Stories of volunteers supporting the health service since 1949
135 results
Beryl Carr, Ealing Hospital League of FriendsFollowing the death of her husband, and a move away from their retirement home, Beryl found herself isolated. At 80, her daughter helped her join up as a volunteer at the local hospital, where over 20 years she has found real friendships....
Following a full and rewarding career in probation work, Lynn found herself at retirement age, but she wasn’t ready to stop, and still felt she had something to offer. Having used the Friends Cafe while visiting the hospital, she asked if there wer...
Bereaved and unemployed, with Covid raging around, Louise was looking for somewhere to get a foothold back on the ladder. Ealing Hospital League of Friends were welcoming, and encouraging. Using existing skills as a ‘subject matter expert’ she ha...
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...
Kathy Sheldon, Friends of Barnes Hospital: Part 1A career at Barnes Hospital meant joining the Friends committee seemed like the next logical step for Kathy. Her heart is clearly for the people of the local community where her tireless enthusiasm means she is constantly innovating new ways t...
Irene Thompson, Friends of Barking HospitalIrene first began volunteering at Barking Hospital in 1964, and since then it has been part of the everyday life for her and her family. Irene’s biggest contribution was as the organiser of the hospital fete, which was well known in the Barking c...
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 ...
Richard Rooney, Friends of Chelsea and WestminsterRichard was looking for a change in his life. Having retired from an all-consuming and demanding career, he wanted to do something that not only made a difference to his life but made a difference to others too. At the Chelsea and Westminster,...
Pat Moreno, Friends Of St MarksPat began hospital volunteering once she had retired from work. Initially it was at Stanmore with the friends group there and now it is at St Marks. Her main contribution has been in the tea bar, where she also runs a trolley service up to the t...
Clare Johnstone, Friends of Chelsea and WestminsterWhile on a visit to the Chelsea & Westminster hospital for an outpatient appointment, on the stairs, Clare was suddenly struck with the thought “why don’t I do something for this wonderful hospital”.Over 10 years later she is regularly vo...
Eric Feasey, Friends of Barking HospitalEric has been involved with the Friends of Barking Hospital for a decade. Describing himself as a bit of a “Del boy” he initially began by helping supply stock for the Friends table sales, with up to 10 trestle tables, that took place every wee...
Ian McDowell, Guild Of St BartholomewHospital chaplaincy, as a local vicar, first brought Ian into the world of hospital volunteering. This interest developed, including becoming a hospital voluntary services manager and became involved in a policy group in Whitehall. Initially involve...
Ann Wickham, Guild of St BartholomewWhen Ann’s husband became a doctor at Barts, it was part of the natural order that she become a member of the Guild. This was in the mid 1960’s and she has been involved constantly since then. While currently the President, over the years Ann ha...
Jan O’Neill, Guild Of St BartholomewJan volunteered initially alongside a successful career in journalism. She has bought her professional skills in to her volunteering, and now produces the newsletter. However, she was drawn to volunteering because she was interested in support...