Volunteers from the Paul Sartori Foundation (PSF), Pembrokeshire’s only Hospice at Home Service, have been presented with certificates. Certificates are prepared for volunteers when they reach 50, 100 or 200 hours and are presented to recognise volunteers contributions to the charity.

The Volunteer Recognition Scheme administered by PAVS (Pembrokeshire Association of Voluntary Services) in conjunction with PSF, enables registered volunteers to obtain certificates for 50, 100 and 200 hours of volunteering. There are two different schemes depending on age: Millennium Volunteers are aged 14-25 and 25+V is for those aged over 25 years. Any volunteer in Pembrokeshire can start counting hours and claiming certificates by registering with PAVS (01437 769422/[email protected]); or for Paul Sartori volunteers by contacting Caroline White at the Paul Sartori Foundation.

“Volunteers contribute in so many ways at PSF from helping at events to helping in our Sartori Stores throughout the county. This is one way for the Foundation to show its appreciation for all the hard work, effort and time volunteers contribute through the varying roles available within the charity,” mentioned newly-appointed PSF programme volunteer coordinator, Caroline adding: “It is not a compulsory scheme and is a choice for any volunteer in Pembrokeshire. It is however a great opportunity for some of our volunteers who wish to improve their job prospects or college applications.”

Receiving their certificates at the Haverfordwest Sartori Café were:

25+V - Stephen Edwards (200), Svetlana Kryzhanovskaya (50, 100 and 200), Linda Greenwood (50, 100 and 200), Betty Smith (50 and 100), Andrew Gatheridge (50 and 100), Janet Mary Saies (50 and 100), Ruth Best (50, 100 and 200), Ariane Berry (50 and 100), Wendy Haines (50, 100 and 200).

Millennium volunteer - Shaniese Jones (50 and 100), Harry Coombe (50), Henry Ross (50 and 100).

Additionally, Paul Lister, trustee of the Paul Sartori Foundation, received his 50 and 100 hour certificate for his contributions.

Volunteers are crucial to PSF being blessed with over 340 volunteers and a vital support network to the Foundation and help in many ways from fundraising, assisting in the shops, trustees, van drivers and complementary therapists, to name but a few volunteering roles. PSF could not provide the vital Hospice at Home services within the community without their help and the recognition scheme is a great way to reward all existing and new volunteers.

PSF are seeking more volunteers within so if you can spare a few hours a week at any location, please get in touch by ’phoning 01437 763223 or emailing them on [email protected]

The services provided by the Paul Sartori Foundation are free of charge, available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and enable people who are living in the later stages of any life-limiting illness to die at home if that is their wish, with dignity, independence, pain free and surrounded by those they hold most dear.