Stories of volunteers supporting the health service since 1949
204 results
Friends of Attend ABIThe Friends of Attend ABI (FAABI) is a charity founded by volunteers sharing a common goal — to enhance the well-being of those impacted by brain injuries through social activities, workshops, events, and information sessions, where members can mak...
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...
Diana came to the Friends, following a period as Lead Governor at the hospital. Her vision is of local leadership for a hospital meeting local needs.Rather than be frozen into inactivity by Covid, it inspired the Friends to think about their contribu...
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...
Sian Gabari, Ealing Hospital League of FriendsInitially Sian was introduced to the Friends while at school, as a way of considering a career in the NHS. While following a different career path, Sian has continued to volunteer for the Friends throughout the remainder of school, university, and no...
Steve Moreton For the Friends Voices project, Steve Moreton has had two key roles. His first role was to attend interviews and organise their recording and other logistics. Following the interviews, Steves other role was to review their key themes...
ChristmasRead the heart-warming stories of volunteers who give a little time at Christmas to make patients lives better.
Gifty Coleman, Ealing Hospital League of FriendsA change in career, and job search for something nearer home brought Gifty into contact with the League of Friends. Almost unexpectedly this has been a very rewarding part of her life, where she can practically express her faith, through caring for, ...
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...
Capturing our historyRecently Attend were very pleased to receive this fantastic picture as a gift from Cynthia Burton at the Friends of Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine. It shows the Middlesex Ladies Association at a meeting in the 1940's . The presence ...
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 ...
Creating New FriendshipsEnjoy learning that volunteering can create enduring friendships.
Bazaars / Hospital FetesAnnual bazaars, or hospital fetes were a big part of hospital life for decades. Find out more about the volunteers that made them happen.
Family LinksRead about the families who have volunteered in hospitals generation after generation.