This year will see the Countess of Brecknock Hospice in Andover reach its 21^st anniversary since first opening its doors to patients. To mark the occasion children at Farleigh were asked to design a poster encouraging more volunteers to sign up with the hospice.

Earlier this year Susan Turner, hospice day care leader, and Clara Sanjar, voluntary service manager, visited the school to talk about the work of the hospice and its volunteers, and to launch the competition.

Dame Mary Fagan DCVO, Lord-Lieutenant of Hampshire, in her role as the Hospice Trust Chairman of Trustees, visited Farleigh to judge the poster competition from more than 50 entries.

Winner Amelie's eye catching collage in the finished poster for Countess of Brecknock Hospice volunteers

First prize went to Amelie Osborn-Smith, aged 7, who created a colourful collage. Runners up included Archie Attfield, 9, Olivia Ekins, 9, and Georgia Milligan, 11.

Amelie’s design will be printed and displayed across Andover in an effort to recruit at least 15 more volunteers, bringing the total to 100!

Dame Mary was incredibly impressed stating: “How pleased I am to have seen all the designs and the message they bring to support the Hospice. We have forged a special relationship with Farleigh School."

Volunteers are crucial to the ethos of the hospice, providing support to staff, patients and families by welcoming visitors, answering telephones, driving patients to and from the day care service and performing many other vital tasks.

There are many volunteering opportunities so why not join the team in this special year? If you think volunteering at the Countess of Brecknock Hospice is for you, please call Clara Sanjar on 01264 835402.