Volunteers' Week 2019
It's Volunteers' Week, a chance a to celebrate and say thank you for the fantastic contribution millions of volunteers make across the country. We'll be running volunteer stories on our website throughout the week.
Jason Edwards had his first stroke at 40 and his second stroke at 42. It was a major one.
He was left with all the symptoms of a stroke as well as extreme fatigue and speech and language loss. Fortunately he received medication within an hour which increased his chances of recovery.
Jason said “Learning how to do pretty much everything for myself again was tough, but the Brain Injury Team helped and my gratitude to the team was immense so I wanted to give something back, this is how I found out about the volunteers”. “Seeing people who were in the same position as I was made me feel incredibly lucky and want to help others.”
He is committed to volunteering at the team allotment and also helps as a peer specialist on the 6 week course for Fatigue Management. “ The best bit is seeing the tiniest glimmer of recovery in someone and the spark of optimism which you can help grow into their recovery”.
Think about volunteering if it’s something you want to do then go ahead, it can be so rewarding!
Naomi
Naomi Griffin has really taken to volunteering at Yeatman Hospital; initially she joined with a view to help write an easy instruction guide for the digital ‘Reminiscence Interactive Therapy Activities’ which has been a great help to everyone.
Naomi now comes on to the ward every week and takes valuable time talking to patients finding out childhood stories, working life history, likes/dislikes, hobbies, interests and family.She can then use this information to complete the ‘This is Me’ document which helps staff know the patient in more detail.
Naomi said “volunteering gives me a sense of purpose and is so rewarding, it makes me feel I am learning so much about the healthcare environment and I’m making a difference”.“It’s made me realise I want a career working with people”
Staff member Lorraine Squire said “Naomi is a lovely cheerful lady and an asset to the team, her caring approach contributes to patients feeling valued”
Sam
Sam Breaks
currently studying for his ‘A’ levels came to Westhaven hospital last year
after winning an intensively fought scholarship with 70 other applicants to gain the opportunity to spend a
3 week period shadowing health professionals including a local GP, A&E department
and staff at Westhaven.
He was so
enamoured with Westhaven as soon as the scholarship ended he applied to become
a volunteer and the staff were so pleased to have him back this time as a
volunteer talking and providing company to patients on the wards and offering
beverages. Sam said “I genuinely enjoy coming to help out and can see what a
difference volunteers can make.” “All
the patients have amazing stories to tell.”
“There was a patient who shared his memories of what he had been through
during his time in the Navy during the Korean War; he found it good to talk to
me as a volunteer and I gained so much from his stories.” “One thing I didn’t expect but has been
really good was to learn the skills to talk to a different group of people I
don’t normally interact with.”
Sam has
applied to go on to Medical school; his career plan is to join the military specialising in war injuries
treating the armed forces casualties in the field.
Amanda Wilson Business manager said “We will miss him when he leaves – he’s just fabulous”.
All for one, and one for all….
When Terry Matthews was out
cycling 4 years ago he didn’t think an accident would lead him to being a
committed volunteer.
Terry fell from his bike, his
hip broke and had to be pinned. Westminster Memorial hospital was there
for his weekly physio and as he became more mobile he noticed what a deprived
state the hospital garden was in. Having received such excellent
treatment he wanted to give something back and had a chat with Matron who was
keen to support Terry’s offer of getting stuck into a spot of hard digging in
the garden.
Others started to notice and
wondered what Terry was doing and soon the goodwill spread so Dave, Julian,
Richard and Julie joined in one by one and became The Gardening Group.
They have turned the garden from overgrown sadness into something fabulous and Matron is so grateful and the patients now have a beautiful garden to enjoy.
Photo from left to right Richard Porter(back to camera), Julian Prichard, Julie Turner, Terry Matthews Dave Borrows
Come on Eileen…
Eileen said ‘The benefits are
enormous to the patients, I get such pleasure in seeing them come alive with
singing and laughing and generally enjoying themselves. I feel rewarded far
more than any pay packet could’
‘The hospital is my happy place’.