Volunteer Story - Sanshika Bhardwaj

Sanshika is a first year medical student at the University of Glasgow and an avid volunteer with CHAS. She began volunteering with CHAS in 2020 when she was in S4 and she says it has been one of the best decisions she has made.

What prompted you to become a CHAS volunteer?

The book ‘Being Mortal’ was the first insight I gained into hospice work and the importance of palliative care in medicine. It further instigated an interest into finding out more about the amazing work that hospices do around the country to provide support to families and individuals going through palliative care. Now coming to CHAS has become a part of my weekly routine, seeing all of the smiley volunteers and amazing families working together to create such a positive and comforting environment.

Tell us about your volunteering roles.

When I initially started volunteering, my main roles were toy cleaning and fundraising activities. These were my main roles up until COVID-19 began, when the hospice closed to volunteers to reduce risk. During COVID I was a part of the story-telling team and also joined the CHAS Connect Contributor Writer team. This role involves writing articles about all of the work CHAS is doing and keeping our existing and previous volunteers in the loop. I am now part of the activities team and still a CHAS Connect Contributor writer which are both equally interesting and important as one allows me to interact with the children and families and the other allows me to keep in contact with our volunteers and alumni.

Can you tell us about any specific projects you’ve been involved in or any particular accomplishments where you feel you really made a difference?

There is never a dull day with CHAS and everyday spending brings a new sense of achievement. However recently I have published a piece with CHAS during their 30^th anniversary and this was one of my greatest achievements with CHAS as I was able to share the amazing work of CHAS to everyone and summarise the key events that took place to help form this amazing charity which changes lives on a daily basis.

What challenges, if any have you faced as a volunteer?

Initially volunteering was daunting as I didn’t know many volunteers and was nervous as to how to behave with families going through difficult times. Looking back, joining CHAS has been one of the best decisions I have made as it has allowed me to be part of a team that is continually making a difference in lives as well as developing my own empathy and reflective skills. CHAS has a way of bringing smiles on faces of families and children that are going through difficult times which makes the whole process even more special.

And what about successes?

Coming home and knowing that you have made a difference is one of the greatest sense of achievement. Volunteering with CHAS brings so many great memories to be formed from working with fellow volunteers to chatting to the families and providing comfort and care. The foundation of CHAS is its values and it helps create a highly invaluable and comforting place.

What advice would you give to someone interested in becoming a volunteer with CHAS?

Reach out and ask! Don’t be scared to move out of your comfort zone and enjoy the process. The team is so lovely and welcoming, it feels like you’ve known them for ages.

How do you balance your volunteer work with your other responsibilities and commitments?

Having a calendar and every week putting in my volunteering time. CHAS is very flexible and sometimes if I miss a week, I’ll add it to the next to keep myself right. This means that I am able to juggle my university work with my down time and volunteering. Volunteering with CHAS has become such an integral part of my routine now, seeing the smiling faces and creating beautiful memories.

What do you think is the most important quality a successful volunteer should have?

Having a real sense of empathy and commitment to care is integral within every volunteer. Being able to communicate efficiently with the families and also having a sense of care-freeness makes volunteering even more exciting. When working with the children, it reminds us all of an inner child within us and coming to that realisation means that the volunteers are able to better connect with the children and families.

How you think your volunteer work has contributed to your personal growth or development?

From a personal growth perspective, I have grown exponentially both from a career and personal point-of-view. I have further developed my communication skills and also networked with a whole host of professionals. Volunteering with CHAS also helped to confirm my choice of studying medicine and helping to further progress palliative care. I have also made some amazing friends along the way and created so many amazing memories.