Stories of volunteers supporting the health service since 1949
67 results
On retirement and after 25 years in Stourbridge, Phil and his wife made the move to Bridgnorth just over 4 years ago. Phil started his career as a trained engineer before moving on to product design and project management. While not having volunte...
Kennedy Rath, Friends of OaklandsRecently retired, Kennedy decided to spend his newfound free time volunteering at the Friends of Oaklands Dementia Cafe. Having previously been an Optometrist, Kennedy seeks to resume his social interactions through service coffee and chatting with...
Margaret and Jean met as dinner ladies at the local school. They have been best of friends ever since. They got involved with the Bridgnorth Hospital League of Friends after leaving work. They talk about their time pushing trolleys around the wards w...
Julie and husband Phil moved to Bridgnorth just over 4 years ago, and after renovating their home, Julie felt the need to integrate into their new community, and meet people as well as give something back. She began volunteering as a church stewar...
Linda originally became involved with the hospital following plans to close cottage hospitals in the area. Having experienced the care that the hospital provided to her close family members she realised this would be detrimental to the local communit...
Namrata Walia, Aphasia Re-ConnectNamrata 'Nami' Walia originally began her career as an accountant for the NHS.In this interview, Nami shares how the pivot to volunteering and working within a charity has given her great satisfaction and new knowledge about different health cond...
Rachael Talbot, Friends of Acorn LodgeRachael Talbot has been volunteering with Acorn Lodge, working with students and encouraging them to volunteer for the last 10 years.In this interview, she shares how she supports students and some examples of the wonderful things students have been ...
Samira Abu started off volunteering with Friends of Attend as an activities coordinator. She eventually moved on to volunteering with Friends of Aspen Court , where she enjoys engaging with the residents and providing them with social care an...
Catherine Rogerson, Amman Valley Hospital League of FriendsCatherine Rogerson, a dedicated member of the Amman Valley Hospital League of Friends, shares her journey of returning to her home town after a career in research in Palaeobotany and teaching. Inspired by a local newspaper ad, she joined the League...
Idwal Davies, The Llanelli & District League of Hospital Friends98 year old Idwal Davies shares his remarkable life story. After leaving school, he trained to be a butcher, but later joined the Air Training Corps during World War II. Idwal was originally an Infantryman in the military but was eventually selected ...
Richard Miller, Friends of Horse FairBorn in South Wales, Richard moved to the south of England at a young age and then spent 20 years in and around the south, firstly in Sidcup and then in Lewes, East Sussex. He met his wife in 1984 while she was doing her nurse training, and after acc...
Yvonne Frost and Carol Watson, St. Oswald’s Hospital League of FriendsRetired nurses, Yvonne Frost and Carol Watson, reflect on their years at St. Oswald’s Hospital, sharing memories of their care, community, and the close relationships they built with their patients. After retiring, they continue their involvement t...
Pauline Smith, Business Opportunities for the Physically Handicapped (BOPH)After a difficult childhood in East London, Pauline has been working and then volunteering with disabled children, and disabled adults all of her life, as a social worker but also in multiple charities, before ending up in BOPH, where she has been fo...
Simon Jenkins, League of Friends of Glangwili HospitalWhen Simon's mother passed away, he decided he would carry on with her involvement with the League of Friends by becoming a volunteer himself. After a long career as a firefighter, he already had knowledge of community services, and involvement, whic...
Robert Fox (Kath Fox), The League of Friends of Deeside Community HospitalFollowing her death, Robert Fox talks about the life of his Mum, Kath. Robert tells of her early life as the daughter of a miner, and gives insights into both the challenges of that life, as well as Kath and her families determination to take adva...
Nevil Williams, Radio BGMNevil is the epitome of a local lad. Born and having always lived locally, he supports the local community with all his heart. Helping wherever he can, he has followed in the footsteps of his stepfather, a local lay preacher, and joined the hospit...
Emily Vincent, Enfield Stroke FriendsInitially volunteering as a way to broaden her experience with stroke survivors, Emily soon realised it was cementing her sense of being part of the community in Enfield. Using her experience in both nutrition, and speech and language therapy, Emily ...
Megan Jolly, The League of Friends of the Deeside Community HospitalFrom an early age Megan helped others and this led to a life long career in nursing. Alongside this she began helping with the League of Friends, an involvement that spans over 50 years....
Sally Davies, The League of Friends of the Shrewsbury and Telford HospitalSally started volunteering at the League of Friends around 25 years ago, after 10 years of volunteering with adults who wanted to improve their literacy skills. When she started, she was mainly volunteering with the fundraising committee of the hospi...
Cathy Milne, Friends of Avery PlaceCathy 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...