. “I always try to spread the word that it’s a happy place.”

And her advice to anyone thinking about volunteering?

“Go for it. Definitely.”