A MUCH-LOVED hospice is hoping to recruit volunteers to play a key role in driving it forward into the future.

St Cuthbert’s Hospice in Durham is looking to recruit three new people to join its 16-strong Board of Trustees, which oversees the development of the charity.

Trustees will need to attend four board meetings a year and are also likely to be appointed to one of the hospice’s six sub-committees, which also meet quarterly.

Volunteers are appointed for three years at a time and vacancies have arisen after existing board members reached the end of their term of office.

Trustee Sheila Chapman said: “We are looking for new Trustees who have the vision and commitment to support the continuing development of the hospice and to ensure that it meets the needs of its community.

“The commitment isn’t onerous in terms of time, but trustees really need to show they will be committed to the cause of the hospice and a desire to want to help the community.

“We’re looking for new people who can bring a fresh approach”.

Among the current crop of trustees are two GPs, a retired solicitor and businesspeople from the construction and clothing sectors.

Many of those who have previously put their names forward have family connections with the hospice, which opened in 1988 and helps people with life-limiting illnesses, often in their final days.

In the last year, around 1500 people from County Durham were helped by St Cuthbert’s, which raises most of its annual £2.3m running costs itself.

The role of trustees is unpaid, but expenses can be reimbursed.

Anyone interested in finding out more should contact www.stcuthbertshospice.com for an application pack ahead of the deadline of Tuesday, June 30.