Welcome to your Volunteer Hub! Here you will find any updates, events, documents etc you may need during your time volunteering with us!
Whats New?
FAQs
We encourage all our volunteers to use public transport to attend your shifts. If this is not possible, please speak to your site coordinator for more information on travel arrangements for your site.
Bee Network
Fairfield - Fairfield General Hospital | Bee Network | Powered by TfGM
Rochdale Infirmary - Rochdale Infirmary | Bee Network | Powered by TfGM
Royal Oldham - Royal Oldham Hospital | Bee Network | Powered by TfGM
Salford Royal - Salford Royal Hospital | Bee Network | Powered by TfGM
To claim travel expenses, you must request a travel expenses form, complete it and bring it in to be signed off by your supervisor, site coordinator, or another member of the volunteer staff. Please speak to your site coordinator to find out who can sign your travel expenses form.
The maximum claim is £10 per day and £30 per week.
Reimbursement is available for: -
• Travel to and from the place where voluntary activity takes place.
• Travel while volunteering.
• Travel costs incurred for participation in agreed training events and courses.
• Car parking costs incurred because of voluntary activity
We DO NOT reimburse the cost of travel via Taxi.
Below are a list of links you may need to help with Online Training
Events Calendar
Click the colour coded flags on the calendar to find out more!
Additional Training
Dining Companion Training
Click to access Dining Companion TrainingSAGE & THYME® is a three hour communication skills workshop designed for ANY staff who have patient contact/in contact with distressed people (not just patients) in any setting.
The SAGE & THYME® foundation level workshop (S&T FL) teaches clinical and non-clinical staff at all levels, evidence-based communication skills to provide person-centred support to someone with emotional concerns using the SAGE & THYME model.
TO BOOK - please speak to your site coordinator to book.
Wellbeing
Citizens Advice
A national charity offering confidential advice for a number of issues is Citizens Advice, who also provide support around debt solutions, budgeting, mortgage repayments and banking, amongst other things. Visit their website for more easy to understand information.
Money Helper
Money Helper offer free and independent guidance and advice with government backing. They can help make your money and pension choices clearer, taking out all the complexities of handling finances. Check out their website here.
Be Gamble Aware
Gamble Aware is an independent, grant-making charity commissioning prevention and treatment services across England, Scotland and Wales in partnership with expert organisations and agencies, including the NHS, and offer support and advice to anyone who’s worried about their – or someone else’s – gambling.
Call: 0808 8020 133
Local Foodbanks
If you’re finding it hard to pay for food and basics, local Foodbanks can provide emergency supplies. To access support from a Foodbank, you will need to be referred for a Foodbank voucher by an agency like Citizens Advice, Housing Support, children’s centres, and social services. For more information, please Click Here.
Too Good To Go
The Too Good to Go app helps to reduce food waste and save you money at the same time by buying 'end of the day' food from local cafés, bakeries and restaurants which have leftover, and lets you buy it at a discounted rate.
Company Shop
Membership is free to NHS employees, volunteers, pension recipients of the NHS, emergency services staff, prison service staff, and the British armed forces. It may take up to 7 days to process your application. Company Shop will need to see either your most recent wage slip or your ID card, as well as proof of name and address (e.g. utility bill or bank statement) when you collect your membership card. Https://www.companyshopgroup.co.uk
Blue Light Card
Blue Light Card offers discounts for NHS workers, emergency services, social care sector and armed forces, providing members with discounts online and on the high street. For £4.99, members can register for two years to access more than 15,000 discounts from large national retailers to local businesses.
Crisis
If you need help for a mental health crisis or emergency:
If you don’t feel you can keep yourself safe, call 999 for an ambulance or go to A&E if you’re able.
If you can’t do this yourself, ask someone to help you. A mental health emergency should be taken as seriously as a physical one. You will not be wasting anyone’s time.
If you can keep yourself safe for a short time but still need urgent advice:
- Call 111 for advice or get help from 111 online. Select the mental health crisis option for specific help in finding the right support.
- Contact your GP surgery and ask for an emergency appointment,
- Speak to a friend or family member. Tell them how you feel and ask for help,
- Speak to a free, confidential 24/7 listening service such as:
- Samaritans – call 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org (note, it may take several days to receive a reply by email),
- Shout Crisis Text Line – text “SHOUT” to 85258.
If someone else needs help for a mental health crisis or emergency:
If someone’s life is at risk, call 999 for an ambulance and, if you feel able to, stay with the individual until someone is with them and they are safe.
Alternatively, if you are able, accompany the individual to A&E.
If the person can keep themselves safe for a short time but needs urgent advice:
- Call 111 for advice or get help from 111 online. Select the mental health crisis option for specific help in finding the right support.
- Help the individual to contact their GP surgery and ask for an emergency appointment,
- Encourage them to speak to a free, confidential 24/7 listening service such as:
- Samaritans – call 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org (note, it may take several days to receive a reply by email),
- Shout Crisis Text Line – text “SHOUT” to 85258.
Mental Health
Anxiety UK is a national charity providing information, advice and help to individuals with anxiety and anxiety-based depression, and is fully supported by a team of medical experts. Click here to visit their website to find out more.
Mind is a mental health charity offering a range of resources and information to support anyone with a mental health concern, including those who may be supporting others. Click here to visit their website and find out more.
Samaritans is a registered charity which aims to provide support to anyone in emotional distress, or who is struggling to cope. You can contact Samaritans' free confidential helpline, open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, by calling 116 123. You can also email jo@samaritans.org but please note it may take a few days to receive a response. Samaritans website contains lots of information and support if you're having a difficult time or if you're worried about someone else. Click here to go to the Samaritans website and find out more.
Shout offers a free, confidential text messaging service available to anyone who is struggling to cope. You can use the service to speak to a trained volunteer about whatever you feel comfortable sharing. To start a conversation, text Shout to 85258. Click here to visit the Shout website and find out more.
Berevement
The Greater Manchester Bereavement Service offers support and advice to anyone in Greater Manchester who has been bereaved. Call on 0161 983 0902, 9am – 5pm Monday to Friday, or email gmicb-sal.gm.bs@nhs.net. You can also find a number of resources and information on their website. Click here to go to the Greater Manchester Bereavement Service website and find out more.
The Good Grief Trust is a dedicated trust that provides practical and emotional support and signposting to a range of immediate and tailored local and national services and resources. Click here to visit their website and find out more.
The Bereavement Advice Centre offers practical advice and support to anyone who has suffered a bereavement. You can contact the centre by calling 0800 634 9494, 9am - 5pm Monday to Friday. You can also find a range of information on their website. Click here to visit the Bereavement Advice Centre website.
Citizens Advice have a range of information and guidance on what happens and things you may need to think about when someone dies. Click here to go to the Citizens Advice website and find out more. You can also speak to an advisor at their national helpline by calling 0800 144 8848.
Hospice UK are a national charity working for those experiencing death, dying and bereavement. Their website offers a range of support and resources for those experiencing bereavement. Click here to visit the Hospice UK website and find out more.
Long Covid
Health Education England has developed a Covid Recovery and Rehabilitation eLearning programme to help understand the management of the key issues related to long COVID; breathlessness (fatigue, exercise and cough). This programme is free and open access to all. Access with this link: https://www.e-lfh.org.uk/programmes/covid-19-recovery-and-rehabilitation/
Sleep
NHS Better Health Every Mind Matters has a dedicated section for if you are having trouble sleeping. There are simple steps we can all take to improve sleep hygiene, get into a daily routine and ease restless nights. For all the information available on the page please visit the understanding sleep problems section.
Cancer Support
The Macmillan Information and Support Service provides practical, emotional and financial information and support for people affected by cancer. The NCA has two Macmillan Information and Support Services, one based the Royal Oldham Hospital (as of 1st April 2021) offering support to people living in Oldham, Bury, Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale and the other based at Salford Royal, offering support to people living in the Salford area.
The Royal Oldham Macmillan Information and Support Service (also covering Rochdale Infirmary and Fairfield General)
- Opening hours: Monday – Friday (excluding bank holidays) 9am-4pm
- Telephone: 0161 6561026
- Email: macmillan.infocentre@pat.nhs.uk
Hope Building, Salford Royal Macmillan Information and Support Service
- Opening hours: Monday – Friday (excluding bank holidays) 8am-4pm
- Telephone: 0161 206 1455
- Email: salfordcancerinfo@srft.nhs.uk
Thank You Messages
