Meet our Volunteering Team
Our Volunteering team is here to support you as a Sue Ryder volunteer. Whatever your volunteer role and no matter where you volunteer with us, our team is here for you every step of the way to ensure you have a great experience as a part of Sue Ryder.
Get in touch with us
If you have any general volunteering questions or enquiries, please call the Volunteering team on 0808 164 4572 or email volunteering@sueryder.org
Retail Volunteering Team
Lucy Swann, Volunteering Manager (Retail) - (she/her)
In my role, I oversee Retail Volunteering and manage the team that supports our 6000+ retail volunteers. My aim is to make Sue Ryder the best place to volunteer, so I develop procedures, processes and supporting materials to make retail volunteering work in the very best way possible.
I’ve been a volunteer manager for more than 20 years at different charities and in the Civil Service, and I volunteer myself as a Magistrate and with the NHS.
Chris Hall, Database Officer - (he/him)
I have been employed at Sue Ryder since January 2017 and I manage the volunteer database. My tasks involve setting up users and making sure the volunteer data we hold is relevant, accurate and compliant with GDPR. I can also help if you need access to the Volunteer Database – so if you are a new member of staff or you’ve forgotten your password, please get in touch!
Maggie Voisey, Volunteer Department Administrative Assistant - (she/her)
The Volunteer Helpline is your direct line to the volunteering team. Get in touch with the Volunteer Helpline if you have any questions comments, compliments or complaints about your role. The Helpline can also help if you are supporting a volunteer and have a question, or if you need support with anything to do with volunteering.
The Helpline can direct any volunteering query or concern, including signposting you to extra support if you need it.
Julia Spargo, Community Plus Officer - (she/her)
In my role, I work closely with all the Probation Services to get people into Sue Ryder establishments where they can undertake their Community Payback (CP) in a structured and supportive environment. I also deliver training on supervising people on Community Payback and deal with any questions or issues as they arise.
Retail Volunteer Co-ordinators
Each of the Retail regions (1, 2 and 3) has its own dedicated Retail Volunteer Coordinator (RVC). The RVC’s role is to actively support each shop team to recruit, induct, train and retain their volunteers.
They also help with celebrating the fantastic support our volunteers give to our shops, and with recruitment on the ground or online.
A big part of our RVC’s role is to guide our new managers through training and support them in developing their volunteer teams. Each RVC looks after around 130 shops- and so while you may not see them regularly, they are busy working in the background to keep their regions and our volunteers well supported.
The Retail Regional Volunteer Co-ordinators are:
- Region 1 – Leah Rubin-Birchall (she/her)
- Region 2 – Claire Tupling (she/her)
- Region 3 – Gemma Rose (she/her)
Healthcare, Fundraising and Grief Kind Spaces
Bluebell Valentine, Volunteering Manager (Healthcare and Fundraising) - (they/them)
In my role, I’m lucky enough to work across all our hospices supporting the amazing care that is delivered. I’m responsible for developing and implementing our national volunteering strategy, and making sure that local Volunteer and Befriending Coordinators have the tools and support they need to make our volunteering journey enjoyable and inclusive.
Whether I’m developing training opportunities that enable volunteers to thrive or writing policies that help keep them safe, I love my job and I’m motivated by the passion and kindness that volunteers bring to their roles.
Tina Parkinson, National Grief Kind Spaces Manager - (she/her)
My role at Sue Ryder enables me to work with an amazing team who are as passionate as I am about Sue Ryder Grief Kind Spaces. I am responsible for the national delivery of the service which gives people who are grieving access to informal, in-person, peer-to-peer support in their local area.
Our volunteers give their time and commitment to ensure we can offer a safe space where members of the community can meet and talk to others who have been bereaved. I love being part of this project and I am so proud to offer a space where people can come together to share their experiences and feelings.
Eddie Hartley, Volunteer Development Officer (Healthcare and Fundraising) - (he/him)
Hi all, my name is Eddie and I am the Volunteer Development Officer for healthcare and fundraising. I have been with Sue Ryder for 8 years, starting as a volunteer in retail, moving up to a store manager in West Yorkshire and Nottingham, then upon graduating with my degree in Law with French, I joined the central volunteering team.
I have the privilege of working with the incredible volunteers from our hospices and fundraising teams. I’m fortunate enough to lead the volunteer forum and various other national projects which really define and shape the volunteering experience at Sue Ryder. My biggest passion is creating inclusive and accessible volunteering opportunities, and I feel very lucky to be able to do that here at Sue Ryder.
Healthcare Volunteer Co-ordinators
At each of our centres, we have dedicated Volunteer Coordinators who ensure every volunteer receives the support and guidance they need for a brilliant experience. These Coordinators are the first line of support for our remarkable volunteers across our hospices.
Volunteer Coordinators recruit new volunteers, ensuring our hospices remain vibrant hubs of activity. They are instrumental in helping volunteers navigate their training, facilitating a smooth onboarding process, and fostering a welcoming environment.
Coordinators also keep our volunteers informed and connected by sharing monthly newsletters and organising regular meetups. Their dedication ensures that our volunteers feel valued and integrated into our community, allowing them to make a significant impact in the lives of those we support.
Grief Kind Spaces Area Co-ordinators
Sue Ryder Grief Kind Spaces has a team of amazing, committed Area Coordinators who each have volunteers to facilitate their spaces within their own dedicated areas. The volunteers receive regular contact with their coordinator along with being offered ongoing support and training to ensure that each and every volunteer has a positive experience and feels part of our wider Sue Ryder team.
Area Coordinators recruit volunteers alongside our senior administrators to ensure their experience from day one of onboarding runs smoothly and professionally throughout. Our volunteers bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to Grief Kind Spaces which enables us to provide a service which reaches out into the local community bringing them all together.
Area Coordinators are committed to keeping our volunteers regularly informed by providing reflections, newsletters, volunteer evaluations and information on the volunteer hub to ensure our volunteers feel appreciated and valued in the time they selflessly give to ensure we are providing an opportunity for people in the local community to share their own feelings and experiences of grief with each other.
Grief Kind Spaces Admin Support Team
Our Senior Administrators play a significant key part in Grief Kind Spaces, they are the first contact with a volunteer. They ensure that every volunteer receives information on the onboarding process which includes all aspects of administration needed for the role and are there to support with any questions which may arise. With their care and guidance, we are able to provide a positive experience throughout their whole volunteer experience.