Stories of volunteers supporting the health service since 1949
111 results
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...
June Whitaker, The League of Friends of the Shrewsbury and Telford HospitalBeing part of the local community, supporting charities that help people who live round and about are all part of the values that June has lived her life by. For over 50 years, June has been involved in the League of Friends (and many othe...
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...
Marigold Cleveley, Friends of The Royal London Hospital for Integrated MedicinePersonal convictions, and those of her friends, meant that Marigold first found herself volunteering nearly 50 years to support Homeopathic medicine, and those in the community wanting to access such services. Throwing herself into the commu...
Ann Bowden, Friends of Cathja Ann’s career as a GP, and a doctor at the Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine, are practical expressions of her clear love of the local community, and her desire to help people both positively and creatively with their health issues. The...
Rin Roach, Friends of Cathja Rin describes an organisation where people are accepted for who they are, and what they bring, a place where they are genuinely allowed to be. It’s a place where people come and go, as it suits them, and as they need. It’s a community wh...
Lorna Citron, Friends of UCLHStarting work at UCH in 1945, and being continuously involved with the hospital since then, Lorna clearly has a deep-rooted love of the hospital and the community it serves. Her administrative skills were seized upon to support the developing ro...
Carl Kirby Turner, Friends of Cathja Over 20 years ago, Carl’s involvement started when he was trying to sell a boat to the founder. Getting involved then through volunteering has now become something which was an important part of his life. He describes the project as a com...
Gillian Vaughan Hudson MBBS FRCP, League of Friends of Middlesex Hospital & Friends of University College London Hospital (UCLH)Following a full career in the NHS in central London, as retirement approaches, the League of Friends at the Middlesex sought Gillian out. Her role required great diplomacy as it involved the creation of the new shadow board for the Friends merging w...
Anita Carrasco, Friends of St Mary’sAnita first began volunteering when she was at school. Conversations with her support worker on ways to reduce her loneliness bought her to volunteering at St Marys. It has proved to be a place of true friendship, where Anita has got involved in eve...
Ann Cousins, Ealing Hospital League of FriendsHaving had a successful career in banking, Ann almost stumbled into a role in the League of Friends. Here she has found new purpose, and real challenges as she has determinedly maintained and progressed the contribution of a traditional Friends ...
Maggie Linford, Friends of St Mary’sMaggie had a life of supporting people through her careers as a social worker and an occupational therapist. Once retired, she continued to make a difference in her community through volunteering. When she joined the Friends of St Mary’...
Returning from time abroad, when getting involved in the community was a part of everyday life, Cynthia found herself with time on her hands. A lifelong supporter of homeopathy meant the League of Friends at the then “Royal London Homeopathic Hos...
Sue Rivers, Friends of St Mary’sAs the wife of a hospital consultant, Sue almost had no choice but to get involved with the Friends. Becoming Chairman near the turn of the decade, she has thoroughly involved herself in all aspects from fundraising to helping out in the café. She ...
Shenna Cummins, Friends of St Mary’s HospitalShenna decided to volunteer when she had some spare time because she wasn’t working. Her warmth, and people skills meant her natural contribution was focussed towards fundraising. This, she not only enjoyed but is very good at. Unexpectedly, v...
Udo Bauer, Friends of St Mary’sFor over 25 years, Udo has been based at the German YMCA, and creating links with the local community, including the Friends of St Mary’s. Volunteers have been involved in all sorts of activities including the café and shop. ...
Connie Foster (Sue Boram) After a lifetime of living in, and service to the community, almost by accident Connie found herself volunteering for the League of Friends in the local hospital. She threw herself with enthusiasm into every aspect of the life of the friends group, a...
Jean Howard, Friends of Cedar House Jean has volunteered for over 50 years. The organisations she has got involved with have mirrored the life-cycle of her family life, be it her children’s school or her mother’s care home. Her consistent ambition has been to add value to the l...
Kathy Sheldon, Friends of Barnes Hospital: Part 2The interview continues with Kathy talking about the many ways she is embedded in the Barnes community, her networks, and the way her passions extend to all things "Barnes". Her volunteering is clearly about who she is, not what she does. She brin...