What volunteering means to Bernie

At St Mary’s Hospice, volunteers are at the heart of everything we do, and people like Bernie Mullen show just how powerful giving back can be.

Bernie, 66, is one of our dedicated volunteer drivers. Originally a pipefitter from Newcastle, he moved to Barrow more than 30 years ago to work at BAE Systems. Life brought both joy and heartbreak during those years, and in 2004 Bernie sadly lost his wife to cancer, an experience that deepened his connection to the hospice and its work.

Even before retiring, Bernie had been quietly supporting the hospice in his own way. While working at BAE, he helped raise funds by running a tuck shop and organising raffles, always keen to do what he could for a cause close to his heart. But after retirement, Bernie began to wonder how he could contribute in a more personal way.

“I wasn’t really sure what my skill set was or where I’d fit,” he admits. “I just knew I wanted to give something back.”

After speaking with the hospice team, Bernie discovered the volunteer driver role, and it quickly felt like the perfect match. Now, he helps patients travel to and from appointments, offering not just a lift but often a listening ear along the way.

One passenger in particular has stayed with him. “There was a lady in Ulverston, originally from Liverpool, who called herself ‘LiloLittle’,” Bernie recalls with a smile. “She used to tell me the same story about going clubbing locally and her kids finding out after seeing it on social media.”

And she told it every single time they met.

“Every time I picked her up and every time I took her home, she’d tell me that exact story,” Bernie says. “I didn’t mind at all, I loved that she just wanted someone to talk to. She was only going home to her dog.”

For Bernie, moments like that are what volunteering is all about: being there, listening, and making someone’s day just a little brighter.