HERE’S a figure which will surprise: if the Prospect Hospice paid all its volunteers a minimum wage, that would set the charity back £350,000 a year.

The Wroughton-based hospice, which has been running for more than 30 years, relies heavily on the 900 volunteers who support their 147 contracted employees, with another 39 bank staff who they call in on an occasional basis.

These are volunteers who not only work in the hospice, but who are also involved conducting regular street collections, fundraising and box collections.

“These volunteers are bringing in skills which would be far in advance of the minimum wage,” said Prospect communications manager Andrew Thompson.

It was breakfast time when I caught up with Ann and Ben, two volunteers who were finishing delivering breakfast to the in-patients.

Both give a couple of hours a week at the hospice – typically volunteers will give between two to four hours once a week, once a fortnight or even once a month.

Volunteers working in the in-patient unit work every other week and in the day hospice they have regular weekly slots.

“I love working here,” said Ben, who is volunteering because he wants to use the experience to become a medical student.

“I guess you need to come in here with a positive attitude.

“All the staff and patients are lovely. It’s a great place to be.”

Yvonne Hanley, who is Prospect’s head of human resources, said the hospice’s volunteers are drawn from a variety of areas.

Some have been touched by the work of the hospice through family or friends who have been cared for there.

“Our volunteer profile is changing; we are definitely female-dominated in our volunteer profile at the retired end of the spectrum,” she said.

“But we are seeing younger volunteers coming through, a bit like Andy, who is gaining skills which will help him to advance in future years.

Prospect also works closely with Swindon companies. On Saturday, a team from Nationwideare coming to the hospice to stain sheds and garden furniture.

Another group will be building some fences for the hospice later this month.

“We also have individuals from organisations who are able to volunteer a bit of their time with a specific project using their professional skills such as graphic design or marketing,” said Andrew.

Robert Buckland and I visited the day hospice. There we saw some of the patients working with the hospice’s art therapist.

Art gives them a means to express thoughts or feelings.

“It gives them a sense of experience at a time when they might feel lost or uncertain,” said Andrew.

“Coming to day hospice once a week creates a sense of structure and routine.”

What Robert and I saw at Prospect Hospice was another example of Big Society at work.

In fact, volunteering in ingrained within the culture of the hospice which could not have expanded its services without the support of volunteers – for example, the Prospect@Home service, where volunteers provide home support to those who are ill.

“Every bit of the hospice is supported by a volunteer,” said Yvonne.

The hospice continues to look for volunteers in areas such as maintenance and in the café and to work in their charity shops.