Celebrating Volunteers' Week with a heartfelt thank-you

Volunteers at Weston Area Health NHS Trust (WAHT) are being thanked for their contribution at a tea party taking place on Saturday 9 June 2018 to mark Volunteers’ Week.

Volunteers Week is an annual campaign – from 1-7 June – established in 1984, which recognises the contribution volunteers make to our communities every day.

Grahame Paine, WAHT Chairman said: “Our wonderful volunteers are a key part of our Trust; they support patients, visitors and staff and deliver an extremely valuable service throughout the hospital. Some of our volunteers have been with the Trust since 1994, which is simply outstanding.

“They are all an integral part of our team and we really cannot thank them enough for everything they do.”

There are more than 180 volunteers at WAHT who work in a wide range of roles, including greeting visitors and patients at the front desk, assisting patients – especially during meal times – and keeping them company. They also take part in many roles that you may not be aware of, such as, administrative support and photocopying at the hospital and the children’s services offices and helping to maintain the many courtyards within the hospital grounds.

David Jones and Lorraine Owen joined the Trust as volunteers last year and both work for the support office. The support office receives telephone requests to collect and deliver paperwork between many areas and departments throughout the Trust. David said: “I was advised to volunteer to build my confidence in the workplace. It is great being part of a team and is one of the best things I have ever done – I just wish I had done it sooner.”

Lorraine wanted to give something back to the hospital and says “it’s a great reason to get you out of bed in the mornings”.

If you would like further information about volunteering at Weston Area Health NHS Trust, please visit www.waht.nhs.uk and go to Volunteering, or get in touch with our voluntary services manager, by email at mariaflinders@nhs.net or call 01934 647 005.

Photograph (L-R): David Jones and Lorraine Owen, WAHT volunteers at Weston General Hospital.