Becoming a Hospice Lottery Ticket Agent
The opportunity to meet new people enriches all of our lives. Becoming a volunteer ticket agent gives us the chance to do just that. Whether its at a coffee morning held at a warden assisted home, promoting the lottery at a village or county show, selling tickets to your friends at your local pub or club or to your colleagues at work, you can be sure that you will meet some interesting people, giving them the chance of winning up to £1,000 every week whilst also supporting their local hospices.
“Without community service, we would not have a strong quality of life. It's important to the person who serves as well as the recipient. It's the way in which we ourselves grow and develop.” Dr. Dorothy I. Height, President and CEO of the NCNW
If you are interested in finding out more information regarding setting up a community scheme in your area, please call us today on 01442 891459.
To get a better insight into what a Hospice Lottery Volunteer Ticket Agent gets up to, we interviewed Eileen Walters and Bob Scott-Oldfield, two of The Hospice Lottery enthusiastic Volunteer Ticket Agents. Bob is a particular favourite with a lot of the ladies in Hemel Hempstead!
 So Bob tell us a little about you I’m 62 years old and live with my wife Brenda and our Springer-Spaniel Dexter, in Wigginton, near Tring. I used to be the Managing Director of a machinery sales company, in the plastic industry; however I am now retired and enjoy gardening and DIY, amongst other things. Why did you decide to volunteer? Having taken early retirement, I found that I had some spare time and I was interested in becoming involved with some form of voluntary work. I have always been a supporter of the work carried out by hospices, in particular the Iain Rennie Hospice at Home after having witnessed the help and support given to a close friend of mine when his wife was diagnosed with cancer. |
How did you hear about The Hospice Lottery?
I was at the Tring Auctions one Saturday morning and met someone from The Hospice Lottery selling tickets. I bought a couple of Hospice Lottery tickets and was immediately interested in the concept. During our conversation I mentioned my interest in becoming a volunteer and was intrigued by The Hospice Lottery and how it benefited a number of local hospices, including Iain Rennie Hospice at Home. I felt the communication and selling skills learnt from my working life could be put to good use with The Hospice Lottery.
After the appropriate checks I initially found myself helping in The Hospice Lottery office. There was a lot of activity for the 2007 Superdraw. I then progressed to become a Ticket Agent. I currently sell tickets at Phyliss Courtnage House, Elizabeth House and Cranford Housing Association all based in Hemel Hempstead.
 What do you do on a usual visit to a sheltered accommodation? |
What do you like about being a HLP ticket agent?
It has become very special for me; visiting folk once a fortnight means there are always things to talk about and it’s interesting to hear them share their experiences of life and there is always a tale or two to tell! Together with the Wardens I am always made very welcome and I feel it really is a worthwhile thing to do. I get so much back for giving up a few hours a week.
Do you have any funny/memorable stories you can tell us, about your time with HLP as a volunteer Ticket Agent?
Once a lady said to me she saw me on the TV on Saturday during the National Lottery Draw I think I managed to explain to her she was mistaken ( My only claim to fame)!
.jpg) I had worked at the South Bucks Hospice for seven years as a cleaner so had seen first hand what a lovely place it is and what a difference it made to those who went there as patients. I had also helped with fund raising by holding a collecting can outside a shop, in the street on various occasions, manning a stall at the South Bucks Hospice Garden Party or by taking Christmas or Easter novelties to some of the local sheltered accommodation. All this was to stand me in good stead later on. |
Unfortunately I had to change my job due to back problems so I became a receptionist at a local GP surgery. I kept some connections with the South Bucks Hospice but obviously was not as involved as I had been.
About 18 months later I was approached by the Fund-Raising Director at the South Bucks Hospice. She asked if I would like to sell hospice lottery tickets at those sheltered accommodations I had been associated with in the past. This seemed to be a good idea so I agreed to give it a go although my time would be limited due to my job. I met the then Chief Executive of The Hospice Lottery, Marion Bryant who went through procedures with me. I signed the paperwork and after a short time was given the go ahead and a lovely badge to wear.
 I have now left my job at the doctors, as I wanted to dedicate my time exclusively to The Hospice Lottery. I now attend a coffee morning or afternoon tea, most weekdays and sometimes do a pub round on a Friday evening with another volunteer. I also attend fetes, steam rallies, vintage car shows and events organised by the hospices and really enjoy these occasions. The bonus is that as well as making new friends I am helping to raise valuable funds not only for the South Bucks Hospice but also for the six other hospices involved with The Hospice Lottery Partnership and I am having a wonderful time doing so. Many thanks to all those involved for giving me this opportunity. |
Tell a Friend
If you know anyone who would enjoy visiting our warden assisted homes or attending events and can give a few hours each week please let them know about us! All you have to do is get them to give us a call on 01442 891459.
Those who can, do. Those who can do more, volunteer. ~Author Unknown