Volunteer as a Marie Curie Voice
Marie Curie Voices are people with direct experience of terminal illness, for example through caring for someone at the end of their life. They generously donate their time and share their experiences to help us improve future care.
Marie Curie Voices
I volunteer because it is one of the small ways I can give back to the people who helped me through the most difficult time in my life. I owe it to them and my late husband to make a difference to others.
About our Marie Curie Voices
Our Voices work across Marie Curie, using their unique skills, knowledge and experiences to help us provide the best possible care and support to people who need us.
Marie Curie Voices live across the UK and get involved either by coming together face to face for meetings, or remotely via email, telephone and webinars. There are currently two local groups, based in Scotland and London and the South East. We also have a dedicated Research Expert Voices Group, who use their experience specifically to support our research into better palliative care.
It is undoubtedly therapeutic after my wife's traumatic illness and death. I can do as much or as little as I want - and I can say 'no'. Everything I do is in Wendy's memory.
Marie Curie Voice volunteers tell us what it’s like to look after a loved one, what helps and what really matters. Your experiences can help us make sure we’re providing the best possible care and support for the people who need us.
As a Marie Curie Voice, you can share your skills and knowledge to help Marie Curie improve the experiences of carers and patients at the end of life. No one member is the same, so you can pick and choose based on what you are interested in, what you feel confident being involved with and what skills you have to share.
I had to retire early and felt I still had a lot of knowledge which I thought could help others. Physically, I'm unable to get another job - but could use my skills in this way.
How our Marie Curie Voices get involved
Help support our strategy and ensure quality
As a Marie Curie Voice, you'll have the chance to consult on Marie Curie’s structures, policies and direction. Using your expertise, you can also help us make sure the quality of our hospices and nursing services is of the highest standard. This might mean taking part in a compliance visit, or offering advice in a more general way. You can also help by sitting on the panel for staff interviews.
Share your views and give guidance
We really value the insight we get from our Voices. As a Marie Curie Voice, you can take part in surveys to help different teams across Marie Curie form and test their plans. You can also help us make sure our information for patients and carers is as accurate and useful as possible.
Grow our research work
Marie Curie is a leader in research into better ways of caring for people with a terminal illness. We carry out research to help improve care and support across our services, as well as those provided by others. As one of our Voices, there are lots of ways you can help with this. You could work with our committees to outline research questions, and support decisions about grant proposals and research strategy. You could review research grant proposals and reports. You could take part in research project meetings as a lay member. You could also take part in the Annual Research Conference.
Get involved at a local level
As well as being a Marie Curie Voice at a national level, you can join your local Voices group to meet other members in your area. Local groups currently exist in Scotland, and London and the South East. As a member, you can attend, organise or chair local meetings - as well as recruit new members. You can also support local nursing service teams to build up local action.
Inform wider policy
Our policy team is working hard to address issues around the lack of care and support for people living with terminal illness in the UK. As a Marie Curie Voice, you can support this work and make sure the Government understands the needs of the people we support. This might be sharing your story at policy-making forums, speaking at conferences or coming to Government events.
Help us raise money
Our Voices sometimes share their stories at corporate fundraising events, to help people see why the work we do to support people living with a terminal illness is so vital. You might also be able to help with corporate fundraising bids. Or, you could join a local fundraising group.
Raise awareness
Hearing from people like you really helps our supporters to understand why the work we do is so important. As well as sharing your story with Marie Curie staff, you can represent us at conferences and events. Or, if you're happy to, you could speak on the radio or on television to spread awareness in the public realm.
It was serendipity that my research and analytical skills were of use. I wasn’t looking for that.
Find out more
To find out more, please contact our Marie Curie Voices team. You can call us on 07967 191518 (Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm), or email voices@mariecurie.org.uk.
If joining Marie Curie Voices Group isn’t for you but you still have a story to tell, we'd love to hear from you. You could help to inspire others support, fundraise or volunteer for us by sharing your story.
Carol's story
