Jess and Aidan are students at Rivington & Blackrod Sixth Form College, who volunteer in one of our charity shops on their day off college. 

“I heard about volunteering with Bolton Hospice through college; they sent an email round about all of the hospice volunteer roles and I thought it would be a really good opportunity to get out in the community and build up my CV before I apply for university. I’m studying Biology, Chemistry, Maths and Photography, and I want to go to uni to study something like Biomedical Science or Biochemistry. I had a free day where I wasn’t in college, and so I thought ‘Why not?’

“I think volunteering is a really good thing to do as a student. Especially at the hospice, you’re getting to help people, and as well it looks really good when you’re applying for jobs and for uni. I’m gaining loads of skills to put on applications - I’d say the one of the main skills I’m developing is multitasking. You can be putting items out, then customers ask you a question, then another volunteer needs a hand doing something. It’s really useful to learn how to juggle doing lots of different things."

- Jess

“I heard about volunteering through an email from college too. I’m studying Double Performing Arts and Music and just thinking about applying to drama schools, so this will be really good for building up my skills like teamworking and communication, and hopefully look really good on those applications.

“I’ve not been here long but already I’m improving those skills. With teamwork, you’re non-stop working with all sorts of different people, sorting donations in the back room with them, or helping put stock out in the shop. And with communication, I’m getting really used to talking to customers all the time and helping them out.

“This is definitely a really good opportunity to get out into your community and just help out where help’s needed. I’d say go for it to any other students.”

- Aidan

Thank you Jess & Aidan for choosing to volunteer with Bolton Hospice!

If you'd like to join Jess & Aidan in learning new skills, developing your CV, and making a difference as a Bolton Hospice volunteer, you can find out more and start your own volunteering journey here.