Veterans Charity Volunteers Find Healing While Giving Back

When Jules Bendell's husband Bugs, a former RAF pilot, passed away after receiving care at Royal Star & Garter's Surbiton home, she knew exactly what she wanted to do next. She started volunteering at the charity's High Wycombe location in 2019, watching firsthand how meaningful the volunteer support had been during her husband's final days.

Royal Star & Garter operates three specialist care homes for veterans living with disability or dementia across Surbiton, High Wycombe, and Worthing. What makes these facilities special isn't just the professional care, but the volunteers who transform daily life for residents.

The High Wycombe home honored Bugs' memory by naming an entire floor after him. Jules had already committed to volunteering before learning about this tribute, driven simply by the desire to support others the way volunteers had supported her family.

Penny found her way back to the Surbiton home after her father died there in 2016. She now tends the gardens where her dad once enjoyed the outdoors, turning her grief into growth for current residents.

Sunny's Take

Romayne Instone discovered something unexpected when she returned to volunteer at the Solihull home where her husband Paul lived for two years. As a Lunch Club Host, she found that being around people who knew and loved Paul actually helped her navigate grief.

"I don't know how long grief goes on for, but I've found coming back to the Home, and being with people who knew and loved Paul, helps me greatly," Romayne shared. She looks forward to every shift, finding comfort in familiar faces and shared memories.

Not all volunteers work on site. Roohi, a trained pharmacist with connections to the Ministry of Defence, helps veterans across the UK through the charity's Telephone Friendship Service. She provides companionship over the phone, offering a listening ear to those who might otherwise feel isolated.

Shirley Hall, Director of Care & Wellbeing at Royal Star & Garter, sees the magic volunteers bring every day. They lead scrabble games, share music, and most importantly, offer meaningful conversations that foster wellbeing and purpose for residents.

The charity continues welcoming new volunteers who want to make a difference in veterans' lives while potentially finding their own path to healing.