At a glance:
- As part of Volunteers’ Week (2 – 8 June), we celebrate the outstanding contribution of our inspiring volunteers.
- Across our hospitals we have a range of roles for you to discover.
- Get involved – if you’re interested there are plenty of ways to become a part of the team.
This week we come together to celebrate Volunteers’ Week. Thank you to our inspiring volunteers who support patients, visitors and colleagues throughout the NCA.
There are a variety of opportunities and roles to volunteer across our hospitals. Our volunteers help people get to where they need to go, they help patients stay hydrated and build relationships with others at the same time.
Across the NCA we have had 825 volunteers over the past 12 months across a variety of roles and here’s an insight into a few of them.
Complementary therapy – “I love the buzz volunteering gives me.”
After nearly four decades working in the NHS Tracy Shaw is still providing a vital service helping healthcare colleagues.
She retired from her post in a nursing leadership role and now provides complementary therapy sessions as a volunteer to her fellow colleagues at Fairfield General Hospital.
Completing her training in October 2024 she has already delivered over 15 hours of massage and reiki therapy which equates to around 60 sessions.
Tracy said: “As well as the positive effects of staff receiving a therapy, there has also been a beneficial impact on myself as a volunteer therapist. Being able to give a little bit of ‘me time’ to our staff gives me an absolute buzz as I feel that I am giving a little something back to our clinical colleagues now that I am no longer part of a frontline operational team.
“I see and hear from staff about the positive impact that the therapies are having on their physical health and mental wellbeing, and they often return to work feeling uplifted after their therapy session.”
Dining companions and drinks trolley service – “People are really appreciative and thankful.”
Brenda and Anna are two dining companions who like many want to give back. They have a personal connection to Salford Royal Hospital and the care provided to their family members.
They said: “Give it a go. There are so many different roles, and it is so rewarding. You get to socialise and form relationships with so many different people.
“We see people who are really appreciate what we do and are thankful. You can help give people encouragement and support them in whatever challenges they’re facing.”
Meet and greet service – “We help take people’s stress away.”
The army of volunteers who run the meet and greet desk at Salford Royal Hospital are often the first faces people see when they arrive. They help people get to where they need to be, collect and transport blood samples and answer questions.
Ken, a volunteer for two years couldn’t handle retirement and wanted a role to keep him busy. He decided to volunteer.
He said: "It keeps me fit, you do an incredible number of steps. It has been good for my mental health.
"It can be challenging but it’s a great team and we all respect each other. The amount of support from back-room staff is second to none."
Get involved and help make a difference!
By volunteering you can learn new skills and make friends with people from across your community.
Give it a go and become a volunteer at the NCA by visiting our website today.