Staff spotlight - Erika Rigley-Brown

“I decided to use my annual volunteering day from APM to spend some time with Rennie Grove Hospice Care, a charity that provides specialist care and support for adults and children with life-limiting illnesses.

“The nursing staff from Rennie Grove cared for my mother last year, when she was battling her terminal cancer diagnosis. Mum wanted to stay at home and be as independent as she could for as long as possible. Thanks to the amazing nursing team, she was able to do this. They would visit her at home and suggest ways we could make areas of her house more accessible as her mobility declined.

“Rennie Grove provides support 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for families within Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire. That gave both Mum and me a lot of comfort and reassurance, which was invaluable during such a tough time. I remember one evening when it was particularly helpful. Mum became ill in the middle of the night, and she didn’t want me to call an ambulance because she ‘didn’t want to make a fuss’. I knew she needed medical help, but I didn’t know what to do. I decided to ring Rennie Grove – and a nurse was at our front door within 20 minutes.

“I spent my volunteering day filming our story with the media team from Rennie Grove. I shared memories of Mum and explained how valuable the charity’s services were to us as a family. Not only did the nursing team provide care at home for my mum, but they also offered me counselling to help me cope with the grief once she had passed away. The charity is going to use the footage that we filmed to create a short video which they will use at future fundraising events to help secure donations. Rennie Grove relies on the public for 85 per cent of its funding, so it felt good to do something worthwhile that may inspire others to donate to such a wonderful cause.

“I’m so grateful that APM provides its employees with the opportunity to give back to a cause that means a lot to them (and I know that Rennie Grove appreciated the opportunity too). Time is precious, and so many charities rely on the valuable time that their supporters can give.”