Volunteers’ Week: “I wanted to do my part to help.”
To mark Volunteers’ Week on 1-7 Jun, we spoke to Ellie Williamson from Canning Town who, after being furloughed from her job, decided to volunteer at her local hospital to offer help during the pandemic.
Tell us a little bit about yourself?
I work in Kensington at a premium members club but live in Canning Town and have been Newham Hospital a few times. I have always wanted to volunteer and help the local community yet due to the nature and working times of my job, I’ve never found the correct time to fully commit.
When my company closed I knew this would be an opportune moment and I was keen to help right away.
How long have you been a volunteer at Newham Hospital?
I have been volunteering at Newham Hospital for nine weeks. With the uncertainty of when I will return to work I hope to continue volunteering for a few more weeks and potentially continue a few hours each week when I return to work.
Why did you decide to become a volunteer?
When I found out I was going to be furloughed and we were going into lockdown I knew that I wanted to do my part and help where I could. My partner works for Barts Health NHS Trust and mentioned that they were looking for specific Covid-19 volunteers to assist during the pandemic. I knew I was low risk and since I live close to the hospital I would be able help during the week or whenever the hospital needed me.
Describe what a usual day volunteering involves?
Due to my operational background and the nature of work I usually do I am used to working in an ever changing environment. I was assigned the job of volunteer administrator. During this time I have been monitoring and coordinating the donations that have been coming into the hospital and tracking where they have been delivered to ensure a fair distribution. I have also been creating the PPE ID cards for the staff so that patients can see them whilst they are wearing PPE as well as other administrator duties for different departments of the hospital.
What's your favourite thing about being a volunteer?
What I have enjoyed most is working with the volunteer team at Newham as well as the overwhelming sense of community that these changing and difficult times have brought. Companies of all sizes as well as the local community have come together and supported this hospital with their overwhelming donations and support. It has also been great to meet and help lots of new people during an isolating time. I am so grateful to have been given this opportunity.
Find out how you can apply to become a volunteer at Barts Health.