More than 250 volunteers help at the hospital doing a variety of tasks that include listening and talking to patients, writing letters for them, helping with make-up and hair, looking after the plants and flowers, serving tea and coffee, clerical and reception work and admin in out-patient clinics.

The work calls for friendliness and the ability to work independently.

Vacancies are available in the WRVS-run hospital shop, where visitors buy cards and goodies for patients and also the ever welcome tea bar.

The busy shop would welcome some help particularly on Mondays, from 9.30am to 12pm and Fridays from 12pm to 2pm.

With till work and cashing up to do, the job is ideally suited to someone who is numerate.

The tea bar needs help on Mondays from 12pm - 2pm. The shop trolley round on Thursday afternoons could also do with more volunteers.

Training is provided, expenses paid and there are support meetings.

March is the month of the Daffodil Appeal for Marie Curie Cancer Care and since it is the 60th anniversary of the appeal, it is hoped to make 2008 the best year ever.

Marie Curie provides free high-quality nursing care for people with terminal cancer and other illnesses so that they have the choice of dying at home among their families.

The organisation runs 10 hospices as well as investigating the disease at the Marie Curie Research Institute.

Formal training is not given but a full briefing is provided for everyone helping.

Girl Guiding UK is looking for assistance in its Tring district.

Helping Guides and Brownies to enjoy both indoor and outdoor activities is much more of a pleasure than a chore, calling for a love of young people and a sense of fun.

Guiding's aim is to provide opportunities for girls and young women to develop self-awareness, self-respect and self-confidence.

There are various locations in and around Tring where meetings take place, however filling a Monday evening Guides slot is the most urgent need.

The Volunteer Centre, The Roundhouse, Marlowes, Hemel Hempstead. 01442 247209, www.volunteerdacorum.org