Serious Illness Program (SIP) Volunteer Training:
We will be offering a new program that will give short term support to people with a newly-diagnosed serious illness that does not carry an impending terminal diagnosis. The Serious Illness Program (SIP) will offer volunteer services to people who have been referred to us via their treatment provider. The expectation is that volunteers will be assigned for three to six months to assist clients who are beginning to live with a serious illness.
Click here to apply for the SIP Volunteer Training.
Bereavement Volunteer Training:
Next training will be Fall 2024.
The Bereavement Program will be holding its 2024 Volunteer Training in the Fall. This is a 30-hour training that will provide the needed skills for volunteers to support clients who are grieving the death of a loved one.
Lars Hunter, Bereavement Program Coordinator, will be the facilitator. We will cover topics such as compassionate listening, being a healing presence, holding space for grief, different types of death losses such as illness, suicide, substance abuse and others. This is an interactive training with time for small- and large-group discussions, viewing of short videos, hearing from guests with expertise in working with grief loss, and time to practice being a volunteer.
No experience is required except an open mind and heart.
All sessions will take place at the Brattleboro Area Hospice office at 191 Canal St., Brattleboro.
Applications are now being accepted for the 2024 Fall training.
Click here to apply for the Bereavement Volunteer Training.
Hospice Volunteer Training:
Ten weeks on Wednesdays, March 27-May 29 from 5-8 pm
Hospice volunteers support neighbors and their families who are living with terminal illnesses throughout Windham County. Help may range from errands and gardening to emotional and physical support. Training topics include Hospice philosophy, nuts and bolts of volunteering, ethical issues, personal attitudes toward death and dying, and grief issues, among others. Presenters include professionals from the community as well as Hospice staff and volunteers.
The Spring training is full, please feel free to apply for the next training in Fall 2024.
Click here to apply for the Hospice Volunteer Training.
Brattleboro Area Hospice is a community supported organization that thrives due to the generosity, time, talent and love of our volunteers. Whether offering care to someone who is dying, supporting someone in grief, bagging items for customers at the shop, or pulling weeds at the garden, our volunteers keep this organization providing services to those who need them. Our volunteers who work directly with clients are prepared to serve with high levels of empathy, patience and reliability. These volunteers receive extensive training, supervision and support. It is vitally important to us that their experience is educational and affirmative. We believe that when the volunteer experience is positive that the client experience will likely be positive as well. We look for specific qualities in those who we match with our clients.