Why volunteer with Mountbatten Hampshire's fundraising team? Kerry's story.

“It’s my happy place,” says Kerry Whitfield, a fundraising volunteer at Mountbatten Hampshire. “Every hour I give helps turn donations into real care for families — and you can see the difference it makes.”

Kerry, 55, from Hedge End, began volunteering after retiring from a 35-year career in payroll. Mountbatten supported both her mum and her best friend when they were dying, and she wanted to give back. “I wasn’t very confident at first,” she admits. “But the team made me feel welcome straight away.”

“Every hour I give helps turn donations into real care for families.”

— Kerry Whitfield.

Kerry supports the fundraising team with practical, behind-the-scenes tasks that keep donations flowing. She manages collection tins and buckets — logging, tracking, and preparing them — processes returned mail to keep records clean, helps with corporate outreach, and pitches in wherever needed. “It frees the team to focus on supporters and campaigns,” she says. “When I started, there were about 50 collection tins; now we have around 170. It’s really gratifying to see that progress and know I was part of it.”

Turning cash into care.

By keeping donations flowing and freeing our fundraising team to focus on events and campaigns, fundraising volunteers like Kerry directly support the expert care we provide.

She also volunteers on the inpatient unit, which keeps the purpose of fundraising front and centre. “On the inpatient unit, you see the impact: calm, kindness, and the little things that matter at the end of life,” she says. “Then in fundraising, you see what it takes to make that possible — the planning, the organising, the sheer amount of money that needs to be raised. Every job, big or small, helps care happen.”

You don’t need fundraising experience to help. “If you can learn a system, make a call, or tidy a spreadsheet, there’s a role for you,” Kerry says. “It’s flexible, friendly, and you’re never ‘just a volunteer’ — you’re part of the team.”

“There’s a community among volunteers — meetings, tea parties, and WhatsApp groups. I’ve made great friends here.”

Volunteering has also been personally transformative. “My confidence has grown so much,” Kerry says. “I’ll happily walk into reception now and get stuck in.”

Kerry’s message to anyone considering a fundraising role? “Do it,” she says. “Your time and skills will make a real impact at Mountbatten Hampshire.”

Join Kerry at Mountbatten Hampshire and start making a difference, today.

Find out more and apply by clicking here.