End of life volunteers

ESNEFT Butterfly Volunteers

At ESNEFT our End of Life volunteers are called ‘Butterfly Volunteers’.

The service was set up in partnership with the Anne Robson Trust.

Anne Robson Trust website (Opens in a new window).

At the Colchester and Ipswich hospital sites there is a Butterfly Volunteer Coordinator who recruits, trains and supports the volunteers in caring for dying patients and their families.

Butterfly Volunteers provide company and support to hospital patients in the last days and hours of their lives. All Butterfly Volunteers are trained to undertake this role and have specific knowledge of the hospital they are volunteering in.

Butterfly Volunteers give their time:

• Time to engage with patients who have no visitors
• Time to read, listen to music, or simply sit quietly
• Time to support family or friends who are struggling
• Time to take over when family or friends need a break
• Time to simply sit and listen
• Time to liaise with nursing staff on behalf of the patient
• Time to ensure that nursing staff know that their patients are not alone

If you are interested in finding out more about Butterfly Volunteers please email the Butterfly Volunteers team.