Stories of volunteers supporting the health service since 1949
135 results
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 ...
Dave and Christine, volunteers at the Brentwood Community Hospital League of Friends, have been involved for about six months, after years of using the hospital as patients. Both have extensive experience in people-centred careers, including bus driv...
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 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...
Pamela Morton OBE, Friends of York HospitalsAt an early age Pam began volunteering to help refugees, at the end of the Second World War. Those values were to stay with her, not only in her career as a teacher but also through the many different volunteering initiatives she enthusiastically emb...
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...
Delyth Evans MBE, League of Friends of Glangwili HospitalContributing to numerous charities since the 1980s, Delyth has been involved in her community for a long time. After some time, she saw an opportunity to volunteer at the League of Friends of Glangwili Hospital, which she took, and became the new Tre...
Stacie Hopley, League of Friends of Glangwili HospitalGrowing up in Carmarthen, Stacie has always felt a strong connection to her local community, and a deep motivation to give back in any way she could. Already working for the Glangwili Hospital Health Board, and closely involved with the League of Fri...
Arlene Dhalla, Friends of LarchwoodArlene 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....
Myra Gonzalez, Enfield Stroke FriendsBefore her stroke, Myra had a very successful career as a creative, and in the fashion industry. Despite the challenges of her stroke, Myra brings that determination and creativity to her time at Enfield Stroke Friends. She uses her skills, to help r...
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...
Barbara Wren, Brentwood Community Hospital League of FriendsBarbara started her career as a bursar at a local school. During her time there she found herself going above and beyond for the students. She took that work ethic with her to the Highwood Hospital and then to the Brentwood Community Hospital.She use...
Matthew Swan BEM, Friends of LarchwoodMatthew 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...
Leneva Hall, Enfield Stroke FriendsLeneva's story is of determination to make the best of her new life after her stroke. She has thrown herself enthusiastically into the Enfield Stroke Cafe, where she takes an active interest in the life and recovery progress of her fellow attendees....
Josephine (Jo) Geary, Business Opportunities for the Physically Handicapped (BOPH)Founder of BOPH with Joan Lythgoe, MBE, Jo was first involved with people with disabilities when her daughter was born paralysed from the waist down and, when pushed by Joan, she joined her in starting a charity that would be a free workshop for phys...
Karen Bowers, Business Opportunities for the Physically Handicapped (BOPH)After being involved with special needs people all her life, Karen ended up being noticed by Joan and working full-time at BOPH. Working there doesn’t feel like work for her but more like coming to her extended family, where she is able to create s...
Brogan was motivated to volunteer after accompanying her Mum who worked with people with special needs, Brogan started volunteering at only 16 as a one-to-one support for one client who went on to attend BOPH and which led to her working at BOPH fu...
Joan Lythgoe MBE, Business Opportunities for the Physically Handicapped (BOPH)Born in London and brought up in Canvey Island, Joan worked as a supervisor for STC (Standard Telephone and Cable) before she co-created BOPH (Business Opportunities for the Physically Handicapped). Initially, she was able to travel to work locally, ...
Jean Ranson, The League of Friends of the Deeside Community HospitalCaring and volunteering were all part of Jean's life from a young age. This both supported and led to a life long career as a nurse. Volunteering for the League of Friends was another part of hospital and community life that Jean helped with whene...
Ken Rees, The Llanelli & District League of Hospital FriendsKen's story is a life embedded in South Wales. It's about being totally immersed in the local community from a young age. From playing rugby with Llanelli Scarletts, to raising money for equipment at the local hospital, to being Mayor....