A tireless volunteer who has spent nearly two decades supporting her local children’s hospice says the experience has shaped her life in ways she never expected.
Former headteacher Margaret Hickman Smith is one of East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices’ (EACH) longest‑serving volunteers, having given her time for the best part of 20 years.
She attends bereavement, parent, child and grandparent support groups, as well as sibling events and a wide range of family gatherings at The Nook and, previously, Quidenham.
Margaret, who turns 83 in August, first joined the charity shortly after retiring at 63.
After spotting an advert appealing for wellbeing volunteers, she became one of the first people to sign up.
Nearly two decades on, she has reflected on the countless families, children and colleagues she has met along the way.
“I’ve been here right from the beginning, and that’s something I’m immensely proud and grateful for,” said Margaret, who was speaking during national Volunteers’ Week.
“Volunteering has given me far more than I’ve given in return.
“It’s taught me so much – including plenty about myself – and it’s something I’d recommend to anyone.
“I’ve met so many lovely, interesting children and families. It’s a real privilege, and the people I meet are truly phenomenal.”
She says the work can be both uplifting and emotionally challenging.
“I’ve seen things I never thought I’d see, and it can be painful to hear about the difficulties families experience,” she said.
“They can be really struggling and feeling frightened, but this is a place where they feel comfort and security.
“Parents’ dedication, love and devotion never cease to amaze me. I’m genuinely in awe of them.
“Of course, at times it can be infinitely sad. However, it’s also important to stress that the hospice brings so much joy.”
Over the years, Margaret, who lives in Forncett St Peter, has met The Princess of Wales twice, including at the official opening of The Nook in November 2019.
She says the role has become a huge part of her life and that even the smallest gestures can have a lasting impact.
“I had a career where I was responsible for everything that happened in my school. The buck stopped with me,” she said.
“Here, I have the time to talk to people and get to know them, knowing that the simple act of making cups of tea can make a difference.
“I remember making a cup for a grandmother on her first visit to the hospice. She was dreading it.
“I still see her at events now and she remembers that cup of tea, saying how lovely it was and how it helped her settle. It means the world.”
Margaret, who has two daughters and four grandchildren, describes the hospice as “an astonishing place” and says she has been proud to watch EACH grow.
“Things have certainly changed in my time here,” she said.
“The organisation has grown enormously and become so much more streamlined, and of course we’ve moved from Quidenham to The Nook.
“The staff are amazing, and there’s never any pretentiousness. All volunteers are treated with respect and appreciation.”
National Volunteers’ Week runs until Sunday and celebrates the vital contribution volunteers make to charities, organisations and communities across the UK.
To find out more about volunteering for EACH, head here or email VolunteerServices@each.org.uk
