Volunteering matters | #TeamBartsHealth blogs

I have been a volunteer manager, coordinator, enabler for over 20 years and decided that is what I wanted to do after volunteering as a Mentor for the Dalston Youth Project.

Volunteering had an incredible impact on my life helping to shape my future career, making me feel that I was contributing to my community and that I was valued by that community. Most of all I was able to give to someone who needed my help.  It was incredibly rewarding and empowering.

The great thing was that not only did it help me but it helped many of my mentees who were at risk of offending or ending up homeless which in turned helped the community. Volunteering has a cascade -effect as it really helps to improve the lives of the individuals (both volunteer and beneficiary) as well as to shape collaborative and resilient communities that work together for the greater good. For many, it is an important factor in social mobility and can be life changing.

I have gone on to do many things such as helping to design and deliver volunteer programmes for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, setting up a Good Neighbourhood Scheme of 7,000 volunteers, a Restorative Justice Programme in Newham to name a few.

However I was always really passionate about volunteering  in a hospital setting and when I used to walk past the door of the volunteer manager office at WXH (my local hospital) I would tell myself, one day I will be here and sure enough, here I am, heart on sleeve!

At Barts Health Trust we are really lucky to have some fantastic volunteers – over a 1,000 and they are truly dedicated and passionate about helping the hospitals and the patients as well as raising funds in support of our hospitals.

Volunteering Matters here at Barts Health Trust and we really want to celebrate the fantastic support  that the volunteers give us during National Volunteer Week from 1^st June to 7^th June  so please take the time to consider the volunteers that work with you in whatever capacity and thank them for their support.

If you would like to find out more about how volunteers can help you and about our exciting new service the Active Response Bleep Volunteers  please do visit us at our stands dates and locations listed below.

RLH 3^rd June 10-4pm Stepney Way Atrium

SBH 4^th June 10-4pm KGV Atrium

WXH 5^th June 10-4pm Outpatients entrance 

NUH 6^th June 10-4pm St Andrews Main Reception