Kristen’s Story

Can you tell us your name and what you do as a volunteer?
My name is Kristen Basford, and I am a fundraising volunteer for St Gemma’s. I help out at various events and have also done my own fundraising challenges for St Gemma’s, including running the London Marathon (twice) and the Yorkshire Three Peaks.

I have supported all sorts of St Gemma’s events, from serving refreshments at vintage fairs, supporting Santa as his elf at Christmas markets, throwing coloured powder at runners at a colour run (my personal favourite), through to selling raffle tickets and running a bottle tombola. My role is essentially to help the fundraising team with whatever they need at an event, so it might be taking donations, running a stall, serving drinks, or just talking to all of the supporters in the community who come along to support each event.

How long have you been volunteering here?
I have been volunteering for St Gemma’s for around 12 years now.

What inspired you to start volunteering? What was happening in your life when you decided to get involved?
My family have a personal connection with St Gemma’s. St Gemma’s looked after my mum when I was around 7. When I got into my early 20s and started to think about potential volunteering roles, St Gemma’s was the obvious choice for me. I had done a little bit of fundraising for them previously, but I knew I wanted to get more involved so I got in touch with the team.

Do you remember your first day? What was it like?
My first event was a vintage fair. I was a bit nervous before as I did not know what to expect, but I really enjoyed the day and was immediately put at ease by the staff and fellow volunteers.

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What does a typical volunteering session or event look like for you? What is your favourite part of what you do?
Each event is different, but I will usually arrive, get briefed by the fundraising team on what needs doing, and then get going, whether that is setting up a stall, welcoming people as they arrive, taking donations, or helping run an activity. It is normally very busy, so the days go by very quickly and I really enjoy getting stuck in.

My favourite part is meeting all of the supporters and the conversations you end up having, but the variety is something I really enjoy as well. I have done everything from working on a coconut shy through to getting dressed up and supporting corporate fundraising events.

What is something people might not realise about your role?
That it is totally flexible and can fit around existing commitments. I have worked full time, studied for a degree and juggled other demanding commitments, all whilst volunteering at St Gemma’s. Some people assume you have to be retired or have lots of free time to help out, but you can fit it into your life.

People also tend to think of hospice fundraising as quite a sombre role, but the events I support are fun and full of energy.

Can you share a moment that really stayed with you?
There have been many moments, but what I find most moving is when someone at an event tells me their own story about St Gemma’s. It could be about a family member who was cared for there, or someone raising money in memory of a loved one. I really enjoy meeting St Gemma’s supporters and I am always grateful when they want to share their stories with me, as I know how important St Gemma’s was for my family.

I was also incredibly honoured when St Gemma’s chose me as one of their 40 Faces of St Gemma’s for their 40th anniversary. Seeing my photo in the exhibit at the museum was a unique experience.

How has volunteering made you feel? Has volunteering changed anything for you personally? Are you feeling more confident, more connected or happier?
After each event I come home feeling inspired and uplifted, and often very tired. I am proud of my role, and it is so different to my day job in such an energising way that I really get a lot out of it.

Volunteering for St Gemma’s also inspired me to see what else I could do, and gave me the confidence to serve on the board of trustees at another local charity for 4 years. I would not have done that without the experience and boost that volunteering at St Gemma’s has given me.

What is it like being part of the St Gemma’s Fundraising Volunteer team?
The fundraising team are incredibly organised and passionate, and there is a real sense of shared purpose at every event. Even when things get busy or a bit chaotic, everyone pulls together and you feel proud to be part of it.

How would you describe the people you volunteer with?
Genuinely lovely. You meet people from all sorts of backgrounds and with all sorts of stories, which they are often more than happy to share. There is an instant connection though, because you are all there for the same reason.

What would you say to someone thinking about volunteering? Why do you think volunteering is important?
Organisations like St Gemma’s simply could not do what they do without volunteers. The hospice relies on community support, not just financially, but in terms of people showing up and caring.

If someone was thinking about volunteering for St Gemma’s, I would say absolutely go for it. It can give you so many experiences, give you the opportunity to meet some great people and really see how a few small actions can add up into something meaningful.

If you could sum up your volunteering experience in one sentence, what would it be?
Giving up just a bit of my time to a fantastic organisation and getting back way more than I could ever have expected.