Stories of volunteers supporting the health service since 1949
26 results
Bridget Foley, AttendBridget started volunteering very early on when she accompanied her Mum to Church, where they arranged flowers, handed out hymn books and mended curtains. As she got older she took on these and other tasks within the church and continued throughout h...
Aphasia Re-ConnectAphasia Re-Connect is a national charity with the primary aim of connecting people who suffered a stroke and now experience aphasia, via a variety of support groups. The group was founded in 2017 by Sally McVicker, a qualified speech and language ...
Friends of Birchwood GrangeThe Friends of Birchwood Grange Care Home support the work of the home situated in Harrow. Birchwood Grange is a friendly care home that offers residential care, residential dementia care and respite care. The Friends aim to improve the quality ...
Volunteer Spotlight – Beryl Carr, Ealing Hospital LoFWe had the pleasure of interviewing Beryl at the Friends of Ealing Hospital three years ago for the Friends Voices Project and now at At 103 years old, it's great to see that she is still going strong. Meet the world's oldest female volunteer ac...
Amanda Berry, Friends of Birchwood GrangeAmanda, a retired nurse and dedicated volunteer, shares her journey from Canada to the UK, her nursing career, and how a life altering stroke in 2020 reshaped her path. After losing her ability to work, Amanda found renewed purpose through volunteeri...
Steve Taylor, Friends of One Tower Bridge RoadWorking for the London City Mission brought Steve to London, and working in the local community in Camberwell. Initially responding to an enquiry for a link with a care home at 54 Camberwell Green, he later became involved at One Tower Bridge Road.As...
Friends of Aspen CourtThe Friends of Aspen Court are an organisation of volunteers that work to support the people of Aspen Court Care Home in Poplar. Their main goal is to work with the residents, staff, and relatives in order to maintain the highest quality of care. Thi...
Janessa Rhys-Jones, The Together Project (Songs & Smiles)Janessa Rhys-Jones, 35, is a volunteer with the Songs & Smiles program of The Together Project at the One Tower Bridge Road Care Home, assisting with music sessions uniting older and younger generations.Initially attending as a participant with h...
Rosie Durham, Friends of One Tower Bridge RoadRosie Durham has always had a passion for working with intergenerational charities. Rosie was drawn to working with older people, particularly those in care homes, and began by volunteering weekly, engaging residents through activities like manicures...
Mark Cheese, Friends of Attend ABIWhile Mark Cheese’s day job may be software test engineering, he has a passion for teaching law to those who need to know it the most. Over a decade ago, Mark began his volunteer work at FAABI, where he has since become an integral part of the comm...
David Wood, Friends of One Tower Bridge RoadDavid Wood OBE, 58, is the Chief Executive of Attend and the Chairman of the Friends of One Tower Bridge Road, among various other career roles. His journey into volunteering began at a young age, with a family background in community service, and la...
Friends of One Tower Bridge RoadThe Friends of One Tower Bridge Road supports residents of the One Tower Bridge Road care home through developing services on site. These services allow those who cannot leave their homes to feel included in community activities. The Friends provide ...
Valerie Semeria, Friends of Attend ABI Valerie Semeria, 30, is the Chair of Friends of Attend ABI. She grew up volunteering in her church and local homeless shelters, and eventually pursued the field as a career path after she moved to London in 2016. She then started volunteering with At...
Jane Ward (Richard Reoch), Friends of Attend ABIJane Ward’s life was devoted to improving the wellbeing of those around her. In her 75 years, Jane’s careers ranged drastically: from a professional nurse, global human rights researcher and secretary, and an exercise instructor. She developed th...
Jenny Chandler, Friends of Attend ABIJenny Chandler began her journey with Friends of Attend ABI by participating in the first sessions of ARNI (Action Rehabilitation from Neurological Injury) after surviving a brain injury. Soon after, Jenny became a consistent member of FAABI, regular...
Services for PatientsDiscover the stories of volunteers delivering services to support patients.
Tea BarDiscover the stories of people volunteering in tea bars in hospitals.
Friends of the Royal London Hospital for Integrated MedicineThe Friends of the RLHIM have been supporting the hospital and its patients since 1975. There were two main roles for volunteers to take part in. The first was becoming a trustee, and the second was running the snack bar with a small team. In the ea...
Friends of Barking HospitalThe Friends of Barking Hospital has been a vital part of the hospital for nearly 60 years. During that time, volunteers have fundraised in all sorts of ways from tabletop sales in the entrance of the hospital to organising a hospital fete, bringing...
Helen Shorter, Friends of St MarksWhen recently retired, Helen was doing a neighbours garden when a friend asked her to volunteer with the Friends. That was over 20 years ago, during which time supporting the NHS has become a significant part of Helen’s life. Helen is justifiably ...