A HOSPITAL radio show shone a light into the lives of volunteers to promote National Volunteering Week.

Hospital Radio Basingstoke delivered a special programme that reflected on the work of St Michael’s Hospice’s 800 volunteers.

Hosted by radio presenter Christine Rowley, ‘Community Matters’ – which was played out on Monday at 2pm – saw the hospice’s fundraising manager Helena Maskell and volunteer Sue Cutler talk about how vital a volunteer is and what opportunities it can lead to.

It included two interviews entitled The Hospice Story, which included one with Sue, who volunteered for the hospice after a long career break before being offered a full-time job there.

Christine said: “Volunteering is such an important role in society and if these charities didn’t have them they would not be able to exist or offer the services that they do.

“Charities have become a multi-billion industry and there are so many important charities out there which help people.

“The show raised awareness for this and we had excellent patient interaction when the show went out across the hospital.

“Patients were calling us from their beds to say how good it was to hear about the volunteering and finding out more about what charities like St Michael’s Hospice do.”

To celebrate Volunteering Week, representatives from St Michael’s Hospice will be outside Iceland in Festival Place between 9am and 5pm tomorrow to talk about the organisation.

Christine added: “Some really interesting points came out of the show including discussions about what skills can be gained from being a volunteer and how they can enhance a current career or a future one.”

For details about Hospital Radio Basingstoke visit hrbasingstoke.co.uk and for St Michael’s hospice visit stmichaelshospice.org.uk.