Celebrating National Volunteers Week

National Volunteers Week takes place next week from 1 – 7 June 2015. The week is an annual celebration of the remarkable contribution that volunteers make across the UK day in, day out. York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is getting involved in the week in many ways, not only to make people aware of the volunteering opportunities available within the Trust, but to thank  volunteers for their hard work and generosity.

Volunteers at the Trust fulfil a variety of roles to assist in enhancing patient experience. Although volunteers do not perform any clinical roles, they are able to get some hands on experience of what it is like to work in a hospital environment and to work alongside hospital staff.

Volunteering opportunities across hospitals vary, with a range of roles available from dining companions to dementia volunteers, visitors, clinic and department liaisons, catering, chaplaincy and charity volunteers.

Lois Boynton has volunteered for two and a half years at the Macmillan Unit in Scarborough Hospital. After wanting to volunteer for a long time, she was encouraged to do so and applied during National Volunteers Week in 2012.

Lois said: “Being a volunteer is such a rewarding role! I’m available to be on hand to those in the unit with a cup of tea or coffee, a smile and willing hands and to offer those extra comforts to patients.

“It is a pleasure and a privilege to work here and to feel part of such a wonderful, hard-working team.”

Lois’ valuable help in the unit is much appreciated by staff as well as patients. Not only does she comfort patients, she supports staff by making collections from the pharmacy and sending off samples and she assists with taking patient’s lunch orders and hands them out, and on top of all of that, she even does the washing up as the end of the day.

Cheralyn Pye , Macmillan Oncology and Heamatology Specialist Nurse on the unit said: “Volunteers make such a difference, their assistance frees up the nursing staff to focus on patient care. We really notice when they aren’t there, and regard them highly as part of our team.”

Volunteers for the Trust give as little as a few hours for a day or as much as several days a week, it’s a priceless way to give something back to your local hospital and community.

During National Volunteers Week, the Volunteering Team at York Hospital has many opportunities for the public to meet them and current volunteers to enquire about available opportunities and to ask any questions about what the roles entail. An information stand will be in the main entrance of the hospital throughout the week and the Trust’s Volunteering Team will be there on Wednesday 3 June 10.30am - 2pm. Drop-in sessions are also available to attend on Monday 1 June 2pm – 4pm and Friday 5 June 10am – 12pm in the Fundraising and Volunteering Hub in the York Hospital Main Entrance.

The Volunteering Team at Scarborough Hospital also has many opportunities for the public to meet them and current volunteers to enquire about available opportunities and to ask any questions about what the roles entail. An information stand will be in the main entrance of the hospital throughout the week, volunteers will be available on the stand on Monday 1 June from 10am - 1:30am and 2pm - 4pm and the Trust’s Volunteering Team will be there on Wednesday 3 June 10.30am - 2pm. Drop-in sessions are also available to attend on Tuesday 2 June 12pm – 2pm and Thursday 4 June 10am – 12pm in the Volunteer Office, 1st Floor of Woodlands House, Scarborough Hospital.

The Trust currently has volunteering opportunities available at York, Selby, Bridlington, Malton and Scarborough Hospitals. If you are interested in volunteering and are unable to attend one of the activities being held during National Volunteers Week, you can contact Jess Munday Jess.munday@york.nhs.uk (York and Selby) or Hannah Rossington Hannah.rossington@york.nhs.uk (Scarborough, Bridlington and Malton), the Volunteer Service Administrators for more information.

For more information about volunteering opportunities for the York Teaching Hospital Charity contact charity.fundraising@york.nhs.uk or for the Friends of York Hospitals contact friendsofyorkhospitals@york.nhs.uk.

Photo: Lois Boynton making tea for patients.

29 May 2015