Lasting Lessons

Illuminated

Alongside their A-levels, five 17 year-olds volunteer for six months at a hospice in Surrey. These are young people who hope to work in healthcare one day and, for one reason or another, feel drawn to helping others.

Their hopes and fears are similar to most people who've never been to a hospice, which includes their parents, and they have have no idea what they'll encounter. Above all, there are worries that it will be very sad, and too much for people of their age to handle.

Pretty quickly, they get to know the nurses at the hospice, who have a great sense of humour and are not in the least bit despairing. The volunteers feel awkward at first, and scared of getting things wrong, but with the nurses' encouragement, they begin talking with patients, feeding them, moving them, brushing their teeth, and helping them to the toilet.

Little by little, they get to know patients, gain confidence and maturity and start to form a new understanding of dying and death.

With many thanks to the staff of the Princess Alice Hospice and to Lizzie Leigh in particular.

Presented by Farida Abdelhamid Produced by Tim Moorhouse A Just Radio production for BBC Radio 4