Offering comfort and support
Our Butterfly Service helps make sure that no one dies alone. Volunteers led by butterfly coordinators provide support, company and a comforting presence in the last days and hours of life.
Our volunteers will sit quietly by a patient’s bedside, read stories or poetry, talk about memories, play music or simply hold someone’s hand. They also offer all-important support to loved ones, whether that is a listening ear, much-needed time away from the ward or guidance on how to access other services.
By being there and giving their time, this valuable team makes sure patients feel loved, while reassuring and comforting their families, friends and carers at what is inevitably a difficult time.
The service was set up in 2019 and supports any patient who is receiving End of Life Care, together with their loved ones and carers. Our trained volunteers will visit people who are believed to be in the last weeks, days or hours of life at Colchester or Ipswich Hospital and our community hospitals including Clacton, Harwich, Aldeburgh, Bluebird Lodge and Felixstowe General Hospital. They visit those who may not otherwise have visitors, helping to ensure no-one dies alone.
Our volunteers also support our clinical teams, sitting with patients until their relatives arrive and alerting staff to any changes in their condition. They are able to do this because they have the most precious of commodities – time:
Time to engage with people affected by End of Life.
Time to read, listen to music, or simply sit quietly.
Time to support family and 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.
provides a dying person and their loved ones with access to practical, non-clinical, advice and support.
provides a calming space and a listening ear when faced with a life-limiting illness.
provides a loved one with a Gift of Kindness Bag full of essentials if they have arrived in a hurry, to make their stay as comfortable as possible.
Help us support future patients and
their loved ones
Our volunteers have supported thousands of patients and families since the service launched. But we cannot continue this vital work without the kindness of people like you.
We need to raise £100,000 each year to support our Butterfly Service. The money will be spent funding our Butterfly coordinator roles, training our volunteers and providing leaflets packed full of information for those who face losing a loved one. It will also help meet ongoing costs at our Butterfly Centres, which opened in 2023, at both of our main hospital sites, a welcoming and relaxing space for time away from the ward.
As well as Gifts of Kindness at End of Life which offer information and support to people with life-limiting conditions, their families, carers, and those affected by the last phase of life, end of life and loss.
By donating to our appeal, you can help us continue providing this vital support to those affected and their loved ones and make sure that no one is on their own at the end of their life.
Together we make time matter
‘The role is a privilege and I feel fortunate’
Volunteer Story
A community nurse who gives up her free time to offer comfort to end of life patients has described the role as a privilege.
Lucy Warnes became a Butterfly volunteer nearly three years ago. She now regularly visits the wards to offer comfort to patients at the End of Life while supporting their families.
“My background is community nursing and one of the areas I am most passionate about is End of Life Care,” said Lucy. “During my career, I particularly enjoyed offering support to end of life patients and their families, which is why I decided to volunteer.
“For me, the role is a privilege and I feel fortunate to be able to spend time with these patients and listen to whatever they want to talk about. It has also changed the way I view certain aspects of my life after one patient said that you only live once and must learn to enjoy it the very best you can.
“If patients are feeling well enough to chat, I love hearing about their family. I’ve learnt a lot and enjoyed laughing with patients too. I believe that having company in hospital from someone who has the time to sit, listen or quietly read a story can bring comfort.
“I think that you need to be a good listener, empathic and kind to be a Butterfly volunteer. Training is available and new starters can shadow other volunteers until they are comfortable visiting patients on their own, plus the team is very friendly and supportive and always at the end of the phone if you need them.”
‘Supporting patients and their families is time very well spent’
Volunteer Story
As a former maternity ward nurse, Jane Cole relished supporting families at the beginning of life. Since joining the Butterfly volunteers just over two years ago, she now enjoys the same privilege in people’s final weeks and days.
As a Butterfly Volunteer, Jane will sit and talk to patients, as well as listening to and supporting their families, in a role she describes as “humbling”.
“During my career, I was lucky enough to work on maternity wards at the beginning of life,” said Jane. “I feel that being there at the end is just as much of a privilege.
“My son died in my arms in Ipswich Hospital in 2009, and four years ago his widow also died. I therefore thought I might have both the personal and professional experience to offer the support that patients and their families may need.”
“Spending time with somebody at the end of their life is a privilege, and I hope can be a relief and cushion for their families. I think we all sometimes feel that the patient knows we are there and can hear us – I think it is time very well spent. I also know it is something that nurses would love to do if they had the time, and so hope I am supporting them too.”
ESNEFT’s Butterfly Service is funded by Colchester & Ipswich Hospital’s Charity. Anyone who is interested in finding out more can email butterfly.volunteers@esneft.nhs.uk
“I know from conversations that families appreciate knowing that the Butterfly volunteers mean there is less chance that their relative will die alone. Over these last two years it has been very special to be able to give time to listen to the love with which so many describe dying members of their family.”
