Friends Voices

Stories of volunteers supporting the health service since 1949

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9 results

Peter and Mary Jones, Friends of Avery Place

Peter and Mary Jones reflect on their lifelong commitment to volunteering, both through their church and in their wider community. Mary, a trained pediatrician and retired general practitioner, and Peter, a minister in the Church of England, have spe...

Story: Peter and Mary Jones - East Midlands, Nottingham

Arlene Dhalla, Friends of Larchwood

Arlene started working at 15 as an accounting assistant, and never really stopped her career until she retired in 1995. She never thought about volunteering before her mother was diagnosed with dementia and Alzheimer's and had to go into a care home....

Story: Arlene Dhalla - Braintree, Essex

Cathy Milne, Friends of Avery Place

Cathy started volunteering in care homes as an extension of her involvement in the Nuthall Methodist Church as a way to make Acer Court and Alder House feel more part of the community. She started with one-on-one visits, first with Dorothy, a residen...

Story: - Nottingham

Matthew Swan BEM, Friends of Larchwood

Matthew first got involved with Attend over twenty years ago, and also serves as the Treasurer for Friends of Larchwood. He was awarded a BEM in 2020 for his contributions to local charities.Matthew has worked in banking for over 41 years and has thr...

Story: Matthew Swan - Colchester, Essex

Steve Taylor, Friends of One Tower Bridge Road

Working 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...

Story: Steve Taylor - London

This story is about:

  1. Care homes
  2. Community
  3. Faith

Marie Pearson, Friends of Oaklands

Having worked in the care home for many years, Marie wanted to continue her association with the place, and the residents through volunteering. She is a regular at the Friends coffee mornings for residents, where her natural affinity with them and th...

Story: Marie Pearson - Essex, Laindon

Catherine Wood, Friends of Oaklands

A move to a portfolio career in nursing, gives Catherine the time to consider ways to volunteer in her community. A care home provides the perfect opportunity for a new project, supporting not only the residents and families, but by creating a regula...

Story: Catherine Wood - Essex, Laindon

Robert Hackett, Friends of Oaklands

A member of the local church, Bob was drawn to the volunteering to support a friend living with dementia. If Bob can help, he does, be it offering communion, helping with activities, keeping the garden tidy, or encouraging friends and family to join ...

Story: Robert Hackett -

David Wood, Friends of One Tower Bridge Road

David 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...

Story: David Wood - London